Bewcastle

Started the day with Gordon's favourite meal, at our favourite local restaurant - The Bridge at Kirkby Thore. Well, it was his birthday, and they do do an exceedingly good breakfast. We then headed up to Carlisle to see how the Roman bathhouse dig was getting on. Great to see all the volunteers working alongside the Archaeologists - so many discoveries being made.***

Then we wandered through the 'debatable lands' towards Bewcastle. It's a while since we've been up there and had forgotten just how bleak and lonely it is, even on a lovely sunny day. I wanted to see the Bewcastle Cross, which I haven't seen for a long while. It didn't disappoint. What I hadn't realised was that both the church and the castle (extra) here were built on the plateau on which had been a large Roman Fort. This was built as an outpost for the Wall, a few miles further south. There was a road linking the Fort at Birdoswald with this one. I don't think this isolated spot would have been a favourite posting!

Then we wandered the even more bleak and lonely moorland between Newcastleton and Langholm. The latter is where we are now, having had a meal and looking forward to yet another evening with Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain at the lovely little theatre we like very much.

***A note to anyone living locally - it is well worth paying a visit next week to the dig. It is at the Cricket ground in Carlisle - just turn off over the bridge and park in the car park. It is open for visitors, but there are some guided tours - at 11 and 3 I think. We arrived in the middle of one and it was very informative. Bear in mind that they finish work on the 7th and it is almost certain that it will all be filled in then.