Pennine Way day 17 (sun 4th may 2014) - Byrness to Kirk Yetholm (27 miles)

So this is it…the last day! And it's a big one!! I have to say i'm pretty apprehensive i know we'll get there, i just don't know when, i have visions of arriving at midnight! The alarm goes off at half five and we drag ourselves out of bed and down for our breakfast cereal and croissants that Joyce has laid out for us, i feel a bit sick getting up this early but force some food down and we set off at 6.25, thankfully leaving our bags behind for the sherpavan to pick up.  It's a misty morning as we head back onto the road and then up a very steep path through forest and up on to the top of Byrness hill. We make our way across moorland which is a bit boggy but not a patch of yesterdays fun and games and pass some MOD signs on our way to Ravens Knowe and Coquet head. It's really misty so no views to distract us and we get our heads down anxious to tick off the miles and get to Kirk Yetholm.  

We stop for a sandwich at the first refuge hut, wouldn't fancy spending the night here though! We head on towards Dere street and up to lamb hill reaching Windy gyle at lunchtime and stop to take a few photos at the cairn, where we see a few other walkers sheltering from the damp.  It's a shame it's not clearer as i'm sure the views would be lovely but we don't see much of anything most of the day…mainly paved slabs stretching out into the distance which really helps to stay on the path and check off the miles pretty quickly. 
The only really tricky moment is when we get a bit confused and lose the path around Auchope Cairn, it's really misty and we end up having to check the compass and retrace our steps a bit before getting back on track and heading down a steep ascent where we can see the second refuge hut in the distance.

We stop at the hut for another sandwich before heading up to the Schil, it's good to know this is the last big climb of the walk and that spurs us on even though we are starting to feel pretty tired now!  We choose the lower level walk down to Kirk Yetholm which is hard going on the knees on the way down but good to know we're nearly there. We cross several fields before heading past a farm onto a gravel path and see the tunnocks caramel wafer wagon that i've seen on so many other pennine way blogs…nearly there!! 

There's just one short steep climb on the road before we can see Kirk Yetholm in the distance and before we know it we've reached the border hotel and that's it, all over!!
We go through the formalities of photos, signing the pennine way book and enjoying reading everyone's comments and get our free pints for finishing.  It all seems a bit surreal and i think we're too knackered to actually appreciate what we've just done…at this stage i just want a hot bath and some clean clothes! We head to the Mill house B&B and WOW what a place to spend the last night of our trip! David and Claire have very kindly upgraded us to the suite which is huge and absolutely gorgeous and after a lovely hot bath we head back to the pub before our legs seize up altogether and enjoy a massive celebratory meal and a couple of drinks before we can't keep our eyes open anymore and head back to the B&B for an awesome nights sleep, happy in the knowledge we don't have to walk anywhere tomorrow!!!

We both had an amazing time on the pennine way, enjoying it far more than we ever expected, we saw some wonderful things and visited some lovely places and i would happily go back and do it all over again sometime…once my legs have stopped aching that is! The big question is….what to do next?? x