After breakfast we picked up our packed lunch from the bar and drove to Hermaness. On the way we stopped to look at about 100 great skuas bathing at the end of the freshwater Loch of Cliff. We drove down a bumpy track to get a better view. At Hermaness we parked and followed the … Read more “Tuesday: Unst”
We disembarked when the ferry docked at 7:30, and had a good breakfast in the Peerie Shop Cafe in Lerwick. Before that, we stopped to look at a bearded seal that was lying on the jetty next to the town centre car park. After breakfast we stopped at the co-op to buy bread and cheese … Read more “Monday: Lerwick to Unst”
We set off at 8:30 and arrived at the Aberdeen ferry terminal at 15:30. The ferry left at 17:00. We saw bottlenose dolphins as we were leaving the harbour. We watched a fulmar follow the boat for a bit, skimming very low over the water. Also puffins, gannets and lots of guillemots. Nightcap, watching the … Read more “Sunday: driving to Aberdeen”
On Friday we progressed northwards on the M5 much like a snail would, on account of a succession of roadworks and heavy traffic. After 7 hours we arrived at the Plough Inn at Lupton, not far from Morecambe Bay. On Saturday we went to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. The reed beds were bright green. We … Read more “Friday Saturday”
Outside our room there was a guest book from the early 20th century. We drove to Dartmeet via Ponsworthy. We passed Uphill Farm, where R worked for 7 days in 2005. At Dartmeet we walked about a bit. We went down to where the East and West Dart rivers combine, and we watched the birds … Read more “Driving home via Dartmeet”
After a good breakfast, we walked from the pub up to Haytor. It had just stopped raining and the air was damp and still, and the peaty ground wet underfoot. Glassy pools of water reflected shapes of the granite outcrops. We passed the old mine workings on the way up to the tor, and followed … Read more “Walk from Haytor”
We set off after lunch for the Rock Inn in Haytor Vale, on the north-eastern edge of Dartmoor. We stopped at Yarner wood, a mile or so from the inn, on the way. We walked some trails in the wood and stopped in a hide for a bit. While we were there a warden came … Read more “Driving to Dartmoor”