DAY 5 – YELLOW CRAIGS TO PORT SETON – Walking Scotlands Coast

DAY 5

TUESDAY 6^TH FEBRUARY, 2007

YELLOW CRAIGS TO PORT SETON

13.3 MILES, 6.0 HOURS

MORRIS AND GEORGE

TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 67.2 MILES

Again we used two cars leaving one at Port Seton and the other at the starting point in Yellow Craigs. The weather was kind to us again and we set off in lovely sunshine although it was a bit ‘nippy’ particularly on the fingers and ears. We followed a well used path which alternated between beach and the edge of the bordering Eldbootle Woods to the point beyond Weaklaw Rocks where we got our first views of Gullane Bay. The tide was out and from Black Rocks we were able to walk straight across the firm sand of Gullane Bay to Gullane Point where the towering chimneys of Cockenzie power station could be seen in the distance. Such was the extent of the ebb tide it looked almost possible to walk across Aberlady and Gosford Bays, ‘as the crow flies’, all the way to Cockenzie power station some six miles away. We met and spoke with a ‘local’ walker who advised us it would be possible if the tide was not on the turn and we set off across Aberlady Bay content with walking a less ambitious straight course to Craigielaw Point. This proved a good decision as on reaching the river (which flows into the bay at Aberlady) near Aberlady Point it was obvious the tide had turned and boots and socks had to come off to wade the calf depth river and we hurriedly returned to the beach at Kilspindie golf course to warm up. To say the water was cold is an understatement. From here we walked at the edges of Kilspindie and Craigielaw golf courses before returning to the beach to cross the sands of Gosford Bay. A picnic table at the wood’s edge provide a nice stopping place for lunch and a much needed cup of hot tea. From here our walk followed a well defined path along the coast, across several beach car parks, to the stony beach at Port Seton and the end of the days walk.

Summary

Another excellent days walking in sunshine although at times quite cold. Almost all of the time on beaches or at the seas edge. Basically flat with good underfoot conditions.

Highs; Nearly all on beautiful beaches and the hot tea after our paddle across the river.

Lows; The amount of rubbish on the beach at Kilspindie golf course and Seton Sands and the unsightly, obviously redundant pipe and concrete supports which run out to sea across Gosford Bay.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE