Christine's walking & birds blog

Yesterday: We were going to Cromarty anyway, so it seemed reasonable to drive just a bit further to reach a viewpoint and a triangulation pillar. The familiar symbol of blue triangle with a dot in it is like a magnet to me; and judging by the map, this one couldn't be easier. But maps can't tell the whole story!

 
The road up to Mains Farm and then left to the viewpoint is single-track with few passing-places, and rises through an unexpected woodland area of mature trees (including beech, lime, and sweet chestnut) before reaching the car park at the top of the cliffs, where pines and rowan predominate. A footpath sign pointing south-west across the fields to Gallow Hill was reassuring, and we set off through a thistly area where meadow pipits and goldfinches were feeding, and several painted lady butterflies were on the wing.


There were wonderful views down to Cromarty and across the firth to Invergordon.....


.....while the opposite headland promised another nice future outing to bag the trig point there.


Meanwhile we continued our walk, until today's destination was in view - and then we came to a dead stop. Because there in the fold of the hills, crowded round the gate into the next field, was a herd of tail-lashing, head-tossing, restless-looking cattle.


We debated going on, but soon agreed to turn back; and we sat in the sun near the car park with buns and coffee to soothe our ruffled feelings. An interesting small warbler appeared in a nearby bush, but by the time I'd cleaned my sticky fingers enough to pick my bins up, it had flown.

We got back down the narrow road without meeting anyone and drove away from Cromarty; and here was more frustration on the trig-point front. There is one standing right next to the road, but it's in a sort of garden area belonging to the houses opposite, and there is absolutely nowhere to park. I do believe it's less bother to walk up a flaming mountain to bag a trig point!

At Udale Bay we were pleased to see that there was still an osprey around.


Likewise a handful of Sandwich terns.


But four pink-footed geese and hundreds of wigeon were a reminder that autumn is well and truly here; while many of the waders were on the further spit, too far away to be seen and in any case, mostly fast asleep.