Walking challenge

The charity for civil servants is running a virtual munro challenge where you walk the distance of Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui, and Braeriach in three days, basically a smidge short of 34 miles.  With no climbing actually involved I think people rather struggled to follow the concept of the fundraiser but with a bank holiday weekend at our disposal we (Nicola, myself and for some of the walk, Helen) thought we'd give it a go.  The first day we stuck to old haunts, leaving from the office at Tweedbank we did a figure of eight, walking up the Tweed to the Old Tweed Bridge and back via a bacon roll at Abbotsford (where there were some new witches and warlords hanging about).  We then headed back down the Tweed to Melrose, stopped for a chocolate brownie (spotting the theme here yet?) and back to the office via Darnick.  Day one - 30,800 steps - 14.1 miles.

Day two saw us walk around St Mary's Loch, starting from the James Hogg memorial and heading clockwise (back for excellent tray bake in the cafe).  We also had a trip to the Megget Reservoir, the 259 hectares (640 acres) reservoir is held back by the largest earth dam in Scotland. It collects water from the Tweedsmuir Hills, which is then conveyed 28 miles via underground pipelines and tunnels to Edinburgh.   Day two - 26,300 steps - 12.0 miles.

Day three was a dramatic section of the Berwickshire Coastal Path, Eyemouth to St Abbs Head via Coldingham Sands.  We managed a bacon roll at St Abbs and some of a massive fish supper in Eyemouth.  Weather a little more unsettled today and definitely more undulations!  Day three - 28,900 - 13.3 miles.  Total milage - 39.4 miles (job done!)