Brian and Ruth on holiday: Gretna Green, Hadrian's Wall and Penrith

After taking one wrong exit on the motorway through Glasgow and asking for directions, we made very good time and were at Gretna Green by lunchtime. Rain was still with us and we spent some time sightseeing and shopping before setting out to find Hadrian's Wall. The wall was signposted all along the A69 and we explored a few turn offs before finally arriving at Housesteads. We spent a thoroughly enjoyable few hours walking to and on the wall and exploring the Roman Fort and museum. We had intended staying overnight at Carlisle but the weather was fine and driving was good so we went on to Penrith. By the time we arrived it was 5.45pm and after a quick drive around the town we finally found a park outside the Agricultural Hotel and there was one room available. We learned later that the first cattle market in the world was held in Penrith, on the space where this hotel sits - in fact we ate our dinner and breakfast in what was the show ring.