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I set off on my bike at 05:35am and cycled to Preston Railway
station. I was in plenty of time for the 06:40 train to Glasgow
which I caught to Lockerbie. The weather was very misty and I
couldn’t see any of the Howgill Fells as we passed by Tebay. |
Preston Railway Station |
It was still very overcast when I got off the train at Lockerbie.
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Lockerbie Railway Station |
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Before starting my ride I cycled the short distance south to
Sherwood Crescent to pay my respects to the 7 local people (Maurice
Peter Henry, Dora Henrietta Henry, Mary Lancaster, Jack Somerville,
Rosalind Hannay Somerville and their children Paul and Lynsey Anne)
who were killed when the engine of the Boeing 747 plane that was
blown up in flight hit their houses in 21 Dec 1988. There is nothing
to see from the road but behind some bushes is a grassy area and a
stone with a metal plaque on it giving the names of those who died.
The engine caused a massive crater that obliterated the houses in
the crescent and by the main M74, but I don’t think it was a
motorway then. |
Sherwood Crescent |
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One of the plane's engines hit Sherwood Crescent |
Sherwood Crescent in 1988 |
Memorial to:
Maurice Peter Henry,
Dora Henrietta Henry,
Mary Lancaster,
Jack Somerville,
Rosalind Hannay Somerville
and their children Paul and Lynsey Anne |
Sherwood Crescent memorial |
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I rode back through the town, over the railway and up the hill to
the east. I turned left to continue climbing where the road goes
through the middle of the golf course. The road continues through
the countryside but the low cloud prevented good views. There were
plenty of ups and downs but nothing serious. After Corrie Common I
was out in open countryside and surprised to see a bus and the
driver even gave me a wave. After a long descent I approached the
B7068 towards Langholme but before reaching it turned left up a
minor road to head up the pass to Eskdale. I reached the B709 then
crossed over the road and River Esk to follow a minor road down the
glen. At the next bridge I'd originally planned to continue on the
north side of the river. |
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I stopped to look at the Johnstone
Mausoleum designed in 1790 by Robert Adam for John Johnstone of
Alva. A sign by the road said Private so I returned to the bridge,
crossed the River Esk and continued down the glen. I turned left up
another minor lane and another steady climb between Bauchle Hill and
Wrae Hill. At the bottom of the descent I reached the Main A7 and
turned north. It was busy and uncomfortable to ride on because of
the large vehicles passing close and at speed. I had to endure it
for about 5miles but it seemed longer. |
Johnstone Mausoleum |
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I turned off at a the Toll House and was thankfully back on a quiet
minor road. A sign said Hermitage Castle 7miles but I had another
long climb and pass ahead. The views were improving as the weather
improved, but still no sunshine. I reached the castle which was over
a small bridge and grassy path. There was an entry charge so I took
some photos from the gate then returned to ride along the grass path
to the old chapel area. At the B6399 I turned left to head north and
the start of another long climb. |
Hermitage Castle |
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After a few miles climbing through the
forest I saw a railway engine on the horizon. Higher up I passed
under a railway bridge and reached the Whiterope Railway Heritage
centre. It was closed but I was able to see the various engines and
carriages on the lines. |
Engine on the line above |
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The rail line headed up into a tunnel but
the road continued to head up the climb even further. When I reached
the summit I had some good views into the far distance. I reached my
turn off and headed right along a minor road towards Bonchester
Bridge. I'd planned to camp a few miles ahead and collect water from
a stream before the camp. When I got to the stream the water didn't
look good so I continued and hoped a couple of other minor streams
ahead may be better. |
Whiterope Heritage Centre |
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They weren’t and worse they were stagnant. I had to give up on
my planned camp and continue. I'd done over 50miles since Lockerbie
and was ready to finish the day. Before the next road junction I
stopped by a collection of barns and a man in a caravan. By the barn
was a tap and hose and he said it was OK to fill my water bottles.
In the area by the barn were several tethered hawks or birds of
prey. I don’t know what they were but I walked past them as quietly
as I could. I continued to the road junction and modified my route
by taking a minor road above Bonchester Bridge to try and find
somewhere to pitch. I checked out two possibilities but decided
against them. Further on I saw a farmer drive his tractor into a
field to check the dryness of the recently mown field. I asked if I
could camp in the adjacent field which had been mown and harvested.
He said it was OK but he'd be ploughing it in 2 days. I thanked him
and said my plan was to leave first thing in the morning. |
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