WHAT a weekend! While a thousand runners in the country’s biggest “ultramarathon” race from Carlisle to Newcastle roughly following Hadrian’s Wall, toiled through Gilsland and up the Glenwhelt Bank, musicians were arriving in the two villages for the first festival of Busking the Borders, to play in various venues.

And 95 people scaled our other hill, mainly, it must be said, in cars, to enjoy an afternoon in Shelagh’s superb garden, open as part of the National Gardens Scheme!

Apparently the 69 miles of the WallUltra, through what the website quite correctly describes as “the stunning countryside of Cumbria and Northumberland”, were covered by the winner of the “ratrace” event, one Ian Hammett, in 9 hours 43 minutes, and 8 seconds, a course record!

It’s interesting to find how far it is from Carlisle Castle to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

The runners came in all shapes and sizes and very few were daft enough to try running up the bank! One later described the event as “brutal but stunning”.

WE’VE already had the vintage wagons rally and there will be many more groups tackling our challenging stretch of road in various ways, this summer, and of course, the Cycle Tour comes through the village in September!

BUSKING the Border kicked off in both villages with a vigorous set by the Hadrian Singers who sought refuge from the weather in the Greenhead Hotel but managed to sing outside Meg’s Tearoom in Gilsland.

Drinkers and diners in both villages were well entertained during the rest of the day and evening by individual performers taking part in this informal and relaxed event.

SHELAGH’S garden was looking absolutely lovely as that one week of hot sunshine had encouraged an amazing variety of plants to give their very best.

It’s beautifully laid out with intriguing pathways and hidden delights, making excellent use of what is in fact a relatively small space which feels as if it goes on for ever.

A total of £650 was raised, including proceeds from plant sales, for the cancer charities supported by the National Garden Scheme and Shelagh’s own favourite Cats Protection League. No-one noticed or minded the occasional shower!

ENGLISH Heritage is encouraging young visitors to its fascinating site at Birdoswald in Gilsland this week with a secret password for children only. They can get in free by proclaiming “Emperor Hadrian” at the entrance. Accompanying adults as normal.

The view of the river from the far end of the site is amazing, and Birdoswald is the only place where we can see clear signs of the exciting times that followed the departure of the Roman army from these shores.