A beautiful autumn day along the Moray and Aberdeenshire coast.

Today was our wedding anniversary. Little did LSH know twenty nine years ago just what lay ahead of him! His medal really is long overdue.

Since he was working today, we had a run out on the motorbike yesterday for a celebratory lunch along the coast at Pennan. The timing was perfect as yesterday's weather was so much better than today's.

Since the dogs had to be left at home (really must get them a side-car!), we took them out en masse to let off a bit of steam. Part of the walk involved a stubble field, Jana's favourite. She did a lot of this........

There was much running and jumping

These photos were actually taken a few days ago.....but you get the idea.

We went off on the bike along the coast to the tiny village of Pennan, which sits at the bottom of cliffs and is perched right on the seafront. It was made famous when it was used as part of the setting for the film Local Hero. Two years ago, after heavy rain, part of the cliff face gave way and a mudslide hit many of the houses at the west end of the village. All is back to normal now but there must still be a bit of worry that it could happen again.

We had lunch in the Pennan Inn, highly recommended if you happen to be passing.

Pennan

Although this isn't the actual telephone box that features in the film, that was just a prop, this one is almost in the same position and is probably the most photographed box in Scotland.

The harbour at Pennan.

On the way back we stopped off to visit the cliffs at Troup Head and maybe see some of the sea birds.

A view west along the Moray Firth coastline

LSH at the top of the cliff which was devoid of birdlife! We'll have to return in early summer when it will be buzzing with them.

We sat on the cliff top for a while, there was hardly a breath of wind and the sun was really warm. You'd never believe it was an October day.

Looking east, the white cottages of Pennan can just be seen in the distance

We stopped at another tiny ex-fishing village a little further up the road. This time it was Crovie, which is pronounced 'Crivvie' for some reason. These cottages are perched in an even more precarious position than Pennan, on stormy days the sea must be washing their windows.

It all looked quite wonderful on a day like this.

The village was established in the eighteenth century when crofters were put off their land during the clearances, they took up fishing, albeit on a small scale, but a great storm in 1953 caused a lot of damage and many families moved. The village is now made up mainly of holiday homes.

There is no road up to the houses, just a footpath along the front. Anything to be delivered to the cottages has to be taken along in a barrow.

You can see just how close to the sea the village really is.



On the way home we could see a sundog, the first I've ever noticed. There were actually two, one each side of the sun, and they were quite bright. I couldn't catch them whilst we were rattling along on the bike and they had faded a little by the time we were able to stop but you can make them out. Clicking on the photos will help a little.

It may be autumn but I'm glad the sun is putting up a fight.