Scotland | Northern Likes

North of the Wall

It is very irritating the way that work insists on getting in the way of doing the things that I like to do, such as, in no particular order, building things with my son’s lego, rambling incoherently on this blog, and drinking red wine whilst playing the piano very badly. However, this year, to make up for last year’s holiday blip (week at parents – what was I thinking? More to the point, what were they thinking?), we have managed not one, not two, but three trips to Scotland, my favourite country in the world, owing to it being indisputably northern, and beautiful, and quite chilly, with a generally very poor blackberry signal.

Here are some highlights for your delectation. Clink on the first pic to view the slideshow and my scintillating commentary.

Whoop.

Chanonry Point on the Black Isle, where people mysteriously gather…

…to see this kind of showing off.

Cameron’s tea room (http://www.booklochnesscottage.com/Camerons-Tea-Room-and-Farm-Shop.php) in Foyers, Loch Ness. Tea. Cake. Decking. Cows. Shop. Wifi. What else do you need?

Fairly bleak day at John O’Groats…

.. much improved by smoked fish and wine at the Storehouse cafe (http://www.naturalretreats.com/outfitters/john-o-groats/storehouse/)

Dog Falls (maybe?) at Glen Affric

In case you thought I was joking

Paddling at Loch Eck

MV Vital Spark at Inveraray

Walking on Westpoint beach, Kintyre, where we sprinkled the ashes of the Dog, whom we sadly lost over the summer. It was a lovely day and his favourite place. God bless you, you dribbley, growly, messy, loveable old boy. X

Isle of Gigha from the Killean Estate

On (one of) the Twin Beaches on Gigha. Amazing views of Jura, which I don’t appear to have captured, being somewhat occupied with stopping the Nipper from hurling himself into the sea.

Ferry back from Gigha

Cafebarge, Tarbert. Tapas, you say? In Tarbert? Si.

Arran from Skipness Beach. The Nipper, and New Dog, who is an idiot.

Arran from Skipness, as modelled by a lovely idiot.

Kishorn Seafood bar. Seafood platter. Oysters, mussels, squat lobsters, crab, langoustines. Do it.

Bealach na Ba, aka the cattle pass, aka terrifying road between Kishorn and Applecross. View from the top of Skye is totally amazing.

Applecross Bay, with Skye on the horizon xxx

Beaches for dogs

Today, some pictures of beaches for dogs, and dogs on beaches. Just because.

1. Loch Fyne. This was the private beach of a cottage we have rented on a few occasions. It’s tiny, but pebble heaven, and the tide is gentle enough to let your dog lurk out there all day, if that way inclined (ours is). Beautiful sunsets in this most beautiful part of the world.

Loch Fyne

2. Applecross. Brave the Bealach na Ba for breathtaking views to the Isle of Skye and, further round the peninsula, the Torridon mountains. Applecross bay is glorious, but the picture below is from Sand, a short drive up the road from Applecross, or a very easy and pleasant walk.

Sand

3. Arran. For seals, and otters, and beautiful views of Holy Isle. (And lots of other stuff).

Lamlash, Arran

4. Harlech. Splendid huge sandy beach. And a castle. (We just went to the beach).

Harlech

5. Westport. On the way to Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula. Beautiful, vast, quiet sandy beach.

Westport Beach

6. Loch Eck. Picture perfect loch on the Cowal Peninsula. Tiny, magical little beaches with glorious views, safe swimming for the more tentative spaniel (or, indeed, spaniel owner).

Loch Eck

7. Ardnamurchan. I can’t quite remember exactly where this beach was (possibly Salen?) but it was one of our stopping points on a day tour of this most westerly area of Britain, with Caribbean white sands and turquoise seas (but, sadly, not Caribbean temperatures, though this was alleviated by a hefty swig of Lagavulin).

(Near) Ardnamurchan

8. Formby Point. There’s a definite Scottish bias to the preceding entries, so here’s a more local one to finish with: the huge, spectacular sand dunes at Formby Point.

Formby

I couldn’t quite make it to ten entries for this post, as I got side-tracked looking through photos of H and I and our dogs on various beaches. H often says that he is never happier than when throwing a ball for a dog on a beach. I think the feeling is mutual.

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North of the Wall

Beaches for dogs