we got home last night from a fabulous week in the borders. we were snowed in from Wednesday and only got out yesterday by getting the local farmer to pull out the van with his tractor after i failed to get it through the 2 foot drifts on the drive, i couldnt dig it out, the old internet trick of ratchet strapping blocks of wood to the wheels doesnt work, an the farmers land rover with snow tyres and huge wheels couldnt get through the snow on the hill to the cottage, fortunately the tractor made light work of it all and we got home ok, 3 hours to do 100 yards, 2 and a quarter more to do the next 130 miles. im aching now though, walking through snow up to your thighs is a great workout. but we are home and warm now and have some fab photos of the place. the borders is a bloody lovely place that to my shame, ive always driven past on my way to farther flung places, its well worth a visit, imagine the scenery of the yorkshire dales and cumbria, but with none of the twee touristy tack. and accomodation is cheap too. we got a detatched cottage that was isolated completely from civilization, no neighbours, 360 degree views of the hills around us, and that could sleep 8 people in 4 bedrooms for the same price as a pokey 1 bed flat in the lakes or the dales. great value and in the summer, the roads will be brill on a bike. we will be going back for sure.
