Day 7: Harbottle to Berwick upon Tweed

In the end we didn't take either plan A or plan B, instead opting for plan C: a turnoff into the forest about half a mile back from the pub 

Woke early to a cold and frosty morning, calm and beautifully sunny. Made coffee and then boiled some eggs that we have carried all the way from Haltwhistle, eaten with two day old bread. It's breakfast in bed, but not as we know it

On the road for just after 7am,

as are the sheep

Travel as far as Harbottle Castle, where Dylan sorts out his punctured inner tube

At Alwinton we go on to rough gravel tracks. I am concerned about what it will do to my front tyre, especially as it seems a very unnecessary and convoluted diversion

We are soon back on tarmac, and looking for refreshment. Cafes are thin on the ground in this area, plus it's a Sunday. We are aiming to be at Ingram for the 10am opening of the cafe there 

Crossing the River Breamish at Brandon on a very long, narrow, and rickety feeling bridge. We baulk at the outrageous prices at the Ingram establishment, and settle for a coffee plus a chocolate bar we have brought with us. We decide to push on the 10 miles to Wooler for an early lunch

Not an entirely straightforward 10 miles. Another steep and rocky bridle path near Idlerton 

turning into a nice bit of gravel

and ending at a ford. Luckily there is a bridge

Wooler arrives, we have lunch in a cafe

Crossing the River Till just after Wooler

Our next point of interest is The Lavender Tearoom in Etal, with its delightful garden. We have Singing Hinnies with our choice of drinks

A lovely stretch alongside the River Till just after Etal. Yes it's gravel, but I'm beginning to believe that my tyre will hold out

This is border country. Every village seems to have its ruined castle 

And here is the border, the River Tweed. Over it is the oldest iron linked suspension bridge in the world that still carries traffic. Our route ventures into Scotland before re-crossing the Tweed into Berwick 

Berwick on a Sunday, we are struggling to find somewhere to eat, and end up with takeaway fish and chips and bottles of beer from a convenience store

So to the end of an epic journey. Yes it was tough, but the start and ending sections are kinder. We were very lucky to have six dry days, with gentle winds. Cold can be coped with, given appropriate clothing. The route very much lived up to the description I had been given a year ago in Appleby Bridge 

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