WE FOUND THE CASTLE MUCH LATER

Our walk in July was a coastal affair from Findochty to Findlater Castle - and it was much later that we found the castle - Jim said it was only six and a bit miles - but it felt a lot more!

However, we did get off to an interesting start, after we dragged the women away from this interesting statue at the harbour. It took a good twenty minutes to get some of them to start walking. I can't imagine why as I certainly could see nothing unusual about the statue.

There had been a very high tide the night before we started walking.

We soon walked along the beach and left the picturesque little village behind us.


We soon got to the next picturesque little village - with the washing hanging out to get a good blow in Portnockie.

Although it was the East, it could have been the Wild West - what with all the stetsons about.




And here are the saloon girls.

We carried on to Bow Fiddle Rock which sounds like a Wild West town, but is actually a geological formation - and here it is.

Next we stopped for lunch before crossing the burning sands of Cullen Bay.

And here is the obligatory lunch photo. Dave is practising his anti-paparazzi pose.

Then it was time to cross the sands of the bay - what a really nice beach it was too.

And here is Jimmy teaching Sharon all about holes in the sand.

Then we arrived in Cullen - just in time for some of us it would seem - combined age of about 120 in case you were wondering.

As it happened, the villagers of Cullen had heard we were passing through and laid on the pipe band especially for us!

Then out of Cullen and we came across one of the strangest places we have ever seen on our walks - and that is saying something!
This was a pet cemetery.


What can you say about a supercat called Mahler - I hope he conducted himself well.



All creatures great and small are here.


More prosaically - here is an old man's resting place - a bench overlooking the sea.

Next we follow the signs and descend into the centre of the earth. Arnie Saccnuson eat your heart out - and yes that is how you spell it - I checked on Google.

And here we are coming out the other side.

Looks good - doesn't it?

We didn't forget the girls.

And this is how we got out - nothing to it!

After the climbing it was off into the jungle!

Eventually we did later find Findlater Castle.


The photo above was taken by Indiana Jones - or someone with a passing resemblance to him.


And here he is leaping off into the great unknown.


Another great walk and thanks to Jim and Jacque for arranging it. I am not sure that I trust people that old to remember how far they walked the last time they did it, but then again it was fun...........