Sitting in front of a computer thinking about a day in the countryside is not always conducive for creative writing. The sounds of water and wildlife are replaced by voices and traffic. I am reminded of something my sister said to me when she was visiting in May.
We were driving from Traquair to the Yarrow Valley over the Paddy Slacks road. She intimated that she found this section to be a bit claustrophobic. As I was about to return comment, she continued to say that she imagined that I found it protective;
indeed, she had stolen my thoughts because I was going to say that I found it comforting and safe.
Comfort and safety is found in environments that you are familiar with. I did not particularly enjoy walking around the Royal Highland Show during my lunchbreak on Saturday. The volume of people and stands made it impossible to see beyond the immediate environment that bustled and swayed in the summer drizzle.
Sunday took me along a different route, different sounds, smells and sights; ultimately less people. Me and my friend Lisa decided to join the walk from Berwick to Burnmouth that Keith Robeson, senior countryside ranger, was leading.
The valley and the road to St Boswells were set in a dark mist, what would usually herald a feeling of melancholy apprehension made me feel relaxed amid the soft warm grey veil.
On my arrival, Lisa appeared at my car bright and cheerful – a jewel in the greyness of the day.
From our drop-off point in Berwick we headed along Silver Street to meet the coastal path; where Keith enlightened the group to the historical significance of Berwick as a medieval trading route, and her place in the fluid border between Scotland and England.
In 1296, forces under the command of Edward I massacred the population of Berwick as they invaded Scotland.
The next section was mostly along paths cut in the long swaying grasses which were my height or more. They brushed my shoulders and face as I walked through them.
On their far side, the haar held silent over the North Sea. Occasionally, we were afforded a view of red sandstone cliffs hewn into circular coves or overhangs where fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and puffins were nesting, roosting and preening.
The highlight of the day (apart from the ice-cream van) was the sightings we enjoyed after a male peregrine was spotted flying just below us.
A short distance along the path, three young peregrines newly emerged from their nest were resting in close proximity to us.
No-one in the group had been so close to peregrines. Their immature plumage was evident to the naked eye – peachy-browns instead of white – and the absence of the yellow on the beak.
Despite the haar, the day was filled with the colour and movement of wildlife, as well as the birds listed we saw five different butterflies which included a small blue and several ringlets. Among the winged creatures was a six-spot burnet moth. Hidden in the grasses was a straw-coloured cocoon of the same.
The flowers were also bountiful and included wood and kidney vetch, soft and meadow cranesbill, sea plantain, common orchids and hayrattle (yellow rattle).
