Sharp black frost followed by a cloudless dry day with sharp but slight N.W. wind. Left at 10 + cycled to St Boswells, the hounds meeting at kennels.1 The last 1½ miles of the road are so awfully cut up by traction engine traffic that I turned off + went by Comiston2 which makes the distance only 0.8 more. It was a very pretty [illegible]. I hoped they would go to Long Newton but they turned away for Kippilaw.3 I went on to Teviot Bridge turning aside to see for the 1st time Maid Marian’s tree [?]4 Came back by 29 3 Knowesouth + Denholm to Horns Hole.5 The total distance was 35.75. Got back a little after 3 + after tea walked to [illegible] Street + Dunsdale. Letter from Jack Spittal.6
1 The Duke of Buccleuch’s Hunt’s kennels were at St Boswells.
2 Comiston is so far unidentified.
3 Longnewton, grid reference NGR NT584,276, and Kippielaw, NT548,291.
4 This reference is unidentified.
5 Dr Muir has travelled westwards on the S.E. side of the River Teviot, probably after crossing at Ancrum, before re-crossing at Hornshole.
6 John Kerr ‘Jack’ Spittal (1883-1946), accountant. Son of Charles Grey Spittal (1836-1891), friend of Dr Muir, and Rachel Spittal née Harvey (1845-1917).
[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 