Still in Dornoch, Thurs Sept 5

Walking back with the day's grocery bag, I paused to take photo of Dornoch Catherdral's Mercat Cross. 

 I thought, Too bad it's raining the photo will be dull. 

Then I leisurely read the info posted nearby. And thought, I'm standing here happy in the drizzling rain. I must be Scottish.... 

It rains on and off. Then the sun comes out. Then goes in. 

No big whoop.

The grocer I just came from. 

The bakery. There's a second one RIGHT next door. 

One of two Butchers in town. 

Only one bookstore. 

Pharmacy. 

The Cathedral, from 1300's. 

We are second from left in building w four townhouses. 

That's downtown Dornoch. 

Another spectacular walk, Littleferry. 

Saw seals. 

We took the high road/ path. 

Got cackled at by roosters. 

I had energy, so I went off to Skelbo Wood by myself in the afternoon. An arty walk. Remember, Mike has already walked playing 18 holes at Royal Dornoch, so don't be too impressed with my energy. 

I like he is walking away from the path.

Serene.  Beautiful. 

Today Camore Wood. 

At start they have a loop of woodland play spots for kids. 

Tunnels. 

Can't you just see leprachauns, elves, fairies, and little green men living in these woods?

Even more life in wee Dornoch, Wed Sept 4

Tackling Balblair Woods today. 6 miles through varied terrain... Lovely. 

Hear the birds, the wind in the tall trees, the waves lapping. 

Smell the pine or the peat or the richness of the Loch Fleet's low tide beach. 

Feel the soft grass or pine, or smooth rocks, or sand beneath your feet as you walk. 

Each out of one trunk. 

Yes I'm still here, dear....

Doesn't it feel as if the earth is reaching up, taking back all fallen branches, covering them first with lichen, moss, then starting all over with a new tree?

Wait, that is what's happening, isn't it?

This is "Gorseville". The path got quite small. And prickly. 

Can you spot Mike?

Alongside many-birded and multi-sealed Loch Fleet.

A way marker. There's too few of these, if you ask me. 

Ahem. Yes dear, I'm still following...

Actually Mike was an excellent trail guide. Very appreciated. 

"Heatherland."

"Seedpod World". they rattled as you brushed past them. Cool. 

So like the fake ones in yards. 

Scotch pines. Do they call them just "pines" over here?

Dinner at beloved Crannag Bistro. 

See "Glasgow Salad" as a side offering? You would be served a side of french fries. You who have been here understand. Most popular vegetable over here is potatoes.... some meals you get both boiled and fried potatoes, without even asking. 

We made it back. 

To tiger bread, leek and potato soup. 

I asked why "tiger" bread? Because of the pattern on the top was the answer. I think they are confusing tigers and cheetahs. But mum's the word. 

More life in Wee Dornoch, Mon Sept 2

How do you keep this town so darned charming?

In the rain, while raining, they still water the flowers.

Walking. Walked through Littletown. Started as thatch huts from displaced croft farmers, now adorable stone houses. 

Rainy days make for awesome light.

Tea hits the spot.

At Royal Dornoch bar. 

Great lunch spot, watching the golfers battle the first hole. NO mulligans allowed. Ever. 

Banana honey cake after golf.

Loch Fleet, another hiking spot.

And today, hiked a third way up to the Mannie, a huge monument to the 1833 Duke of Sutherland, atop Ben Bhraggie. We hiked 3 miles, and it seemed to me like 10 miles of vertical elevation. The map says we went up 475 vertical feet. Maps have been known to be wrong. 

Pine forests, rocky outcroppings, fern and wildflower openings. Lovely hike.

And Sheep!

Not sure what happened here...

The one guy that hikes slower than me.

Lunch afterwards at Coffee Bothy. Yippee doodle!

Life in Wee Dornoch, Sat Aug 31

The days are full of grace. Watching town centre Dornoch float through the day from our living room window. Loving Louise Penny books. 

5th tee

Golfing and walking every day. Mike has been with the two somes at 7:30 am. Yesterday played with Jim Coulton, a Hundred Hole Hiker... who plays up to 155 holes PER DAY to raise money for charities. Played all 7 St Andrews courses in one day this summer. This was his first time at Dornoch. Mike felt he played too fast. WHAT?

Footpath along the golf course. 

Fighting the gorse to pick blackberries.

Earls Cross, the 1500's marker of the border of Caithness and Sutherland Counties.

Beauty everywhere. Rambling walks.

Raspberries where Corey and I picked them. Corey was about 12 then... the berries are still here!

Our favorite dinner, Crannag Bistro in Bonnar Bridge. Ian picked chanterelles that day, served w his peppercorn, mustard, fennugreek, coriander cream sauce over toast points. ( I have a jar of the sauce base to bring home!) Mike had wild scallops in mustard caramelized onion saice. That was just the starters. Amazing. 

Got a box of our favorite fudge mailed here from Orkney. They dont mail to the US...