Caithness and North Highlands

AndyMcD

All-Pro
Inspired by @MoonMind here are some random pictures from the trip I'm currently on.

Noss Head is North of Wick, the lighthouse is automated these days but would have been manned in past times.
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Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is near Noss. The castle has a lot of history attached, including being occupied by Cromwell's army in the 16th century. It is now being looked after - sadly, this wasn't the case until a few years ago.
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The castle is built on a rocky point, so is surrounded by high cliffs on three sides. This is the first year where the path down one side has been open, which allows this daunting view...
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Halkirk is a few miles outside of Thurso. It is said to be the first planned village in Scotland. It was also the site of a cathedral which was burnt down by the locals, with the bishop inside. The subsequent bishop moved to Dornoch in Sutherland.
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River Thurso is a great spot for a walk, and a picnic...
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Then on to John O'Groats - this was the only decent picture I got there this year...

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That's the first time I've seen Halkirk mentioned anywhere for a long time. When I was in my first band in the '60's, we toured Scotland regularly, mostly playing the RAF bases but we got as far as a little club which was in a house I think, somewhere in Halkirk. We went the next day to Thurso and it tipped it down with rain and the windscreen wipers on the van had packed in.
 
Big post this time. Me, my brother and my father in law went for a boys' day out to Durness, via Lochinver.

These were all take during a tea break at Elphin.

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Lochinver, lots of pleasure craft here.

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This is the Kylesku bridge, which replaced a ferry service. I remember this bridge being opened when I was a kid, but this is the first time I've actually seen it.

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Durness, which was the ultimate goal of our trip. There are lots of secluded beaches like these all round this coast.
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Finally, we took a detour to Skerray...

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Stopping off near Achavanich in Caithness, we found a walk around Loch Stemster.
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So, wild mushrooms are one thing - wild mushrooms growing out of cow pats are quite another!
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There is a point here, that is slightly raised and lets you see for miles and miles. This is the view to the south towards Scaraben and Ben Morven. You can also see all the way across to both Dunnet and Noss Heads from this point.
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The road here is called "the road to nowhere" - we didn't make it all the way, but it was pretty bleak...
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Caithness is very beautiful when the weather works in your favour...
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On the South head of Wick bay you find the Trinkie - which is a large rockpool that was adapted to be a swimming pool of sorts.
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Walking further along takes in some of the cliffs and rock formations...
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This is Old Wick Castle, which is reckoned to be one of the oldest in Scotland - dating back to about 1160.
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It is on a pretty treacherous lump of rock - staying close to the castle is okay, straying too far may result in a short, sharp drop...
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As I was headed back, I spotted Caithness Sea Tours taking some people in for a closer look...
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This part is known as Longberry. We used to climb down to the rocks to fish for mackerel. I tried to find the route down, but my memory isn't that good.
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Wow, great thread! I'll be in Lochinver tomorrow night, but I doubt I'll be able to do a lot of photography during the day - lots of driving to do ... But of course, I'll try, and if the opportunity presents itself, there'll be images.

M.
 
Back home for one night, so just enough time to PP a few B&W's...

A different perspective on Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, near Wick...

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I think I posted the colour version of this one earlier - this is the Kylesku Bridge

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Sinclairs Bay, is a wide bay with a very long and inviting beach. Following the German invasion of Norway in 1940, this was one of the invasion landing areas that were targeted by the German forces. Consequently, this whole coastline is littered with coastal defences - during the war it was also mined. Apparently it took two years to clear the beach of mines after the war.
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This was taken close to Loch Stemster - I wanted to capture the movement to give some sense of how windy and bleak it was.
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Back home for one night, so just enough time to PP a few B&W's...

A different perspective on Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, near Wick...

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I think I posted the colour version of this one earlier - this is the Kylesku Bridge

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Sinclairs Bay, is a wide bay with a very long and inviting beach. Following the German invasion of Norway in 1940, this was one of the invasion landing areas that were targeted by the German forces. Consequently, this whole coastline is littered with coastal defences - during the war it was also mined. Apparently it took two years to clear the beach of mines after the war.
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This was taken close to Loch Stemster - I wanted to capture the movement to give some sense of how windy and bleak it was.
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Love #3! I’d be proud to have done that one.
 
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