Gretna Green on the Scottish Border, is where we ended up yesterday on our latest adventure.
Travelling up the M6, we turned left just over the border and headed towards Gretna and Gretna Green.
Gretna Green is where the famous blacksmiths is to be found and not as many people think the nearby town of Gretna.
Over the years, tens of thousands of humans have run away to get married at Gretna Green. As a result, a cottage industry has married into tourism and given birth to the new industry of wedding tourism.
The Gretna Green Group, founded in 1886, is the family company currently in charge of the venue incorporating the blacksmiths.
It now caterers for over 700,000 visitors each year and, looking at the size of the coach park at the rear of the complex, it is clear to see how many people arrive.
Gretna Green blacksmiths
The story starts in the mid 1700’s when young couples could get married in Scotland over the age of 16 just by declaring themselves to each other in front of witnesses. This practice was banned in England, so many humans travelled to the first staging post in Scotland, called Gretna Green, and got married.
Personally I don’t see what is wrong with a good chase, a sniff and a long howling bark, but these humans have some funny rules.
Today the blacksmiths is surrounded by the trappings of a tourist destination all designed to help you spend money.
Gretna Green for a Sunday visit
Arriving as we did at the end of February it was very quiet, but ideal for taking a good look around.
A large food hall with chilled cabinets provided lunch, whilst the whisky shop provided dad with a honey and whisky tipple. Clothing shops and a reasonably priced restaurant complimented the package.
Scattered all around the site are many pieces of sculpture and art installations. These seemed a little out of context and made the venue feel a bit like the promenade at a seaside resort. Dad said at one stage that he expected to see the flashing kiss me quick hats on sale.
Dog friendly
Sadly, no white frocks or big hats were on display today, so we had free run to say hello to many humans and other woofers visiting the area.
Whilst we waited for mum to come out of the shops, she says she was looking for bargains, we had chance to have a good sniff around.
Out on the grass, near to the car park, we met a lovely friend called Glen. His background is a bit sad it seems, however with his new humans he is getting the hang of being in charge. Glen was a bit scared of us initially but soon realised we were no threat and started to relax a bit.
We said our goodbyes with a friendly wag of our tails and headed on our way.
Highland cattle
Alongside the car park is a field with a number of heritage beasts in it.
The sign said that Highland cattle and Belted Galloways were the other side of the thin electric fence.
Dad just could not help offering some silly comment about mother-in-laws, and how ugly she looked. Normally would have been a fair joke, apart from when mum pointed out that they had horns! Dad said nothing and we returned to the car for a few of the eatables purchased in the shops.
Bruce’s cave
After spending about 90 minutes at Gretna Green, we drove the short way to Kirkpatrick Fleming in search of spiders.
A small brown sign indicates our destination to the left off the main road and down towards a caravan park.
Something just seemed a bit strange and quite spooky as we crossed the railway tracks and entered into a static caravan park.
A hand painted sign suggested that we followed the road to our left past some old farm implements and to a parking area in front of a big house.
This approach to a tourist venue was not at all expected and quite out of character.
All became clear as a nice lady welcomed us and asked if we were wishing to see the cave.
Tickets in hand ( £1 each), we started our walk down a very pleasant path surrounded by snowdrops towards what sounded like a river nearby.
Spider and a web
The path continued down hill for a few hundred meters before a hairpin turn through a gate and onto a wooden balcony. To our right, off the balcony, is what is known as Bruce’s cave.
Bruce’s cave is hollowed out of the cliff face about 30m from the river below. Legend has it that it was here that King Robert the Bruce saw a spider trying to build a web.
Upon seeing the spider not giving up he gained inspiration and returned to battle.
The story has over the years developed in to the popular phrase ‘If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again’.
River walk
Our path continued down to the river and after a quick paddle, we returned back up to the caravan park through some woodland.
In the distance we could hear a woodpecker hammering away at a tree trunk and, above us, mum was sure she saw a bird called a tree creeper.
As you would expect for this time of the year the caravan park was quite quiet. Many caravans had covers on and the many water taps around the site had been capped to protect them from freezing.
After spending a good hour exploring the cave and the woodlands, we returned to the car and our journey home.
Until next time
Buster and Charlie