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Lockerbie, Eskdalemuir, Kirkhope, Innerleithen, Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh,
Scotland.
(3½ day bike-pack)
Sat 15 Jun - Tue 18 Jun
2019 |
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I'm heading back to the Scottish Borders to do some more exploring
on my bike.
Set off from home shortly after 05:30am and cycled to
Preston Railway Station. Being a Saturday the roads were very quiet.
I reached the station in plenty of time and checked the departures
board. My train, the 0641 to Glasgow was shown as leaving from
platform 3 which was a change from the usual platform 4. |
Preston Railway Station |
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I waited until someone with a Virgin Trains coat turned up and asked
the woman wearing it where the bike compartment carriage would be on
the train. It is usually behind the driver so at the front of the
train. She said it would be at the back so I set off to the south
end of the platform. As I walked there she caught me up and said it
would be at the north end of the platform so I returned and asked
the train manager who was there. |
The Virgin train to Glasgow as far as
Lockerbie |
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When the train arrived he opened the door for me with his key and
let me on where there was already one bike in the compartment which
was going to Glasgow. I strapped my bike next to it and took a seat
in the adjacent carriage. At Penrith two more cyclists and their
bikes got on and they were also going to Glasgow so as we approached
my stop at Lockerbie I had to shuffle the bikes round to get mine
out. I was on the platform around 08:10am under a cloudy sky. |
Lockerbie Railway Station |
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I took my time getting sorted as I didn't have a long ride today. I
headed east then up the climb of Corrie Road through the golf
course. Once at the top of the climb I headed out into open
countryside. The road was very quiet and it was an easy ride as the
gradients didn't undulate much. I descended into Boreland where I'd
been on a previous ride. I stopped briefly then turned right to head
along the B723 towards my destination of Eskdalemuir. There were was
little traffic but I was surprised to be passed by a bus, the 112
service to Eskdalemuir. |
Eskdalemuir |
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A few miles further on it came back with Lockerbie as its
destination. I wonder how many people were on it? The weather
improved a bit and as I descended to the B709 some sunshine came
out. I stopped at the church to take a photo then turned left to
head north towards the Community Hub rooms and cafe. |
Eskdalemuir Church |
Eskdalemuir Commuity Hub |
Time for a cuppa |
When the Hub was a School |
When the Hub was a School |
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I was surprised to see lots of cyclists coming the other way and
even a trike which I haven’t seen for ages. I called in at the cafe
for a cup of tea for £1.50. There must have been a cycle event as
many cyclists were in the cafe and bikes parked outside. I rode
along the road to find somewhere to camp. There is a footpath
adjacent to the road and some men were using flymos to mow the grass
either side. I stopped where their vehicle was parked and propped my
bike buy the road. The reason for my stop was to investigate the
Hyslop’s Grave which is a small stone tomb that I could see in the
field. When I got there it was surrounded by a wooden fence making
it difficult to photograph. Nearby was a flat area and some trees so
I decided to pitch my tent behind a wall. It was a good pitch as I
don't think I can be seen from the road. I also had a good data
signal and FM radio reception. There was no DAB reception. |
Andrew Hyslop's tomb |
Andrew Hyslop's tomb |
Camp one near Andrew Hyslop's tomb |
http://www.covenanter.org.uk/craighaugh_hyslop.html
Thanks to the
Covenanters website for the information.
Andrew Hyslop's
Grave.
Hyslop's grave comprises of a tablestone located in the
middle of a small field off the B 709, just north of Craighaugh. It
was erected in 1702 and repaired in April 1825
Andrew Hyslop
lived at home with his mother and siblings at Rennaldburn (NY
260968) or Windshiels (NY 161924) in Dryfesdale. They often
sheltered Covenanters, one of whom died in their home. They buried
him in secret. Word of this escaped, and Sir John Graham of
Claverhouse and his men caught him in Dryfesdale. He was brought
over the hills to Eskdalemuir. Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall (d.
1699) disinterred the body, destroyed the Hyslop's home and stole
their possessions. Andrew Hyslop was sentenced to death at
Eskdalemuir, carried out by Johnstone. He was shot on 12 May 1685
and buried at the spot. It is said to have been the last Covenanter
death that Claverhouse was involved in.
The Story of the
Killing of Andrew Hislop, Covenanter. #History
The shooting of
Andrew Hislop is one of the most interesting of the Killing Times of
1685, as an allegedly notorious persecutor, John Graham of
Claverhouse, reluctantly carried out the field execution.
He
was buried in the very spot where he was shot, and the place is
rendered an object of notice by a gravestone on which is the
following inscription:-
Here lies Andrew Hyslop, Martyr –
shot dead upon this place by Sir James Johnston of Westerhall, and
John Graham of Claverhouse, for adhering to the Word of God –
Christ’s kingly government, and covenanted work of reformation,
against tyranny, perjury and prelacy.
May 13th 1685. re. 12.
11. –
Halt, Passenger, a word with thee or two,
Why I ly here
wouldst let thou truly know?
By wicked Hands, Hands cruel and
unjust,
Without all Law, my life from me they thrust,
And
being dead, they left me on the spot,
For Burial this same place
I got.
Truth’s Friends in Eskdale now rejoice their lot,
Viz.
th’faithfull, for thruth my seal thus got.”
1702.’
A
'through' stone commemorates Andrew Hislop, a Covenanter, shot at
this spot by Sir James Johnston of Westerhall and John Graham of
Claverhouse on 12th May 1685, and buried here.
The
inscription reads; "HERE LYES ANDR HISLOP / MARTYR SHOT DEAD UPON /
THIS PLACE BY SIR JAMES / JOHNSTON OF WERHALL / AND JOHN GRAHAM OF C
/ LAVERHOUSE FOR ADHERI / NG TO THE WORD OF GOD / CHRIST'S KINGLY
GOVERN / MENT IN HIS HOUSE AND / YE COVENANTED WORK OF / REFORMATION
AGNST TYRAN / NY, PERGURY AND PRELACY / MAY 12 1685 REV 12. 11. HALT
P / ASSENGER ONE WORD WI- / TH THEE OR TWO WHY I LY / HERE WOULDST
THOU TRU- / LY KNOW BY WICKED HAN- / DS, HANDS CRUEL AND UNJ- / UST
WITH-OUT ALL LAW / MY LIFE FRM ME THEY / THRUST & BEING DEAD / THEY
LEFT ME ON THIS S / POT, & FOR BURIAL THIS / SAME PLACE I GOT. TR- /
UTHS FRIENDS IN ES / KDALE NOW TRIUMPH / THEN LET, VIZ THE FAITH- /
FUL FOR MY SEAL (THAT) / GOT 1702."
The Inscription was
inserted in 1702 and repaired by subscription in 1825.
==
Lots
more information from
Dr Mark Jardine.
https://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/2015/09/27/the-story-of-the-killing-of-andrew-hislop-covenanter-history/ |
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