Cycle run across the border. Motored to Hawick. Clear sharp morning: caught the 6 train for Newcastleton where I breakfasted at the Grapes Inn at 7.301. Excellent ham + eggs + fresh baps for 1/6. Left a few minutes after 8 + took the road for Roan’s Green + on through Bewcastle2. Fearfully hilly + rough roads especially near the White Lyne3: but they improved after Shopford4. Went through 8 or 9 gates. Joined the Gilsland Road about 6 miles west of it. Had a drink at Gilsland + then to Greenhead where I joined the Carlisle to Newcastle road via Chollerford5. Awfully steep + cut up for a bit out of Greenhead but after this a fine broad but little used road. Very straight + some stiff hills mostly rideable. Too hazy for distant views. Saw the Roman Wall + Vallum. Turned left before Humshaugh + went through Wark to Bellingham where I had tea + got a train at 5.36 reaching Hawick at 6.556. Cycled from there without dismounting in 64 minutes. Total distance 62 miles a very nice run but too hot. Nothing much wanted but had to walk down to Dunsdale to see Matt Wallace’s kid7.
1 This is almost the complete reverse of the trip Dr Muir was to make on 1 June 1922 including a stop at the The Grapes Inn at Douglas Square, Newcastleton
2 Roan’s Green or Roansgreen, grid reference NGR NY508826 and Bewcastle, NY564746
3 Dr Muir was close to the White Lyne (river) at NY548,745
4 Dr Muir’s reference to Shopford just east of Bewcastle may explain why he referred to it after his 1922 trip in the opposite direction
5 Dr Muir has taken the Roman Road from Gilsland, NY635,664, via Greenhead, NY659,653 to Chollerford, NY918,706
6 Dr Muir has turned up the west bank of the North Tyne through Humshaugh, NY919,712, Wark, NY861,772 and Bellingham, NY840,835
7 This probably refers to Mary Wallace (1907-1908), who died on 27 June 1908 at 8a Dunsdalehaugh, Selkirk of acute Hydrocephalus 6 months certified by Dr John S Muir M.B. etc; the family in 1911 comprised Matthew Wallace, woollen yarn dyer, and his wife Elizabeth Wallace nee Linton living at 8a Dunsdalehaugh with children Elizabeth (1895-), Maggie (1897-), Helen (1899-) and Matthew (1908-) [1911 Census 778/7/15, page 15 of 20] but sadly Maggie had had a twin sister also named Mary (1897-1897) who died 22 September 1897 at seven weeks of “Gastro-intestinal catarrh 6 days” also certified by Dr Muir
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 