Confused in the Borders!

We set off north in time to get brunch at Tebay Farm services. When we arrived it had started to rain. Heading to the Borders we decided on the western route to take a look at the low water levels at Haweswater.

Having been on the TV recently we thought it might be busy but maybe the weather would put people off. We stopped within sight of the end of the lake with the remains of Mardale just about visible, but it was truly dreich. We could also see a long line of parked cars so decided to go no further.

Fortunately as we followed the Historic Border Route to Edinburgh we left the rain behind. Stopping for a cuppa in Langholm I spotted a map showing Border Battle Fields and Border Reiver families. My sister in law is a Forster and a confessed sheep stealer (well not her personally) and yes, on the English side, there were lots of Forsters. More surprisingly on the Scottish side were lots of Elliots. My friend is an Elliot and is from the Borders. I knew they were a Border clan but not known reivers. Surprising who your friends are!

We continued on until we turned off the main route to climb over from Teviotdale to the Ettrick Valley. We are staying in Ettrickbridge. A very pretty village with lots of flowers everywhere. (Could be a contender for an 'In Bloom' award)  As you can see here the Parish Hall clearly states Kirkhope, as does the village church and school yet at each end of the village is the sign 'Ettrickbridge'! To confuse things even more these two yarn bombed cones seem to me to be the wrong way around or do they say Pop Lolly up here over the Border instead of Lolly Pop?