There are fine foxgloves, and some wonderful willowherb, but the helleborines are new. They’ll be more interesting (slightly!) when they’re fully in flower – they may be a variety of orchid but they’re not spectacular… The thistles are impressive too. It’s a fine July evening after a showery day – good to be out!
After a wet morning and a so-so afternoon, it would be a crime not to enjoy an evening like this!
Is there such a thing? Two short and relatively local outings – a couple of breezy miles on the northern end of the Long Mynd, near Jinlye (Thursday 4 July), and a summer’s afternoon at Attingham (Friday 5 July).
Jinlye:
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=345115&Y=296542&A=Y&Z=115
Attingham:
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355090&Y=310087&A=Y&Z=120
It’s a National Trust for Scotland house and estate near Musselburgh, not far from the Forth shore between Joppa and the old harbour at Fisherrow. There’s a rather fine play area for small people, “Weehailes”, with well-placed picnic benches for mums, dads and grandparents… Sadly, the latter are just a bit too old for the play equipment (it does look fun!) – a walk through the estate to the shore and back will have to suffice for them…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=332724&Y=672644&A=Y&Z=115
… if you want to get there by train from Dunbar!
Friday 28 June: From Dunbar to Drem (the junction for North Berwick), by rail, is about 10 miles. North Berwick is then just under 5 miles away. All trains between Edinburgh and North Berwick call at Drem, but those between Edinburgh and Dunbar don’t. What’s the alternative?
I though about leaving the 11.01 Scotrail service from Dunbar at Wallyford – or Musselburgh – and waiting for the next North Berwick train. Then I realised that the latter was in fact my train from Dunbar – it would stand at Waverley for seven minutes, then depart back the way it had come, taking the line to North Berwick at Drem.
So – 55 miles and 1 hr 15 minutes later, I’m in North Berwick. I’ll enjoy a brief wander along the beach and the harbour, before looking at the sky and realising there was a hefty-looking shower blowing down the Firth. The next bus (answering the question posed above) was imminent (and waterproof) – half-an-hour later I’m at West Barns. It’s stopped raining – I’ll walk the rest of the way, across Belhaven beach, over the bridge to nowhere and along the clifftop path to get back to the start of this very enjoyable outing.
Q: Why?
A: I’d never travelled along the North Berwick branch. I have now!
The mural at the harbour: see https://juliebarnes.co.uk/uks-largest-marine-plastic-mural-to-be-unveiled-in-north-berwick/
The map below may make things clearer… (it also shows my route for the previous day’s trip to Leven)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=342885&Y=686288&A=Y&Z=130
Thursday 27 June: A day out from Dunbar, 
to ride on the recently-reopened line to Leven, on the shores of the Firth of Forth in Fife… I’ll change trains at Kirkcaldy (for a brief exploration), and on my return I’ll stop for a few photos at the lovely little station at Aberdour (see above). Visit ‘Leven… Kirkcaldy and Aberdour’ on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for a full illustrated account of the rail-related aspects of this most enjoyable outing.
Another look at rail traffic over the splendid South Esk viaduct at Montrose – three Scotrail Inter7City HSTs in 15 minutes. Visit “South Esk” on Geoff ‘s Rail Diaries for photos and details
Tuesday 25 June and Wednesday 26 June: Montrose, the ‘East Neuk’ of Fife and Dunbar. It was a gloomy Tuesday evening in Montrose. Better tomorrow? No! Scotland’s east coast was suffering from a ‘haar’ (what my mother called a ‘sea fret’). The fishing villages – we visited Crail and St Monans – can be very picturesque with a spot of sunshine; they were eerily quiet in the mist. By evening, we’re in Dunbar, and I’m stretching my legs before calling it a day.
Monday 24 June: Last chance of a leg stretch before we take to the road tomorrow – a short stroll onto the hilltop above Heribusta. It’s not a great evening. I’m fortunate to see a little sunshine, but I could easily get wet too. Sunshine and showers = rainbows!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=139735&Y=870360&A=Y&Z=120
It’s about 12 miles from Dunbar to North Berwick, and though both are on the rail network, it’s not easy to do the journey by rail (getting on for 60 miles…). I’ll return to Dunbar on the bus. More to follow; in the meantime, a taster…
geoffspages.blog 