Mabie Forest, Homcoming Walk 2009

This year is Homecoming Scotland 2009 where Scots from all over the world will come together to celebrate. 1) The 250th birthday of Robert Burns our National Bard. 2) Our Culture & Heritage 3) Our Contributions to Whisky & Golf. & 4) Our Great Minds & Innovations.
To celebrate, our walking club decided to have a Special Homecoming Walk.
This took place at Mabie Forest, Dumfries, this is where Robert Burns spent some part of his life and where he is buried in a local churchyard.
To celebrate a few of our members wore something tartan, some had little paper shields with tartan printed on it.

We travelled to Mabie Forest where we had morning coffee at The Mabie House Hotel before starting our walk.
Our 7 mile walk in the Mabie Forest started in dry overcast but warm weather. As we walked round the forest it was plain to see that this forest was different, it had large open areas in it with some great views over the Dumfries countryside plus views to the Solway Firth and the mountains of the Lake District. The paths were very good and the terrain very variable.
After lunch the rain started and remained with us for the remainder of the walk.
Our walk ended as we returned to Mabie House Hotel, it was where we had booked to have a meal before returning home to East Kilbride.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting up with Bill & Marjory, old friends who left our walking club when they moved house to live in Dumfries, it was lovely to share a meal with them.

Very enjoyable days walking, lots of good company, loads of laughs, a nice meal and a wee drink.
Just what guid Scots folks do very well , gathering together and enjoying themselves