Bellingham to Byrness

Another early start. Partly to avoid the heat. Partly because thunder was threatened later in the day.

Clouds made it cooler for the tedious upward hike out of Bellingham, much on th ine road out of the village.

Then the route just contours round a few hills on easy, grassy tracks, with little to commend the scenery.

There’s a rather steep, narrow pull up by this wall with bracken determined to take over, and a couple of k of rather scratchy heather.

But that is nothing to the tedium of several k of forest track.

Once reaching the river towards Byrness there is a little more life and variation but as the predicted thunder was hovering every closer I was keen to get to the Forest View Hotel.

I made it 5 mins before the heavens opened.