Day 9 - Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway

We walked 17 miles today.  We made it!

Robert, Sharon, Dave & Carol at end of Hadrian's Wall trail.

Courtfield Guest House

We got an early start from the Courtfield Guest House in Carlisle.  We were on the trail at 8:15, walking through the streets of Carlisle to the Sands Center to join the trail and stamp our Hadrian's Wall Passports.  The day was grey and threatened rain.  When we got back on the trail, the path followed along the River Eden.  It was green and lovely, sprinkled with a bit of rain.  We left the city of Carlisle pretty quickly and it was nice to be back in the countryside.  

We walked along the river and on country roads, with rain threatening, but never materializing.  As always, there were some beautiful flowers.  We still were surrounded with sheep and cattle too.  

We came to the village of Burgh-on-Sands around noon and stopped in at the Norman church.  Hadrian's Wall has largely disappeared in this part of the country because the population was so good at "recycling."  Many of the churches and castles have stones from the wall.  This one is no different.  As we entered, a woman greeted us and told us a lot about the history of the building.  This particular church was built in the 12th century, with addition in the 13th and 14th centuries.  This area was home of English and Scottish raiding bands for 300 years, so the church was built for protection as much as worship.  It was around lunch time and she suggested that we stop by the tearoom, just up the street.  

Ice creams available at the Rosemount Tearoom

What a find!  We stopped for lunch at the Rosemount Tearoom.  We were initially intrigued by the listing of the ice cream flavors.  We never did find out what a Nobbly Bobbly or Vimto Jubbly was!  This was a simple little one-cook shop in a house along the lane.  We all had soup or sandwiches and finished with cakes (lemon, orange, carrot and rocky road).  It was all fresh, homemade and delicious.  We are ready to hit the trail once again!  

Rosemount Tearoom

Laal Bite Tuckshop

The weather cleared and we walked on in sunshine.  We had reference points (gatherings of houses or crossroads) about every 30 minutes.  First, Dykesfield, where we needed to check the board posting tidal information to be sure we could get across the flats.  Our timing is good.

On to Boustead Hill, a long flat march along the marsh.  We still see cows and sheep grazing in the marsh grass.  Past the turn for Easton and on to Drumburgh.  At Drumburgh, we stopped in at Laal Bite Tuckshop.  This is another "honesty" shop with cold drinks, coffee, crisps and candy bars available.  You are asked to leave money for whatever you take.  Robert had an ice cream and we all used the restroom facilities.

Now to Glasson, Port Carlisle and finally Bowness-on-Solway.  At 4:50pm, we reached the end of the trail.  We all felt great!  No one was totally spent. Only Carol has a few blisters on her feet.  Celebration all around!

Robert at the Wall's End!