The new bridge over the infant Tyne below Crichton Castle was visited by the Cheyne and Sandeman families on Saturday 6 October. The bridge had been funded from the residue of the Cheyne Bequest, given to honour the memory of their father George Cheyne (who had been secretary and chairman of the Scottish Rights of Way Society in the thirties and forties respectively), and their mother Nancy Sandeman – who by happy coincidence would have been exactly 100 years old on the day, had she lived.

Nancy sounds to have been a loving and sensible wife; she insisted that George wear a proper suit to his lawyer’s office, rather than the kilt which he wore the rest of the time. His son Peter kept up the family tradition on the day; a fine Sutherland hunting tartan. Brother Colin and sister Mary also attended, as well as some thirty members of the extended family.

It was a fine sunny day; the bridge and the country looked at their best. Several members of the family walked towards Borthwick Castle using the right of way, and were rewarded with fine views of the Pentlands – their father’s stamping ground when he first came to Edinburgh.

ScotWays was represented on the day by John Pope and Eleisha Fahy – we were made most welcome by the family, who seemed pleased with the results of our efforts.

Thanks are due to Midlothian Council – especially James Kinch – and their rangers Jo Cooke and Alan Krumholds, the volunteers, in particular Ian Brown, and the criminal Justice team, who lifted the heavy timbers down to the site.

– Article written by John Pope, image by Ian Brown

For others who would also like to walk the right of way between Crichton and Borthwick Castles, ScotWays Director John Pope has produced a guide to the route, which is available from the downloads section of our website.