Nine of us left the coaches at Kirknewton in fine weather with a mix of blue sky and cloud.  With Florence as leader, she led the way E to the road turn and took the road/track heading NE.  After passing some cottages, a little further on she took the RoW heading N across a field and made her way towards the visible footbridge.  After crossing the footbridge we turned left onto a minor road and made our way to Lanton Mill where we stopped for coffee. 

After our coffee stop, we took the left hand fork and followed a grassy track initially WSW and then opposite West Newton on the other side of the Bowmont Water it turned N and became a footpath.   We followed this almost invisible FP along the top of an embankment until we reached the point where after crossing a small stream it turned uphill to Crookhouse.  We dropped down to the river bank along a minor path and headed for the footbridge.  After crossing the bridge and having a group photo, we proceeded to Canno Mill.  As we passed the cottages at Canno Mill, a lady greeted us and asked where we were going (in a friendly way).  When we showed her the map, she warned us that the path along by the river was very overgrown mainly with nettles but we were welcome to try it.  Florence and I discussed it and Florence decided to give it a try as we felt there were problems with the alternatives.  Suffice to say that the lady was correct as we waded through waist high nettles with no visible path even though the GPS’s showed we were on the RoW.  This lasted for almost 500 m.   I think everyone, including those in long trousers was badly stung.  Eventually when we came to a fence, the route on the other side was across short grass – welcome relief.  Passing a small almost dried up lake, we then came to a footbridge which we crossed into Reedsford.  At Reedsford we joined a metalled track heading NW.  This brought us to the B 6351 road which we followed SSW to Kilham.  We then continued SSW on a minor road heading up the attractive Elsdon Burn valley.   After about 1Km, where a track heads off on the right and there is a wood, we stopped on a grassy bank for lunch.  At this point we were a bit wary as a walk last year had been told a similar grassy bank in this valley was private and the walkers should get back on the road.  Sure enough, a few minutes later a quad bike came along the road and we waited for the well dressed guy to stop, but he didn’t, so we carried on with lunch and in the case of one of the ladies, a sunbathe. 

After lunch, we continued SW along the road, passing some attractive buildings at Thompsons Walls where the road became more of a track.  A bit further on, just before Old Sheilings, the main track turned SE but a grassy track carried straight on.  We took the grassy track which became a RoW footpath a little further on.  This turned WSW and then descended down a gentle hill to the Countrup Sike (a burn) which formed the border beween England and Scotland.  The burn and the path turned NW and we continued along the path until we reached a minor road.  Turning left SW onto the road brought us into Scotland and to the hamlet of Yetholm Mains.  Just before the first building, we had our afternoon stop on a grassy bank with a wall as backrest, excellent views of the Northern Cheviots and glorious sunshine.  After our stop, it was an easy 2 Km flat walk SW along the quiet road running at the base of the northern Cheviots into Kirk Yetholm.

A very enjoyable walk, with good scenery and excellent weather.  Thanks Florence.