GORGEOUS GORGE

On a lovely day in June we joined together a couple of walks in Evanton. The first part of the walk took us into the woods and up to the Black Rock Gorge. Despite Sharon's insistence that we take the left hand track, I used all my woodcraft and tracking skills and followed the sign to the right.

Sure enough, my instincts and intimate knowledge of wild land proved to be correct and we were on our way.

Unusually for a walk that we had picked, this actually involved an uphill section - we won't make that mistake again.

We soon came across a very strange thing. We were undecided as to whether it was some ancient Pictish burial or whether someone had just laid a hat on a stone drain. Using my undoubted wild land and archaeological knowledge I decided it was indeed an Ancient Pictish burial. I am sure that you can see that now that I have pointed it out.

 Not long after that we got our first view of the gorge - and it was pretty deep as you can see.

And of course, there had to be a bridge.

It was still pretty deep. 

On the other side of the bridge we found swathes of wild garlic. I picked some and stuffed it into my rucksack. Nobody would walk close to me after that.

The day got a bit warmer as it went on and it was soon time for Sharon to take her legs off.

Easier said than done.

A group photo overlooking the Cromarty Firth.

Where is the Firth, I hear you cry.

Well here it is!

Just down the road from the view we came upon this nice little stone seat. There was a reference on the seat to Psalm 121, which as you will all know says" I will lift up my eyes to the hills". Very apt given the view from the seat.

This is that view.

Crossing back into Evanton we pass some new social housing built at densities that were a little bit surprising.

By now we were in need of cooling down and it was ice lollies all round.

 The second part of the walk took us down from the village towards the sea across some rolling farmland.

And here is the beach at the sea. That was Jimmy walking along the beach on his own - and he hadn't picked any wild garlic!

Sharon looking very pensive on the beach.

Perhaps she was contemplating Jimmy's erection on the foreshore. I have to say it fell over pretty quickly.

Sandra enjoying the view.

The view.

The lunchtime photo.

Next stop was Kiltearn churchyard where where the Reverend Hog made sure that parishioners only chose the right sort of Minister for the future!

The skylight at the church.

Another view of the sky.

 We could have turned back into the village but decided to go further out and well worth it it turned out to be. We were not sure what this building was but I have checked with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and it is actually a fishing station, albeit designed to look like a chapel. Don't say that I make all these blogs up and don't do some serious research!

Views over a pond to the hills.

And these were a few Branta Leucopsis as I am sure you would know.

From the peace and quiet of the Firth we crossed back over the bustling A9 towards the village.

The highlight of the walk was this Red Kite which soared around us as we were crossing the A9.

Fantastic!

A great walk with lots of interest not least of which was the tea and cakes at Foulis Ferry afterwards.