Postponed by a week thanks to the beast from the east Monday’s ladies run left the bright lights of Edinburgh behind and headed to Athelstaneford (or Elshinford as the locals know it!) Head torches were definitely necessary as even the village streetlights are designed for low light pollution. We were few in number – me, Kirsty, Sandra and newbie Tawera – but we made up for it in enthusiasm. We even persuaded Billy to join us! We managed a 5 mile loop, taking in the unfinished 16th century Barnes Castle before heading to the Garleton Hills, the Hopetoun Monument beckoning us onwards. Kirsty described the run as taking us through a fairytale landscape, castle ruins, steep escarpments, wonderful chocolate fields with fresh sprouts of green grass, stone bridges, steps, remote farms and distant monuments on a calm winter night. Our reward was Billy’s chilli on our return – what else do you need from a Monday night?
Dorothy Elliott