The Great North Run
After 4 weeks at home we were really ready to get going again so we set off in a blaze of glory straight down to the filling station! We didn’t get far before having to stop. Another 4 and half hours and we were parking up at Bamburgh in Northumberland. We’ve found a lovely bit of beach on the way to the golf course and as it’s a dead end it can be very quiet especially mid week. We had our first beach walk of the trip and Pat threatened me with all sorts of horrible endings if I so much as thought about pebble collecting or wood or shells or any other item found on the beach at this stage of the holiday, but he didn’t say anything about sea glass!
The sea here is clear turquoise and was rushing into shore with white frothy tops to the waves. It’s a long wide sandy beach and with the waves rolling in it looks like a mini Hawaian beach, perhaps a bit colder and oh, no palm trees either. A certain amount of imagination is needed.
There aren’t too many people about which is a big plus and we clambered over the rocks on our side of the bay. I got my first paddle and I must say it was very invigorating.
We found some nice colourful shells in patches along the beach but I think we might be coming home this way and they’ll still be there, so I managed to walk past without even stooping to pick one up.
Bamburgh Castle is the other end of the bay and it looks magnificent in the coastal setting but the wind refused to blow and kite aerial photography was out of the question. One day we’ll get a perfect day and get the photo we dream about.
At about 7.30 pm we noticed the sea fret sitting just offshore, waiting until our backs were turned and it could sneak in and hide everything from view, we were hoping that the little lighthouse structure 100 yards to the North of us didn’t have a foghorn!
We had a last walk before bed, it stays lighter a lot later up here, and we were treated to our first Dragon moment of the week, 2 Stoats playing in the sand dunes, at least we think they were playing they looked young and energetic. It was one of the best views I’ve had of a Stoat and certainly the longest.
Next morning we woke to torrential rain and were lucky to be parked just on the edge of a flood in the car park, instead of in it. We had a wonderful view of the sea crashing in with white tops to the waves and breaking in a cloud of spray on the rocks below.
The rain eased and we went to Lindisfarne, the causeway was open and I wanted to try and get over to the little islet where St Cuthbert’s cross is.
St Cuthbert was Prior of Lindisfarne in the 7th century and when he was about 40 he decided that his calling was to be a hermit, so he had a trial period on the islet adjoining Lindisfarne before moving to Inner Farne where he lived as a hermit for 10 years.
It was still surrounded by water so a boat would have been needed and when I worked it out we were only just coming out of a neap tide. I think perhaps you could get across on a spring tide so that’s something to leave for another day.
Next stop was Scremerston. The road leaves the village and follows the coastline for about a mile ending in a car park at the Nature Reserve. There are some lovely parking spots along the way and we settled in for the rest of the day.
The wind was quite cool so we wrapped up and walked along the beach. The Lime Kilns are gradually being reclaimed by the sea and the land surrounding them has been mined and now forms the Nature Reserve. The Lime loving flowers were wonderful, the colours vibrant and we managed to identify 26 species. The most prolific was Bloody Cranesbill, in places it was like a carpet and for me it was pleasure to see Vipers Bugloss. I always think it’s a small plant like Red Dead Nettle whereas it stands about 18 inches high, is very hairy and has blue/pink flowers.
The Western Marsh Orchid was a new species for both of us and took a bit of identifying but after some studying of the flowers and stems it couldn’t have been any of the other purple Orchids.
Next morning the sea fret seemed to be set in so we arranged to meet friends near Aberdeen the next day and drove on to a small campsite near Auchenblae just south of Aberdeen.
It’s a glorious site just us and the birds, well kept with flowering hanging baskets around the information shed. The nearest house was shrouded in trees, the only road was just visible one and a half miles away across the fields and the sky had Cumulus Humilis clouds, those lovely fluffy white ones gently wafting along. We got settled in and sat out in the brilliant sunshine reading, spinning and just looking at the view.
We enjoyed 5 ½ hours sunbathing, well I did, Pat went and hid in the shade behind the van at one point because it was so hot. I managed to get the silk I was spinning finished which means I can start on my next project. This trip I intend to spin some fancy yarns of my own design. I borrowed a book on spinning fancy yarns and it has really inspired me to think laterally when considering materials to use
It was June 21st and the shortest night and I wasn’t near a beach to have my fire, so much for my planning. I’m undeterred and will have my fire later in the year.
Next morning it was sunny again so we spent the morning at Stonehaven. It’s got a lovely small harbour to wander around and this time we found a boarded walkway from the harbour along the shingle beach which led to the town centre. It’s brilliant for wheelchairs and pushchairs and must have opened up the sea view for lots more people. Oh by the way it’s a pebble beach again so no prizes for guessing where I walked. I actually managed to smuggle two small pebbles in my pocket.
Someone has made a metal sculpture of a Cormorant with a fish in it's beak, and bolted it to the rocks near the harbour. There was no explanation and we like to think that whoever it was did it for pure fun and to make people smile.
It was time to meet up with friends so we programmed Jennifer (sattelite navigation) and headed for Kemnay.
The sea here is clear turquoise and was rushing into shore with white frothy tops to the waves. It’s a long wide sandy beach and with the waves rolling in it looks like a mini Hawaian beach, perhaps a bit colder and oh, no palm trees either. A certain amount of imagination is needed.
There aren’t too many people about which is a big plus and we clambered over the rocks on our side of the bay. I got my first paddle and I must say it was very invigorating.
We found some nice colourful shells in patches along the beach but I think we might be coming home this way and they’ll still be there, so I managed to walk past without even stooping to pick one up.
Bamburgh Castle is the other end of the bay and it looks magnificent in the coastal setting but the wind refused to blow and kite aerial photography was out of the question. One day we’ll get a perfect day and get the photo we dream about.
At about 7.30 pm we noticed the sea fret sitting just offshore, waiting until our backs were turned and it could sneak in and hide everything from view, we were hoping that the little lighthouse structure 100 yards to the North of us didn’t have a foghorn!
We had a last walk before bed, it stays lighter a lot later up here, and we were treated to our first Dragon moment of the week, 2 Stoats playing in the sand dunes, at least we think they were playing they looked young and energetic. It was one of the best views I’ve had of a Stoat and certainly the longest.
Next morning we woke to torrential rain and were lucky to be parked just on the edge of a flood in the car park, instead of in it. We had a wonderful view of the sea crashing in with white tops to the waves and breaking in a cloud of spray on the rocks below.
The rain eased and we went to Lindisfarne, the causeway was open and I wanted to try and get over to the little islet where St Cuthbert’s cross is.
St Cuthbert was Prior of Lindisfarne in the 7th century and when he was about 40 he decided that his calling was to be a hermit, so he had a trial period on the islet adjoining Lindisfarne before moving to Inner Farne where he lived as a hermit for 10 years.
It was still surrounded by water so a boat would have been needed and when I worked it out we were only just coming out of a neap tide. I think perhaps you could get across on a spring tide so that’s something to leave for another day.
Next stop was Scremerston. The road leaves the village and follows the coastline for about a mile ending in a car park at the Nature Reserve. There are some lovely parking spots along the way and we settled in for the rest of the day.
The wind was quite cool so we wrapped up and walked along the beach. The Lime Kilns are gradually being reclaimed by the sea and the land surrounding them has been mined and now forms the Nature Reserve. The Lime loving flowers were wonderful, the colours vibrant and we managed to identify 26 species. The most prolific was Bloody Cranesbill, in places it was like a carpet and for me it was pleasure to see Vipers Bugloss. I always think it’s a small plant like Red Dead Nettle whereas it stands about 18 inches high, is very hairy and has blue/pink flowers.
The Western Marsh Orchid was a new species for both of us and took a bit of identifying but after some studying of the flowers and stems it couldn’t have been any of the other purple Orchids.
Next morning the sea fret seemed to be set in so we arranged to meet friends near Aberdeen the next day and drove on to a small campsite near Auchenblae just south of Aberdeen.
It’s a glorious site just us and the birds, well kept with flowering hanging baskets around the information shed. The nearest house was shrouded in trees, the only road was just visible one and a half miles away across the fields and the sky had Cumulus Humilis clouds, those lovely fluffy white ones gently wafting along. We got settled in and sat out in the brilliant sunshine reading, spinning and just looking at the view.
We enjoyed 5 ½ hours sunbathing, well I did, Pat went and hid in the shade behind the van at one point because it was so hot. I managed to get the silk I was spinning finished which means I can start on my next project. This trip I intend to spin some fancy yarns of my own design. I borrowed a book on spinning fancy yarns and it has really inspired me to think laterally when considering materials to use
It was June 21st and the shortest night and I wasn’t near a beach to have my fire, so much for my planning. I’m undeterred and will have my fire later in the year.
Next morning it was sunny again so we spent the morning at Stonehaven. It’s got a lovely small harbour to wander around and this time we found a boarded walkway from the harbour along the shingle beach which led to the town centre. It’s brilliant for wheelchairs and pushchairs and must have opened up the sea view for lots more people. Oh by the way it’s a pebble beach again so no prizes for guessing where I walked. I actually managed to smuggle two small pebbles in my pocket.
Someone has made a metal sculpture of a Cormorant with a fish in it's beak, and bolted it to the rocks near the harbour. There was no explanation and we like to think that whoever it was did it for pure fun and to make people smile.
It was time to meet up with friends so we programmed Jennifer (sattelite navigation) and headed for Kemnay.
posted by Marilyn | 1.7.07
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