Grantown and Lossiemouth

 In September we took a trip to one of our favourite haunts, Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park, this time it was a little bit different as we were joined by my sister and brother-in-law with their caravan. We were lucky enough to get pitches next door to each other, which made it easy when we decided to share the evening cooking duties between us.

We still did some of our regular Grantown activities like walking the Dava Way (well part of it) and it was nice to share the experience with others:

Cairngorms and Caravan Park from Dava Way

Old Railway Cutting along the Dava Way

Rowans in Fruit

About half way along our walk we stopped for a drinks/snack break and to enjoy the scenery:

Snack Break on the Dava Way

View from Snack Bench

We continued along the path until we reached Lady Catherine's Halt:

Lady Catherine's Halt

 It is a bit of a mystery why it is called Lady Catherine's Halt as the Dowager Countess of Seafield (referred to in the above information plaque) was in fact Lady Caroline? The Grant family insisted that a 'request stop' be provided by the railway company at the East Lodge of Castle Grant in compensation for the railway line passing through their land. This was quite often a condition imposed by the landed gentry when a railway company requested permission to run a line through their land.

Although the actual halt was a bit basic, the gatehouse and entrance arch at the East Lodge was far more impressive:

At Lady Catherine's Halt

Archway at East Lodge

Florence & Moira at Castle Grant's East Lodge

After this we headed back to the caravan park, it was a nice little walk.

We visited a few of our regular places on this trip including a walk through Anagach Woods down to the banks of the River Spey. We even visited the small museum in Grantown (a place we hadn't been to before) and learnt more about Lady Caroline (not Catherine) and the Grant dynasty.

However the highlight of the trip was when Danny took us all to Lossiemouth for a day trip. Danny had worked in Lossiemouth many years ago and Florence had visited it as well, but we had never been there before. Our first stop was at East Beach, where the River Lossie joins the Moray Firth:

Breakwater at East Beach

Moira at East Beach, Lossiemouth

Florence at Lossiemouth

Sands at East Beach

It looked lovely in the Autumn sunshine, but whilst it was tempting we didn't go paddling at the beach. Two reasons mainly; in September the water would be freezing and the bridge crossing over the River Lossie to get to the beach was closed for repairs (and has been for years I believe!)

No! we were content on dry land and enjoying the views:

Enjoying the views at Lossiemouth

I will share the views with this little panoramic video:

We were all feeling a bit peckish so decided to head along to Lossiemouth Harbour where there were some eateries. On the way we passed part of the harbour which no longer held fishing boats but had been turned in to a marina for pleasure boats:

Lossiemouth Harbour

Lossiemouth Harbour Marina

Not all boats were for pleasure

As well as all the yachts and cabin cruisers there were a couple of Army Combat Support Boats moored up. Were they there on business or pleasure? who knows?

We had a bite to eat in the Harbour Lights Restaurant, where the food was very good. After lunch we had another stroll around the harbour area:

Lossiemouth Harbour & Harbour Lights Restaurant

Moira at Lossiemouth Harbour

Naval Mine collection box at Lossiemouth Harbour

We then made our way back towards East Beach, where the Terns were busy diving for fish:

Every time I tried to capture on video the moment the Terns plunged in to the water I failed miserably. My future career as a wildlife cameraman seems very much in doubt. I did manage to capture them flying.................... and also sunbathing on the beach:

You may have noticed that there were two types of Tern on the beach; I think the smaller ones (with the red beak) are Common Tern and the larger ones (with the black beak) are Sandwich Tern. I am sure the birders out there will correct me if I am wrong.

We moved a little further along the waterfront towards the mouth of the River Lossie, here you could see the 'unsafe' bridge that was awaiting repairs:

The Mouth of the River Lossie

Bridge over The Lossie to East Beach

Just about this point I noticed a bird in the water swimming purposely towards us; is it a Penguin I thought? 

No it was a Juvenile Razorbill! ......................... of course it wasn't a Penguin, you don't pick them up around this coastline.

I don't know what is happening with their food source further out at sea, but this year I have noticed more Guillemots and Razorbills feeding closer to the shore than normal.

We walked round to the entrance to the bridge, where Danny had parked the car and had a last look back at Lossiemouth before heading out of the town:

Looking back towards Lossiemouth's East Beach

Actually that wasn't our last look back at Lossiemouth as we stopped at a vantage point above the town and I grabbed another couple of snaps:

Looking down to Lossiemouth

Lossiemouth and East Beach

Thank you Danny for taking on a lovely day out, much appreciated.

It really was the highlight of our few days away.

Well that's all folks! as Bugs Bunny would say.

Take care

Teddyedward