Day 28: East Calder to West Linton
Distance: 17.4 miles / 28.0 km
Weather: Dry and cloudy
Start: 09:19
Finish: 16:16
Today’s walk brought a refreshing change of scenery and pace – more varied terrain and some great company made all the difference.
We began the day winding through Almondell & Calderwood Country Park, following the path by Linhouse Water. From there we passed under the impressive Camps Viaduct, a striking piece of old engineering nestled in nature.
The real shift came as we entered the Pentland Hills – an open landscape that felt far removed from the previous few days. The route took us along the Cross Drover Road, and later onto the intriguingly named Thieves Road, all the way into West Linton.
Today, I wasn’t walking alone: Johnny, a friend of Adam’s from Edinburgh, joined me for the day. Having someone to talk to was a real boost, breaking up the long quiet hours and making the miles pass more easily.
We’re overnighting in a pub car park in West Linton, and have been met with heartwarming generosity. The landlord and a few of the customers offered donations to the cause, and I’m deeply grateful for their kindness and support.
Looking ahead tomorrow’s a shorter day, just 12 miles to Peebles, which should allow for a bit of recovery before the next leg of the journey south.
