Category: Photography

Just photos – no particular theme

Newhailes

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

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…

Newhailes NTS

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=332724&Y=672644&A=Y&Z=115

It’s a long way to North Berwick…

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

… 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

Leven – back to Fife

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

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.

East Coast

On By geoffspagesIn Dunbar, PhotographyLeave a comment

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.

Dunvannarain and Meall Tuath

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

As mentioned in yesterday’s post, Sunday’s weather was much more friendly – bright, some pleasant sunshine, and sufficient breeze to keep the midges away… I’ve walked this circular route a couple of times recently – it’s the first few miles of the Skye Trail, linking the small car park at the Shulista road end with Kilmaluag old churchyard, or Cladh. As there’s space at the former, I’ll start there – and walk the route anti-clockwise, to get the road walk done first (it’s not bad – not much traffic this afternoon).

Once off the road, the walk is very enjoyable, passing the old settlement (now home to lots of rabbits) and cairn at Dunvannarain on its grassy ridge. Soon I’m at the cliff edge, and the coastal scenery is spectacular as far as the bothy (a former coastguard look-out) on Meall Tuath. After the compulsory choc-stop (there’s a perfectly-placed bench), the return to the start is easy and pleasant – a well-trodden way, much improved in recent years, with great views to the western coastline of Trotternish, the sea sparkling in the sunshine.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=142365&Y=875170&A=Y&Z=120