Fantastic day in Aberdeen at Doors Open Day and then the dilemma. Can I be bothered to pack the camping gear and head back to the coast? I decided I should because the weather was forecast to be sunny and warm and possibly the last chance to go wild camping for the summer. It was also a good excuse to get a good run in my new car! Having researched the location it seemed that the track was full of potholes so I decided to park at St Mary's Church and walk the final stretch. Looking north-west was Loch of Strathbeg where lots of swans and geese were congregated.
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| Loch of Strathbeg |
The walk was easy apart from the mad, barking dog at the farmhouse and I passed 2 young men playing golf in the dunes - great for game improvement! On the way I disturbed a fox on the track - it had not heard me coming and it shot off across the field. The sun was getting low so I dumped the gear and made a dash for the beach in order to get some shots with the sun on the west side of the lighthouse.
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| Last rays of the day |
By now it was getting quite gloomy so I fitted the neutral density filter, cable release and tripod and managed to get some long exposures without getting my feet wet.
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| Long exposure in the gloom |
After unpacking the bivy bag and sleeping bag (by now it was almost completely dark) I had a final brew of herbal tea on the beach and nearly died of a heart attack as a boxer dog bounded up quickly followed by its owner. Turns out, as I discovered in the morning, that they were in a camper van back at the car park.
It was amazing how damp things were getting with the dew that settled on the bags but I was treated to an amazing show of stars and the odd satellite before I zipped up for the night. It really should be on everyone's list of things to do - wild camping under stars.
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| Bivy spot |
After my usual, unsettled sleep I surfaced about 6.15 am to a warm day with lots of low mist blowing from the south. I just missed some pink clouds as the sun rose but the lighthouse was looking pretty spectacular in the dramatic light.
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| Sunrise through the mist |
I was joined by some seals who seemed to be hunting above the covered rocks and I also discovered that I had been beaten to the early photos by another wild camper who was pitched on top of the dunes further south. It was amusing to watch lots of Sanderlings chasing insects and flies on the beach while trying to avoid the waves. After a quick cup of tea I was packed and heading back to the car ...
