Exploring the coast north of Helmsdale, part of the John o’Groats Trail from Inverness to John o’Groats. It’s not yet a National Trail and is partially but not consistently waymarked.
One thing that is particularly noticeable at this time of the year is the yellow gorse, or whin. Large swathes of it colour the hillside.
The promontory in the photo is known as Green Table but I prefer the Gaelic name of Dùn Glas, ‘The Grey Fort’. There are remains of an earth and stone rampart around the top but there has been considerable erosion over the centuries, other than that there is not much known. But the archaeologists still term it a ‘promontory fort’1“Archaeology Notes | Canmore.” Canmore.org.uk, 2021, canmore.org.uk/event/652836. Accessed 12 May 2021..
It seems a very inhospitable place to occupy with little flat land available for agriculture, the hillside above, the Ord of Caithness, being extremely steep. Lovely views though.
- 1“Archaeology Notes | Canmore.” Canmore.org.uk, 2021, canmore.org.uk/event/652836. Accessed 12 May 2021.
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