Beside the seaside

Day 107 of the End to End was another very beautiful day. It started at the path to Creag Bheag from the A9. This was another of the A9 avoidance routes of the John O’Groats Trail. We went through a small piece of woodland and a couple of fields alongside the railway. Bob came with me and turned back at Kirkton level crossing. I continued down the track into Balblair Wood, which borders the North shore of Loch Fleet.

We first visited this wood on Bob’s walk in 2003. It was a bit earlier in the year and we were lucky to see the single flowered wintergreen, a rare plant of which this is one location. However, being later in the year, there were no wintergreen today, but there were creeping ladies tresses that also prefer older pine woods.

I met Bob on the road into Golspie, where we decided to have a fish and chip lunch, followed by local ice cream, made in Brora.
The afternoon walk from Golspie was along the coast, past Dunrobin Castle. It was a beautiful route, full of butterflies. Our second busiest day for Painted Ladies, totalling 105 and 36 small tortoiseshell. I identified 8 different species altogether, and I also saw two common seals.

The path was lined with Ragwort, thistles and Rose Bay Willowherb, all popular with the butterflies and very colourful. Bob met me on the path and we walked to Carn Laith Broch where today’s walk ended. It is an Iron Age structure under the care of Historic Scotland and has wonderful views of the coast.

From Psalm 77

Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were invisible.

Many folks are still waiting tonight for flood waters to subside or for routes cut by flood water to be restored. We think of them.

God grant a quiet night and a peaceful end.

JAL 02.08.2019
Day 107 of the End to End from the A9 North of The Mound to Carn Laith Broch.