Heading for Leith, we drove through Newcastleton and then Jedburgh, spotting the 12th century Abbey from a distance … another place to visit in the future?
Continuing through Kelso and Berwick we headed north along the coast to Eyemouth. Another place we had never been to, so we headed for the harbour and a wander about.
This seal was, we think, a regular around the harbour. He just sat in the water looking at the people watching him. Not many fish scraps about on a Sunday!
As we walked along the promenade, overlooking the harbour, we came to the bronze memorial unveiled in Oct 2016. The work, created by Jill Watson, commemorates the disaster following the storm in Oct 1881 when 189 local fishermen men were lost. 129 of these came from Eyemouth. Widows and Bairns, which is 5metres long, depicts and names of every mother and child who was directly affected by the disaster.
On the morning of 14th October 1881, the vast majority of the fishing boats on Scotland's North Sea coast were tied up in port. But skippers from Eyemouth, along with fishermen from other nearby ports, ignored the warnings and set out at dawn. By midday they were in the teeth of a severe storm for which their wooden boats were no match. They fled for the shelter of the port but many never made it. Their vessels either overturned or were dashed on the rocks at the entrance to Eyemouth harbour. Hysterical women and children looked on helplessly as their menfolk were thrown overboard and swallowed up by the sea. Family members watched as their husbands, brothers and fathers drowned before their eyes.
After that sombre story we moved on to conclude our wander around Eyemouth.
Moving on our next stop was another harbour - there are many interesting little harbours and villages to stop at along this stretch of coast!
This one was Dunbar - a working harbour (although not on a Sunday!) full of fishing boats, lobster pots and nets.
Dunbar once had a castle but it was torn down and the stone used to build two harbours. The ruined castle still stands guard over the twinned harbours and once sheltered Mary Queen of Scots.
The battery at the end of the harbour has been turned into a venue for outdoor events.
Bass Rock is visible - on a good day - from the harbour walls.
We finally moved on - not far to go now before reaching Leith, and we soon began to see very large ships moored in the docks.
Beginning where we left off yesterday …
We set off, heading across the Queensferry Crossing for St Andrews! We love this bridge and every time we cross have to take photos!
Reaching St Andrews we finally found the beach. However the wind was so strong it was a sandstorm! OK if the wind was behind you, but turning back was something different!
We have passed through St Andrews before and always intended to visit the Abbey and the Castle, but never actually have. Well today that was going to change. The Abbey was our destination.
We left the Abbey and wandered along to the Castle - or what is left of it!
Well St Andrews was certainly worth the effort to visit. Might even have to go again as there are some amazing buildings on the streets - not to mention the golf courses!
However we wanted to go and see some snowdrops today too. The Snowdrop Festival promotes some of the best gardens and woodlands where swathes of snowdrops can be seen. As we were in the area it seemed rude not to visit Cambo Gardens and see their snowdrops.
There have been snowdrops at Cambo for many years and there are many different varieties too, but it is not just snowdrops. There were some other wonderful plants flowering too.
We had a wonderful wander around the grounds looking at everything, even wandering through the woods to reach the beach.
The day ended with a lovely sky too.
Crossed that bridge again …
… and then searched out the Pentland Hills Regional Park. After a short walk through a wood we found the Harlaw House Visitor Centre, where there were displays and information about the Park. We had a wander down to the reservoir but on this occasion there was not a lot to see!
However looking at the information we gathered from this centre (which is one of two information points within the park) it may well be worth another visit.
This draws to an end another trip - and although we have found some new places to visit, there is still much more to see and investigate, so we may well be back!
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