Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Tag: coast

  • Cove

    Cove

    Painful memories. Eleven months ago I had a slight tumble off the sea wall opposite. In the centre of the photo, there is a blue notice board with an orange life ring that I must have fallen past, although I didn’t have time to read the warnings about the dangers of falling off. No permanent…

  • Port Achadh an Aonaich

    Port Achadh an Aonaich

    About a mile south of the distributed settlement of Smirisary near Glenuig. Along a very rugged but well-defined path. Port Achadh an Aonaich is at the path’s end and known locally as “White Sands”. Smirisary is a fascinating place. Most of the old cottages have been renovated and made into holiday homes but with no…

  • Camas an Lighe

    Camas an Lighe

    Still on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Camas an Lighe is more commonly known as the Singing Sands although I am not sure if that is a literal translation. But they didn’t sing for us. We had expected a coral beach that does ‘sing’ indeed when you walk on it. Carraig Fhada on Islay is a good…

  • Port Mulgrave

    Port Mulgrave

    Every time I go to Port Mulgrave, it still feels very much the same, yet much has changed. The winter storms have eroded the old jetty. The harbour has become more silted, the fishermen’s huts more elaborate. Some now are clearly contenders for Grand Designs. Landslips have caused the steep paths down the cliff to…

  • The Sea-Man of Skinningrove

    The Sea-Man of Skinningrove

    Skinningrove again. Second day in the row. The cool sea breeze was so refreshing after heat of the day. I was reminded of a tale I once read about when the fishermen of Skinningrove found a merman or sea-man on the shingle beach, which would put it below Hummersea Point, the cliff opposite in the…

  • Cattersty Sands, Skinningrove

    Cattersty Sands, Skinningrove

    When I first came to the North-East in the 70s, I worked on the fabrication yards on the Tees. Well actually I worked in the offices but I had to regularly go on site. One of the pleasanter nicknames for incomers from East Cleveland was a ‘Grover’. This I found out later meant someone who…

  • Summer Solstice Sunrise

    Summer Solstice Sunrise

    Up before the crack of dawn to catch the sunrise on the longest day of the year. Who needs to go to Stonehenge? In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced his new calendar, but, in what now could be seen as Euro-scepticism of yore, it wasn’t until 1752 that England finally adopted it, bringing us into…

  • Recreation of a 1950s postcard of Saltburn

    Recreation of a 1950s postcard of Saltburn

    Another morning, another haar. And then Ayton cleared. Blue skies. It will be nice to end the afternoon by the sea, at Saltburn. But driving through Guisborough the temperature dropped as we were engulfed by the sea fret. Although the promenade looks deserted the fish and chip shop was busy with a long self-isolating queue.…

  • Ravenscar from Stoup Brow

    Ravenscar from Stoup Brow

    Stoup Brow Moor is rich in historic features, including round barrows, boundary markers and numerous neolithic rock carvings that were discovered after intensive moorland fires in 2003. But yet again these carved rocks proved elusive, buried by 17 years of heather growth. But turn your back to the moor, cast your eyes east and you…

  • Saltburn’s White Elephant

    Saltburn’s White Elephant

    One for posterity. I may be wrong but I think this is “the large pillared shelter known locally as ‘The White Elephant’” according to one website, although many communities use that name for structures that seem to have no real value. The name alludes to the king of Siam’s habit of making a present of…