Day 11. Monday, 14th April 2014. Traquair to Galashiels. 13 miles. Update on last night at the Traquair Arms Hotel. Good food was washed down with 2 pints of Bear Ale from the Traquair House brewery. (no connection to the hotel of a similar name) The beer was 5% A.B.V. and is the weakest they brew. Others come in at 7.2% and 8%. That sounds like my kind of a brewery. The day couldn't have started better. After an excellent breakfast in a top quality B&B, the landlord offered me a lift back from Innerleithen to Traquair where I'd left the SUW yesterday, saving me an half hour walk on tarmac. Result. In bright sunshine and sans the waterproof trousers for the first time, I set off along an old drovers track which, apparently had previously been used by Edward I on one of his sorties north of the border and by Walter Scott's mum. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. The track climbed gently upward, mostly on good grass to the top of minchmoor, passing as it did, the last tree plantation on the SUW, Hallelujah. Once out onto open moorland, there is a glorious ridge walk of about 3 miles with stunning views in all directions. At Three Brethen, three dirty great cairns, the path makes a right turn and descends down to meet the River Tweed on its journey to Berwick. I crossed the river by a fine stone-arched bridge and then began a climb, very steeply at first to eventually top Hog Hill. At the end of the first steep section, a conveniently- placed tree stump offered me a resting place from which to take lunch. Back to mid-day al fresco dining from now on I reckon. From the top of Hogs Hill, Galashiels came into view and an easy downhill route brought me to my destination for the night. The day's walking was done by 16.00. Weather. As forecast, today was dry with long periods of warm sunshine. Yesterday's wind was reduced to a gentle breeze on the tops so, overall, combined with the very acceptable footpaths, it conspired to make this the best day's walking thus far. Poll latest. With two very definite no votes from my Scots hosts we have Ayes 4 Noos 10 Doon't Knooows 3 Knee Vootin' 3