Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

541pm Cromarty to Rosemarkie

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Ruth Livingstone

I’ve met very few people all morning but now, as I’m eating my lunch, the traffic begins to hot up. This father and child toil past me, going up hill.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel, woodland | 6 Comments

541am Cromarty to Rosemarkie

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Saturday, 10th May, 2025]

I leave my bike in the same spot as yesterday. But today I’m heading south, along the minor road that leads down towards Rosemarkie. It’s another beautiful day, and the fields are bright with gorse and rape seed crops.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged bluebells, hiking, lambs, photography, travel | 2 Comments

540 Nigg Ferry and Cromarty walk

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Friday, 9th May 2025]

A fit person would walk from the Cromarty ferry straight down to Rosemarkie, in one day. But, I am no longer a fit person, so I decided to divide the walk up into a number of stages. Each stage is determined by car-parking possibilities, and the first stage will need to be walked backwards!

So, this is how I end up cycling along a minor road to a junction with a track, where I leave my Scooty bike chained up. What a great view over the Cromarty peninsula.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged ferry, Hugh Miller, photography, travel, walking | 11 Comments

539 Chapelhill to Nigg Ferry

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 8th May 2025]

The Nigg ferry is not supposed to start running until the 1st June, but the lady at the campsite told me it had started running early this year. Wonderful!

So, I drive to Cromarty, park the van, and wait for the little ferry to arrive. I LOVE ferries.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged ferry, old church, photography, Pictish Stone, travel | 8 Comments

538 Hilton to Chapelhill

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Wednesday, 7th May, 2025]

I cycle to Hilton of Cadboll, and chain my bike up to a sign that reads, “Balintore, 1 km”. Look back at the shore where I walked yesterday and…

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged beach, legends, photography, Pictish Stones, sculptures | 8 Comments

537 Rockfield to Hilton

Posted on July 5, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Tuesday, 6th May, 2025]

Not wanting to risk the steep road down to Rockfield on my Scooty bike, I leave him chained up in a field at the top of the hill. Start the descent down the road…

… much easier coming down today than going up yesterday! And a lovely view over the village.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, shags, travel | 5 Comments

536b Tarbat Ness to Rockfield

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Monday, 5th May, 2025]

I give up my fruitless attempt to spot whales, or dolphins, at the tip of Tarbat ness. Walk down the path hugging the coast, then pick up the access road that runs past the lighthouse.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged castle, cattle, hiking, lighthouse, photography | 8 Comments

536a Portmahomack to Tarbat Ness

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Monday, 5th May, 2025]

I’m back in Portmahomack, and it is looking beautiful in the sunshine. Today, I have planned a circular walk around the Tarbat Ness peninsula, so no cycling required!

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged bones, hiking, lighthouse, photography, travel | 3 Comments

535 Inver to Portmahomack

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Sunday, 4th May, 2025]

The forecast was showers in the morning, and sun in late afternoon. So, I decided to have an easy morning lazing around in my little apartment, and go for a short walk later. Inver to Portmahomack is only 4 miles. An easy amble.

It is 4:30pm by the time the showers clear and I arrive in Inver on my Scooty bike, ready to resume my trek.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged bikers, gnomes, hiking, photography, travel | 9 Comments

534 Tain to Inver

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Saturday, 3rd May, 2025]

I catch the bus back to Tain, and it is a short walk through the town down to the shore, where an open green space provides an area to walk and play. I cut across the grass towards the water’s edge.