DAY 33
SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER, 2009
ROCKFIELD TO TAIN – 19 MILES, 8.5 HOURS
MORRIS, IAN, ALEX, BILLY, COLIN AND BILL
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 525 MILES
After a long tiring day yesterday we enjoyed an excellent evening meal, a few beers and had a reasonably early night. We had a hearty breakfast and were underway at 0900 for the long days walk ahead . The weather was excellent again when we set off from Rockfield for our walk to Tain. We walked out of the village picking up a well defined path under the cliffs close to the sea. Ahead we could see the imposing Ballone castle perched on the cliff tops. The castle dates from the late 16th century and is currently under restoration. Underfoot conditions were very good and we quickly made our way towards the lighthouse at Tarbat Ness. Near Tarbat Ness the path leaves the sea edge and climbs to the cliff tops where we became aware of the strong westerly winds. The imposing lighthouse at Tarbat Ness designed by Robert Stevenson in the 1820’s and third highest in the UK is distinguished by its two broad red bands. We walked round the point and continued near the sea edge passed Port Buckie, Port Mor and Port Uilleim to the village of Portmahomack where we enjoyed tea and cake in the Carnegie Hall. We walked out of Portmahomack on the beach towards Inver. On this stretch the underfoot conditions varied between mud, seaweed and pebbles and at times was quite arduous. On nearing Inver we were grateful for the relief of the vast firm sandbanks and beach which run into InverBay. On reaching Inver we enjoyed a beer in the very welcoming Inver Inn in the company of ‘mine host’ Ann and some of her regulars. On leaving Inver we were unable to continue on the coast due to the inaccessible RAF bombing range which occupies the area of Morrich More (currently in constant use and permanently closed to public access). After walking up the estuary as far as we could we made our way along a disused WW2 runway before joining the main road for a short distance. We made our way back to the sea via an access road towards Balcherry and the woods at Cnocan Mealbhain. Our route into Tain from the beach was through Plaids and the golf course, We travelled by minibus back to Portmahomack.
Summary; A good longish days walk with a mixture of underfoot conditions,
Highs; The imposing Tarbat Ness lighthouse. The walk into Inver bay along the sandbanks (tidal). Ann and the locals in the Inver Inn.
Lows; Not being able to walk round Morrich More and Whiteness sands.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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- Setting off from Rockfield.
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- The lovely village of Rockfield
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- The path out of Rockfield below the cliffs.
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- Walking below Ballone Castle
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- Our accomodation this trip The Castle Hotel, Portmahomack
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- The path up to the cliff tops near Tarbat Ness
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- Morris on the cliff tops with Tarbat Ness lighthouse in the distance
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- Catching our breath on the cliff top path near the lighthouse
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- The impressive Tarbat Ness Lighthouse
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- Looking back south from the point at Tarbat Ness
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- Morris at the point at Tarbat Ness
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- Easy walking near Port Buckie
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- Walking close to the sea near Port Uilleim
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- Walking into Portmahomack
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- The team on the beach near Portmahomack
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- The sea edge path near Balnabruach
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- Looking back to Portmahomack and Tarbat Ness from near Drumancroy
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- On the magnificent sands approaching Inver Bay
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- Inver Bay
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- The path into Inver
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- Morris with Ann the lovely proprietor of the welcoming Inver Inn
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- Looking back at Inver
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- Making our way along the safe side of the estuary with the white warning boards of the bombing range clearly visible
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- On the old WW2 airfield runway near Northwilds , Tain
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- Our path through the forest at Cnocan Mealbhain to Whiteness sands
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- Out on the beach at Whiteness sands near Plaids
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- Looking over the Dornoch Firth to the Dornoch Bridge which we will cross tomorrow
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- Tain
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 33 ROUTE MAP