Tuesday 23rd October 2018.
Duffus castle, Lossimouth and Hopeman.
The approach to Duffus Castle.
Lossiemouth.
Looking West towards Burghead (maltings on the horizon to the right.
Wednesday 24th October 2018. Morning
Ben Rinnes (2733').
An easy start to the acent of Ben Rinnes.
Ben Rinnes summit ahead.
In a sheltered spot just below the summit trig point.
Distant views of the Cairngoms from Ben Rinnes.
Wednesday 24th October 2018. Afternoon.
Cullen to Portknockie.
The harbour at Cullen.
Looking West over the harbour at Portknockie.
Looking West along the beach towards Portknockie.
Thursday 25th October 2018 Morning.
Burghead - early morning.
looking towards Hopeman.
Burghead Harbour.
Covesea and Hopeman along the Moray Firth Trail to Burghead.
On the beach below Covesea lighthouse.
A Rock pipit?
A Common kestrel.
Phil at Tom Wyatt's Findhorn Bay Festival Lookout Structure #1.
Approaching Hopeman.
Around Findhorn Bay Late afternoon.
Findhorn Bay in the rain.
Whooper swans over Findhorn Bay.
Friday 26th October 2018.
Burghead Bay and Bennet Hill.
Looking back towards Burghead.
Looking along the beach towards Findhorn.
A Hooded crow on Burghead Beach.
Picking up litter (is it flotsam or jetsam?).
Whatever it is it "trumps" picking up the odd can or two!
A notice for all walkers - including Harris Hikers!
Saturday 27th October 2018 - Homeward Bound.
Views from the roadside as I headed South.
A closer view of the nearby "castle".
Looking Westward towards the higher hills.
The snow covered hills to the West of the road.
The snow covered hills to the West of the road.
Overall a great holiday with never a moment to spare thanks to Phil taking me on walks every day and giving me lots of history and geology associated with all of the places. In all I must have walked over thirty miles and climbed over 3000' and only got wet once!
Although it was very windy and rather cold at times, walking in winter gear meant we were never too cold.
Tuesday ended with an excellent meal cooked by Phil's wife Jean, Wednesday we had good meal at the Crown and Anchor at Findhorn (including a pint of Bitter and Twisted) and Friday finished with Fish and Chips from the Fish and Chip Van that visited Burghead only on Fridays.
Thanks to Paul (a near neighbour of the Marslands) taking me birdwatching I managed to see a Red throated diver, lots of Gannets and a few Common scoter.
The surprise bird was seen on the Friday when we saw a Hooded crow on Burghead Beach, a place that the RSPB Book of Birds of Scotland indicated that it shouldn't have been there!
Thanks to the Marslands this has been a very enjoyable holiday, my first holiday for over 12 years.
The most unusual story of my time at Burghead was getting home to find that there was an unusual silver £1 coin in my loose change. It had a Scottish emblem on it too. Initially I though it must be a special Scottish pound coin. but on closer inspection, it turned out to be white chocolate in the shape of £1 coin covered in silver paper. It must be the most expensive piece of chocolate that I have ever eaten!
A long drive of over 400 miles each way, but with three stops each way didn't suffer any problems with my knees at all. The eight hour drive was well worth it.
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