A Ram's Gotta Do ...

We call them tups up here, but the principle is the same - if there are to be lambs on the hillsides come April, the tup has a job to do and now's the time. The harness round his neck contains a dye, so the shepherd can tell where he's been and when.

We set out to walk near Selkirk,  but before we got there we had to screech to a halt while I tried (and failed) to get some shots of the hunt galloping across the hillside, preceded by the hounds, who were heading in totally the wrong direction. I suppose they sorted themselves out - I wasn't near enough for the pictures to be any good. It's the first time I've witnessed the hunt in full cry, quite impressive even though I thoroughly disapprove of the whole thing ..... 

So we continued sedately to Bowhill for a walk through the Duke of Buccleuch's extensive demesne. Nice that he lets us wander in its beautiful environs.

It was a glorious day. Newark Tower appears out of a cunningly concealed gap in the hills. It was once a royal hunting lodge, ruinous now. 

We weren't the only visitors, though we left the Rolls at home   and walked  in from the current Big House,  looking lovely in the the low sunshine by the lake. See the extras if you want to make some sense of this ramble about a ramble :-)