a "what's new" guide to the whole of Geoff's Pages, and a selection of bits and pieces that never made it to the site
A coastal walk from Dunbar to Hedderwick Sands, at the mouth of Scotland’s river Tyne – and back along the beach of Belhaven Bay, with views to Dunbar ahead, and the Bass Rock behind.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365395&Y=678695&A=Y&Z=120
… Behind the isles – at this time of year, South Harris. There have been times when, during our stays on Skye, we haven’t seen what we would call a sunset (there have been times when we haven’t even seen the Western Isles), but this time we’ve had some clear skies and a nightly spectacle in the west. The sun sets around 10pm in these parts in late May…
Wednesday 2 June: ‘High’ is relative – at no point am I more than 1,200ft above the sea, but the top of Sròn Vourlinn is isolated and exposed – and quiet. For every 1,000 visitors who park at the Quiraing car park* and head this way, I suspect fewer than one comes this far. As I approach the airy overhanging ridge, there are a couple of other people, but they’ve gone within minutes, and soon I’m sitting on the springy turf surveying the scene. Once again, I’ve got a fine viewpoint entirely to myself. Tomorrow we’re heading home, by a roundabout route – this is a great way to close the Skye chapter
* I started out from the small parking area near Flodigarry, ascending past Lochs Langaig and Hasco, joining the main path amongst the spectacular pinnacles beyond the Quiraing.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=145548&Y=870651&A=Y&Z=120
Tuesday 1 June: a walk along – mostly above – a fine rocky coastline, with stacks and caves, seabirds and sea views. After a murky start, the sun gradually breaks through.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=144269&Y=874268&A=Y&Z=120
Monday 31 May: It’s firmly (and deservedly) on the tourist trail – it’s also a pleasant walk from Uig, which solves the problem faced by most visitors – where to park the car? Since our last visit, a couple of years ago, lots of new parking space has been created by the local authorities – but I think we’ll stick with the walk. The views from the road are pretty good, especially when the ferry arrives, doing an impressive hand-brake turn to tie-up and unload at the end of the pier.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=140735&Y=863557&A=Y&Z=120
Sunday 30 May: Rubha Hunish, Skye’s northernmost point – a great place to be, especially if I get there before the others… I’m walking by 9.30, and there’s hardly anyone else about. I pass three, then two more people – they’ve been staying overnight in the bothy, the former coastguard lookout on Meall Tuath, which overlooks the little Hunish peninsula. Am I alone now? No – as I descend the precipitous path down the cliff face, I hear voices. Four people appear to have just reached the foot of the cliff path – I can only just see them, but one particularly strident voices carries clearly. (Why do people so carelessly destroy what they, and others, have come for?).
The noisy people look as though they’ll walk clockwise around Hunish, though for now they’re lingering on the shore. I’ll walk anticlockwise – that way, they won’t be in earshot just ahead or behind me, apart from when we pass. Much later, I realise I never saw – or heard – them again! Did they just go back up and miss out on all the interest down here?.
There are cliffs on the eastern side, and three fine stacks – then the northern tip, where I sit a while and watch the world go by. There’s a dolphin, or similar, out there, and a seal pops up for a moment. Then HMS Lancaster sails by…
All too soon I’m back at the top of the cliff path, looking back. One other person has just descended – now they have Hunish to themselves. Crossing the moor on the way back, a few others pass, heading for the clifftop. I’ve timed it right today!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=141565&Y=875652&A=Y&Z=120
Saturday 12 June: An hour and a half around the lanes near Willey, on a perfect summer evening.
Friday 11 June: Walking in the border hills, between Llangunllo and Knighton. This red kite glided down ahead of us, and perched on a fence post for a few minutes. It looks as though he (or she) has been out in the rain (it’s trying, but we’re not really getting wet), and doesn’t look too happy about it…
Saturday 29 May: On my own again today, avoiding the crowds by parking near the Kilmuir village hall and heading across the moorland to Loch Sneosdal, a quiet stretch of water tucked below dark crags, not visible from any road. Heading back from the clear waters of the loch, my eye is caught by pools atop the moorland to the south of the usual route. In a reversal of the normal sequence of events, the sun comes out as I approach them – wonderful!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=139879&Y=869983&A=Y&Z=120
Friday 28 May: an enjoyable short stroll around Staffin. Starting from Columba 1400, we take the path over the moor, past the chambered cairn and down to the rocks south of the slip. The beach and slip are fairly popular, but hardly anyone explores beyond the latter. After watching the waves for a while, we continue past the slip and the beach towards Quiraing Lodge (‘Staffin House’ on old maps), then back beside the main road and the highland cattle.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=148838&Y=867786&A=Y&Z=120
