Another sunless day + the same N.E. wind. Breakfasted7.45 + left at 8.45 cycling via Warden to the Hexham – Carlisle road : turned to the left before Haydon Bridge + shortly after took a side road by mistake which took me through gates.1 It cost me fully a mile extra + I missed Langley Castle. At Staward Station2 there is the most magnificent view down into the Allen with lovely wooded crags. The colouring of the budding oaks + other trees was surpassing. Very steep descent to Cupola Bridge with 3 hairpin turns.3 Then past Whitfield4 + after that a steady pull of 3 or 4 miles to the Cumberland March + down to Alston.5 It was fair day + a cattle sale. Got a “ham tea” between 12 + 1 in cosy little parlour + then mounted over [?] Hartside Cross6 another four miles steady rise but all rideable. Awfully rough + steep descent to Renwick7 (1889 to 740 [feet] in 4½ miles) then a run along the foot of hills through [illegible] villages past Talkin Tarn to Naworth. Then against the wind + many hills to Greenhead (W. & S.), Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge + here. 77.15 miles. After Hartside X [Cross] splendid views of Lake Mountains : Solway : Criffel, [illegible] + a high hill beyond. Had Dinner + hot bath. Pretty tired.
1 Presumably Dr Muir has taken the left turn at grid reference NGR NY848,640 going past Threepwood instead of straight on up the A686 past Langley.
2 Staward Station, NY806,596.
3 The road travels a series of hairpins as it loses height quite dramatically (perhaps 110m) from Staward Station to reach Cupola Bridge at NY800,591.
4 Whitfield, area of NY776,563.
5 Alston, NY717,465.
6 Hartside Cross viewpoint is at NY646,418.
7 From Hartside Cross Dr Muir has dropped westwards off the main road, losing 350 or so metres to reach Renwick at NY597,434 before heading northwards towards Talkin Tarn, NY545,587, Naworth, area of NY559,625, Greenhead, NY659,654, and back to Chollerford along the main roads.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 