St Cuthbert's Way - Day 3 - Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm -8 Miles/13 Km with an ascent of 1,280ft/390m

Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm
St Cuthberts Way, Scottish/English borders Day 3
Due to a shortage of accommodation in Kirk Yetholm, we had a short day of walking, 8 miles. We later realised the rooms had all been booked by an American party of 18, so just unlucky really.
As it was a short day, we had a leisurely breakfast where we were staying at Templeton Hall Hotel, at 9am. Breakfast is served between 8am and 9.30am, but an earlier option is available to eat in your room. We visited the well-stocked village shop before leaving at 10.15 am.
We followed the signs out of the village, going up a road, very excited to spot a golden eagle flying high above us, with red campion and cow parsley lining the road. There was a slight confusion as the path seemed to go left across a ford, even though the weather had been dry, this was too deep to cross and covered in algae. Fortunately, 100m further up the road a bridge has been built over the river. The path goes very steeply up Grubbit Law hill. (1 hour, 2 miles, 252m ascent), then across Wideopen Hill. (1 hour 30 mins, 2.75 miles, 350m ascent), with views to Bowmont water and Kirk Yetholm. This is the highest point of the walk at 1207feet/365m with a plaque and is approximately midway between Melrose and Lindisfarne.
Descending the obvious path, we then turned right down a track before turning left down a road passing some houses (12.45pm), turning right for a short distance then left alongside a pretty river. We left the river to visit Town Yetholm, stopping for a drink outside at the very busy Plough Inn. (6.5 miles, 3.5 hours, 372m ascent). The small community shop here was nothing like the previous day’s in Morebattle. Disappointing really, as it had the space outside to serve coffee and sell more products, in hindsight we would have stocked up more the day before. There is some accommodation here, a pretty village green with a bench and book swop in an old phone box. We visited the very interesting free Yetholm Heritage centre, open 10am till 4.30pm every day.
We returned to the river, then turned right along a road to arrive in Kirk Yetholm, which has a lovely large village green, with interesting information boards, about walks, and local Scottish gypsies who settled here in the 17th century. We checked into the Border Hotel, which has a pile of boots outside, and a sign marking the end of the Pennine Way.
Once the summit of Grubbit Law hill (326m) had been reached, this had been a relatively easy day. We had taken our time and enjoyed the scenery, which had changed from the previous day’s arable farm land to rolling hills with some peat, skirting round the granite masses of the Cheviots.
Distance 8 miles (12.8 km)
Duration of Walk 4 Hours 45 mins including breaks
Elevation Gained 1305 feet (398m)
Average pace 36 minutes a mile
Information/Advice
Kirk Yetholm marks the end of the Pennine Way, which runs from/to Edale in Derbyshire 268miles away. Therefore, it can be a busy area, and accommodation needs to be booked in advance. There is a shortage of shops, taxis and dining options. We had booked in advance to eat at the Border Hotel. Yetholm means “gate town” Later we visited Yetholm Church, which was very interesting.
Websites used www.expedia.com The Border Hotel
www.bbc.co.uk/weather