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| MEMORIAL BRIDGE OVER RIVER EDEN |
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| CARLISLE CASTLE |
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| ORNAMENTAL SEAT NEAR CARLISLE CASTLE |
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| NEARLY THERE |
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| END OF THE LINE |
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| KING'S ARMS IN BOWNESS-ON-SOLWAY |
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| THIS IS WHERE WE WALKED |
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| RUBI'S STILL SWOLLEN TOE |
Although our walk on Friday 10th August still followed long sections of the route of the wall, there wasn't much to see. It had been raining overnight so it was also wet underfoot as we departed Sandysike Farm.
We hadn't had much of a breakfast so we cracked on and after six miles of walking reached The Stag Inn at Low Crosby. It started to rain heavily as we stepped inside. Our hunger was satisfied by some excellent jacket potatoes with salad, and the rain stopped just before we settled up and left.
The afternoon's walk was a relatively easy bimble into Carlisle City, crossing the M6 and hugging the River Eden for much of the way. We left the Hadrian's Wall path just after the Eden Bridge and walked to Carlisle City Hostel in Abbey Steet, where we had a private room. Luxury again! It was only about 4.00pm, so after dropping our rucksacks off we took an easy stroll to the nearby Carlisle Castle for a look around, once again taking full advantage of our English Heritage membership. The two German girls from Sandysike had left the bunkhouse before us, and we met them again in the Castle grounds. Our English Heritage membeship also enabled us to visit Cumbria's Museum of Military Life which was located within the Castle walls. The Castle and museum were both excellent.
The following day we would walk from Carlisle to the western end of Hadrian's Wall at Bowness-on-Solway, and then return to Carlisle by bus. Thus, we didn't need most of the stuff in our rucksacks. We sorted out what we did need into Rubi's smaller rucksack and everything else was taken to the car, which was parked only 15 minutes walk away. We then enjoyed a tasty chicken dinner and a bottle of wine at the local Nando's before enjoying a comfortable night's rest.
Our last day took us back past the Castle to rejoin the Hadrian's Wall path, and then westward along the River Eden to Grinsdale, Kirkandrews, Burgh by Sands, Drumbugh, Glasson, Port Carlisle and finally Bowness-on-Solway. There was no wall to be seen. After a photo session at the 'official' end of the walk on the bank of the Solway Firth, we headed to the King's Arms for a celebratory drink. I calculated that we had walked 97 miles over the week, and Rubi had still been suffering pain from her injured toe throughout that time. She had wanted to do this walk and was clearly determined to compete it in spite of the discomforts involved.
I had carried Rubi's minimally loaded rucksack on this final day, and the lighter loads enabled us to cover the fourteen and a half mile distance in good time. Indeed, we were able to enjoy an hour sitting outside the pub and still catch an earlier bus than expected.
All too soon we were back at the car, our Hadrian's Wall adventure now officially over. Where now? Well, I had used our 'Britstops' directory to arrange for us to car camp in the car park of the Rose & Crown pub in the village of Low Hesket, about 20 minutes drive away. Thus, after picking up some vegetables from the supermarket along the way, we settled in for a quiet night. We did however pop into the pub for a G&T nightcap though, and had pre-booked a table for Sunday lunch the following day.
