As regular readers of our blog will know we like to go to a nearby town called Silloth. The reasons are many but mainly we get a great walk on the hard concrete and a good run about on the grass.
The hard surface is great for filing down our claws and it has the advantage that we stay reasonably clean. So we usually walk for about a mile or so down the concrete then get to play on the softer grass on the return leg.
One of the best bits is running up and down the steps towards the sea then back up onto the promenade.
Buster now walks a little slower as his hip and leg are still giving him a bit of pain but he still enjoys the sniffs and the stretch.
For those who don’t know the area Silloth is on the west Coast of Cumbria above Whitehaven. It has it’s very own port and is where a lot of the grain is milled for Carrs biscuits. During the week you can see many green Carrs Milling wagons traveling from Silloth and in to Carlisle to the bicky factory there. This factory, and the family behind it were the subject of the book by Margaret Forster called Rich Desserts and Captain’s Thin: A Family and Their Times, 1831-1931
The area is very popular with touring caravans and motorhomes it also has a thriving static caravan site.
Our walk takes around two hours. It seems to take longer every time as we find new sniffs to investigate or see things that need closer inspection. Rabbits from the nearby bankings drew our attention this time and I had to follow every trail back to the hole in the ground.
You could see for miles across the Solway and into Scotland. Wind turbines could just be made out on the fell tops to our right and to our left the open sea with not a single boat to be seen.
My mum says she saw a dolphin, or maybe it was a porpoise… we think that maybe all she saw was a bit of driftwood bobbing around as we didn’t see anything.
My mum must get me a longer lead! For safety reasons we are both kept on our leads when we are outside in the big world but they do get in the way when you want to really go for a run. The longest my dad has been able to find is an eight metre long retractable lead, but this doesn’t really let us go flat out for long.
After our walk he has had a look on the web and has found a training lead that is about 15 -30m long. Now that is more like it… can we have one please?
Does anyone have any experience of these or does your human have a longer retractable lead source?
This walking and running lark gives you a bit of a thirst and thankfully due to the regular fresh water puddles we get a drink. Buster was looking forward to this oasis and took full advantage of the fresh rain water. The puddle was far away from the sea so it was not salt water.. that tastes horrid and is not nice.
We met many friends out walking their humans today. Sat on one of the many bench seats was a slightly blind Lhasa Apso. She was very well behaved and said hello with a friendly wag of her tail and a sniff.
Buster tried to say hello to a seagull, who just screeched at him and flew off and I just said hello to every one I saw, because that is the kind of guy I am.
The Silloth Prom is part of the Cumbrian Coastal Way.This walk is around 150 miles from Silverdale in the south to Gretna in the North.
The route was established by Cumbria County Council in the late 1980s.
If you are a bit of a walker or just want to dip in and out of the larger walk, like we have today, then their are plenty of books and maps to help you get the most out of the trail.
The area is well served with bus and train connections. Especially as the railway hugs the coast for large sections and the nearest station or town is not that far away.
On our way home we decided to keep to the back lanes and avoid any of the major routes. This had the advantage, it turns out, of finding a small holding selling fresh berries.
With a signboard propped up at the side of the road proclaiming Raspberries and blackcurrants for sale. We just had to investigate.
My dad drove the car up this tight lane, under some heavily laden apple trees and into this farm yard. There, on a small table to our left, was a collection of tubs brim full of freshly picked fruit. A sign above gave the prices and a small honesty box was available in which to place the appropriate cash.
You can read all about what we purchased in the next few days on our partner site foodonabudget.com.
Thats all for now as we have to let mum get to the computer to write all about the raspberries and what she did with them.
Until next time
Charlie and Buster.
