DAY 26
FRIDAY 20TH MARCH, 2009
LOSSIEMOUTH TO BURGHEAD – 10 MILES, 6 HOURS
MORRIS AND MARGARET
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 408.2 MILES
For the next stage, two days, walking shorter distances were planned as my wife Margaret (a less experienced walker) was joining me for her first taste of coastal walking. We travelled north by car and broke our journey with an overnight stay at the lovely ‘Heathers’ Guest house at Invergloy near Spean Bridge. After a lovely breakfast we drove to Forres, parked the car and caught buses to Elgin then Lossiemouth. We set off from Lossiemouth harbour at 1100 in lovely warm sunshine walking out of town on the coast road passed the Moray golf course where we moved onto the sands of west beach. Just off shore we could see the light beacon on the rocks of the Halliman Skerries. We continued along the sand passed the magnificent Covesea Skerries lighthouse walking for a further mile to the end of the beach where we joined a path to the cliff tops at Covesea (pronounced locally as Cow-see). From here we followed a well defined path along the cliff tops, through whins (gorse), passed the coastguard lookout tower, sculptors cave and Clashach quarry. At the entrance to the quarry we took time to view the display of quarried sandstone rocks bearing fossil footprints and trails of reptiles. Walking on we edged the lovely Hopeman golf course where I had a chat with three members who were enjoying a ‘round’. Continuing along the coast path to Hopeman we met another walker, Sylvia from Newtyle, Dundee who I learned in conversation is also walking the east coast. We walked through Hopeman passed the harbour and along the street above the caravan site where we found a lane which led us onto a path on the disused railway line. Walking on this path we met our Friends Liz and Andrew (who joined us for the next days walk) and Tony Whittington, a local resident, who enlightened us about local history and geography and very kindly loaned me a book on local walks and history. We continued on this path all the way to Burghead passing the huge maltings building to the harbour where our days walk ended.
Summary; A very enjoyable days walking mostly flat with minor ups and downs on the clifftops.
Highs; Fabulous beach from Lossiemouth and some great views. Met some lovely people.
Lows; None.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
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- Looking back east from Lossiemouth harbour to our last days walk.
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- Morris at Lossiemouth harbour
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- Looking over to Covesea Skerries lighthouse on the point
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- Margaret on the lovely sands of west beach
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- Looking back to Lossiemouth from near Covesea.
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- The beacon on Halliman Skerries.
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- Margaret at the remains of WW2 sea defences with Covesea Skerries lighthouse behind
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- Another view back along the beach towards Lossiemouth
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- Margaret walking on the beautiful west beach towards Covesea.
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- On the path up from the beach to the cliff tops at Covesea
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- Some of the beach caves near Covesea.
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- Looking back east from near Cashach
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- The Coast Guard post near Covesea.
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- Looking ahead to Clashach Cove.
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- Clashach Quarry.
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- Looking ahead to Hopeman from near Clashach Quarry.
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- Morris on the well marked path. We stoopped to view some of the fossil rock from the Quarry.
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- Alan,Alan and Billy three members enjoying a round on the lovely Hopeman golf course..
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- We watched Alan sink his birdie put on the 12th at Hopeman
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- Looking back east from the beach at Hopeman golf course.
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- Approaching Hopeman
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- Sylvia from Newtyle, Dundee who is also walking the East coast.
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- The colourful beach huts at Hopeman
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- Hopeman harbour
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- The disused railway line our route from Hopeman to Burghead.
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- Andrew and Tony Whittington a local who we met and chatted to
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- The imposing maltings building on the east side of Burghead
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- View over Burghead from the old fort. Across the bay is tomorrows walk.
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 26 ROUTE MAP