Wednesday 3 October 2012

Back to Durness and Balnakeil Bay

This is such a lovely beach. I come here whenever I can. I was here in early September with a friend, and  more recently with Jo
Pristine and clean, the sand dunes are impressive
 and down at our feet crop circles, perfect in miniature. The grasses are so light they barely touch the sand, we wondered how long it takes for them to get into the groove!
In the water, different circles. It looked like water going down the plug hole. It was very shallow and these miniature whirlpools sent out ripples in ever increasing circles
Off topic, but nevertheless perfect in miniature  - and circular,  Cocoa Mountain at Balnakeil has the very best little pots of hot drinking chocolate I've ever tasted. Gill and I tucked in when she was here and had chocolate truffles too. Jo was more restrained, (she has an intolerance to dairy products)  I tried not to slurp and dribble as I licked the melted chocolate off the sides of my pot (I think I licked the saucer too) and told her, her cup of hot water with a t-bag looked much much yummier  than mine -  she wasn't convinced!
Elizabeth Parkes, an aunt to John Lennon is buried here at Balnakeil church. We couldn't find her grave
but we found the tomb of a notorious villain, Domhnull MacMhurchaidh, a henchman, apparently, to the chiefs of clan Mackay. Well, he'd certainly got a nice spot for a tomb, I wanted to sit down on it for a moment (an overindulgence of chocolate I expect) but it didn't seem very respectful, even if he had been a notorious villain
This is a place well worth visiting. Even if you are not drawn to deserted beaches, the sea, breathtaking scenery, peace and quiet and old churches and graveyards - the hot chocolate alone is reason enough to come here!


10 comments:

Lucille said...

All my favourite ingredients in one post. Also Annie, I'm so sorry, I managed to delete your comment on the starling, while intending to reply to explain its expression!

ADRIAN said...

You have got the new camera sorted. Balnakeil Church is superb.

annie hoff said...

Thank you Adrian, that's very kind of you. I'm still only just beginning to learn about exposure, f.stops, shutter speeds and the like. I'm trying not to use 'auto mode' but at times it's tempting!

annie hoff said...

Lucille I've re-commented on your blog. I'm always pushing wrong buttons!

ju-north said...

This is one of our favourites too! and the hot chocolate!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous photos - and hot chocolate ...... perfection!!

Mac n' Janet said...

A beautiful beach, an atmospheric graveyard and chocolate, does it get any better than that!

Dartford Warbler said...

You and your new camera are producing some beautiful photos! What dramatic skies above the bay and the dunes.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures, as always, but I especially liked the 4th one....the dark foreboding sky over a dune with a reflected darkness but with patches of brightness perfectly placed in the image. The contrast, the hint of colour, and the composition, are all (to my untrained eye) just right.

Carmen said...

Annie, I love looking at your blog! Thank you so much for sharing! Your photos are beautiful!
Carmen

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