Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

515 Freswick to Keiss

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Saturday, 27th May, 2023]

After a late start, I cycle to Freswick, chain my bike up, and walk down to the beach. Today, I will be following the official John o’Groats Trail (JOG Trail) to a place called Keiss.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged broch, castles, hiking, photography, travel | 12 Comments

514 Duncansby Head to Freswick

Posted on August 24, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 26th May, 2023]

I’m back at Duncansby Head, and it is another beautiful and sunny day. What a view! All the way to the Orkneys.

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Posted in 25. North East Scotland | Tagged geos, hiking, lighthouse, photography, travel | 13 Comments

513b John o’Groats to Duncansby Head

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Thursday, 25th May, 2023]

I celebrate my arrival at John o’Groats by having a late lunch in one of the cafes: a very tasty (but quite expensive) fish chowder. Followed by a large piece of cake.

Time to set off along the final section of of today’s walk to Duncansby Head. I’m surprised to see signs indicating the John o’Groats Trail – JOG Trail for short – and a clear tarmac path.

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Posted in 24 North Coast of Scotland | Tagged beach, hiking, lighthouse, photography, travel | 24 Comments

513a Gills to John o’Groats

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 25th May 2023]

I cycle to Gills, pushing against the strong wind. I’ve taken to swearing quite a lot as I cycle – mainly at the weather, usually at the wind, and sometimes at the bike. When I reach Gills, I chain the bike up behind the information plaque…

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Posted in 24 North Coast of Scotland | Tagged hiking, landmark, photography, travel, unicorns | 28 Comments

512b Castle of Mey to Gills

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 24th May 2023]

It was too dangerous to clamber over the rickety fence, and too dangerous to climb down the cliff to get round the obstruction, so I turn back. Reach the point where a farm track leaves the path. This should connect me with a road, and from there I can walk back to my van.

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Posted in 24 North Coast of Scotland | Tagged hiking, photography, scones, scotland, travel | 31 Comments

512a Brough to Castle of Mey

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 24th May, 2023]

It’s a bright, windy day. I start my walk in Brough, and take a little detour to look at a cottage that once was owned by my brother-in-law and his wife. What a pretty little cottage it is, too! Idyllic. They must have been very sad to leave.

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Posted in 24 North Coast of Scotland | Tagged castle, coast, hiking, photography, road-trip, scotland, travel, walking | 2 Comments

511 Castletown to West Dunnet

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Tuesday, 23rd of May, 2023]

This is the walk I should have done yesterday – today I’m filling in the gap. I chain my bike up at the Castletown car park and start by walking along part of the Flagstone Trail.

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Posted in 24 North Coast of Scotland | Tagged beach, flagstones, hiking, photography, travel | 14 Comments

510 West Dunnet to Dunnet Head

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 22nd May 2023]

What a lovely place this is. West Dunnet – just a handful of houses and a little museum called Mary Ann’s Cottage. Here is a pretty little harbour too, with an old pier, and a deserted car park. Only one vehicle parked.

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Posted in 24 North Coast of Scotland | Tagged cardinal point, hiking, lighthouse, photography, travel | 23 Comments

509b Thurso to Castletown

Posted on June 3, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 21st May, 2023]

After lunch, I set off across the grassy area alongside the shore. Notice an upright pillar on a mound – check my map – could be Rossy Hillocy Cairn. Why is it there? No idea.