Autumn Walk




We are told that 'what the sea takes it keeps, what  it gets it gives back' . The sea must have carried this pine tree a considerable distance before washing it up at the Broch.

  This morning we had the beach almost to ourselves and walked along it to the Waters of Philorth where we cut across the boardwalk, followed the track up to the main road before turning left to take us to the mains of Cairnbulg Road. This road is actually a pleasant, gradually ascending  lane with grass growing in the middle and a superb  panoramic view over towards Mormond Hill and round towards Windyheads and Troup. - a tapestry of shifting shadow and light as showers moved across it, to be photographed on a clearer day.






Rufus insisted on trying to climb on to the old road bridge over the Water of Philorth whilst Grey Granite was photographing Cairnbulg Castle. In doing so he succeeded in flushing out three hen peasants.



Cairnbulg Castle, glimpsed through the trees at Philorth Bridge

Our object for this walk was to find and photograph the carved stone we had seen previously in the dyke near Mains of Cairnbulg. The weather forecast had led us to expect a bright day with good light for photography. Since the carving is indistinct we needed this. Alas,  the morning gradually dulled and by the time we were walking up the brae by Mains of Cairbulg it was raining heavily.


We found the granite stone, apparently a milestone, in the bank near 'Islamor'. 


We turned right at the road junction, before descending  past Invernorth House and Ashburn to join the Line. There was a wren in the hedge near Ashburn and a small flock of finches feasting on the knapweed heads by the bridge at the Line.The sun broke through the clouds as we recrossed  the Water of Philorth catching the plumage  of a flock of curlew feeding in Wet Fold. The sun highlighted  the sheen on the silver velvet of the embryonic catkins which are already  forming on grey willows along the embankments. There are also signs of catkins on the alders and silver birches along the Line and large green buds on the sycamores. Spring is already in sight,putting in mind a line  from Edward Thomas:
'Now I know that Spring will come again, ....however late I've patience'.