We sleep well in Days Inn. It’s a bit more up to date and cheaper than its counterpart in Johnstonebridge. It does have the identical, bizarre single-ply toilet paper however. Breakfast in Starbucks then it’s onto the A702.
Fortunately, we find a stile and briefly take a path over fields by the banks of the Clyde. We rejoin the road for a bridge over a tributary, then take the A73 towards Roberton, as it’s quieter. We take a footpath onto an unclassified road towards the hill from which the hamlet takes its name. Rich comments that our boots look like they’ve lived. I reply that they look like they’ve died. I’m only half joking.
It’s a lovely, sunny morning and we find a surprise bench for our morning break. We can see the Clyde Wind Farm in the distance. It’s pretty extensive, but it’s not the biggest onshore wind farm in Scotland as that is Whitelees, south of Glasgow. Nevertheless, both the Clyde Wind Farm and Whitelees are among the five largest European onshore wind farms. For the record, Hornsea wind farm is the largest offshore wind farm in the world. The United Kingdom is, amazingly, at the forefront of wind power.
We carry on along the beautiful road, surrounded by hills, sheep, rooks, a pied wagtail and, earlier, some lapwings, traditionally called peewits in Scotland. As we approach a tiny settlement called Newton of Wiston, we start to see Tinto coming into view. At 711 metres (2332 feet) Tinto is the largest hill in the area and, as it is relatively isolated, dominates the surrounding landscape. We head towards Wiston village itself and stop to discuss climbing Tinto. It’s very steep from this side and heavy showers are forecast. We are also tired, so decide to consider it again tomorrow on our way to Lanark. At least it would be a more gentle ascent. It’s always difficult to balance making progress with enjoying the trip by adding detours.
We take the B7055 back to the A73 for a bit, then gratefully turn off towards Symington. As predicted, it begins to rain. We pass through Symington to the A72, hearing our first bagpipes, and arrive at the Tinto Hotel. The sign says it is a ‘Traditional Country House Hotel’. Rich presciently comments that this is not a good thing and a modern country house would be better.
We check in quite early, hoping for the ‘light bites’ advertised on the website, as there is no dinner available here tonight and little else around. There is an air of confusion and decaying grandeur about the hotel and definitely no cooked food. There is no chance of the early shower and rest I’d been hoping for either as they are jet-washing the roof above our room and there is a constant, loud, banging noise until 6:30pm. We are offered free drinks in the bar as compensation.
We eventually do our usual chores in spite of the noise and watch an appropriate programme about the Southern Uplands Way while we await our takeaway to celebrate over 500 miles.
Total distance so far: 507 miles
Comments