Mon 31st May - Day 45, Bellingham to Corse Slack (N of the Border) (20 miles)

After a night of heavy condensation I set off in the thick morning mist.
Leaving Bellingham at 07:15 I followed the road to Blakelaw Farm then the path took to the moors.

The mist burned away after two hours leaving the day sunny with clouds.

It was 7 miles to Padon Hill and the view ahead was of Keilder Forest and the Cheviot Hills.

Once in the forest I stopped for lunch, it was very hot but the trees on the east side track had been cleared letting a slight breeze through.

It was slow work in the heat and when I got to Byrness at 14:15 I had another break at the cafe in the Border Park Service Station, sandwiches, cake and a pot of tea, and I refilled my water bottles.

Leaving the cafe it was a steep climb up through the trees for half a mile before coming out onto the Cheviot range of hills.

The path kept to the high ground just to the east of the forest and I crossed into Scotland at 16:45 at the corner of the forest.

Five minutes later I left the Pennine Way taking a path down towards Kale Water, I was needing to find somewhere to stop for the night, this area was quite open with sheep everywhere.

The path went by a small patch of trees at Corse Slack, the trees were quite closely packed but there was enough room to squeeze the tent in.

Crossing into Scotland was my second psychological point, it feels like I'm nearly home but there are still about 375 miles to go.

After 6 weeks you would have thought my feet would be hardened by now but I picked up another blister today on my little toe.

778 miles completed.