Date: Thursday 20th August 2015
Start Time: 11:00
Distance: 4.6 miles approximately
Duration: 2 hours approximately
On a surprisingly dry
and very warm day fifteen Strollers met in Duns for the August walk to see the
sights and sounds of the Manderston estate. From Market Square we headed up Castle Street over
the road at Newtown Street
and past the Horn Inn following the road towards Grantshouse and Cranshaws.
Stopping to admire Christ Church, this Scottish Episcopal Church was built by
Mr Hay of Duns Castle
in 1857 to a design based upon a Romanesque style church which he had viewed on
the banks of the Rhine. Looking over the
cemetery to the right we had lovely views over the Merse, which means marsh but
it was drained in the 18th century. Turning right for Johnsfield and Broomhouse
we followed the road and then the track, avoiding stepping on the slightly flat
frogs that seemed to be dotted about, taking us between the fields towards
Buxley and past the entrance to the Manderston Cricket Ground founded in 1899.
Buxley has some interesting “A” listed historic buildings, and was built from 1897 to 1900 as the “Home” farm for Manderston. Here we met one of residents who works in the shop at Manderston House and did her best to try and entice us to visit the house Continuing on we entered the grounds of Manderston House, the home of The Palmer family of Huntley and Palmer biscuit fame. Manderston is the supreme country house of Edwardian Scotland and was completely rebuilt from 1901 to 1903; the swan-song of its era. A house on which no expense was spared, with opulent staterooms, the only silver-staircase in the world, and extensive "downstairs" domestic quarters. It stands in 56 acres of formal gardens, with magnificent stables and a stunning marble dairy. We stopped off at the stables to have a chat with the horses and admire the stables with the horse names on the wall that all began with M.
We then made our way back to Duns along the edge of the A6105 following the wide grass verge that runs along the side of the road. Why is it all these roads seem to get busier just as we are walking along? Most Borders drivers think they are all Louise Aitken Walker and by “planning” we pass the Aitken Walker garage founded by her and her husband as we walk back to Duns. Louise's career began in 1979 when she was entered in Ford's 'Find a Lady Rally Driver' competition, without her knowledge, by her two brothers and was a winner from 2000 entrants. It spanned fourteen years up to 1993 when she retired to have a family. During those years she was the first woman to win a National Rally outright, survived a horrific crash in Portugal and became the first, ever British driver to win a world title - FIA Ladies World Rally Champion. Passing the garage we walked back into Duns down Bridgend returning to the Square and time for the Strollers to replace the calories burnt off on the walk.
Thanks Moira for organising this walk. Lets hope the weather stays as nice for September.
Buxley has some interesting “A” listed historic buildings, and was built from 1897 to 1900 as the “Home” farm for Manderston. Here we met one of residents who works in the shop at Manderston House and did her best to try and entice us to visit the house Continuing on we entered the grounds of Manderston House, the home of The Palmer family of Huntley and Palmer biscuit fame. Manderston is the supreme country house of Edwardian Scotland and was completely rebuilt from 1901 to 1903; the swan-song of its era. A house on which no expense was spared, with opulent staterooms, the only silver-staircase in the world, and extensive "downstairs" domestic quarters. It stands in 56 acres of formal gardens, with magnificent stables and a stunning marble dairy. We stopped off at the stables to have a chat with the horses and admire the stables with the horse names on the wall that all began with M.
We then made our way back to Duns along the edge of the A6105 following the wide grass verge that runs along the side of the road. Why is it all these roads seem to get busier just as we are walking along? Most Borders drivers think they are all Louise Aitken Walker and by “planning” we pass the Aitken Walker garage founded by her and her husband as we walk back to Duns. Louise's career began in 1979 when she was entered in Ford's 'Find a Lady Rally Driver' competition, without her knowledge, by her two brothers and was a winner from 2000 entrants. It spanned fourteen years up to 1993 when she retired to have a family. During those years she was the first woman to win a National Rally outright, survived a horrific crash in Portugal and became the first, ever British driver to win a world title - FIA Ladies World Rally Champion. Passing the garage we walked back into Duns down Bridgend returning to the Square and time for the Strollers to replace the calories burnt off on the walk.
Thanks Moira for organising this walk. Lets hope the weather stays as nice for September.
