I took the precaution of booking tickets in advance just in case but needn't have worried -plenty of room on the giant Scrabster ferry. I had parked here before but had to be reminded of the slightly bizarre ten pounds for any part of a week charge and couldn't quite persuade myself to believe the locals who assured me that on street parking restrictions are never enforced so into the tenner car park it was.
I had also debated over whether to hire a bicycle or order a taxi to help reduce the knee burden and phoned Clark's taxis en route. Seven pounds sounded reasonable for a trip from Moaness to Rackwick Bay so we agreed to meet at 4.30pm. Also cycling even for only five miles might have been a bit much for me on a warm afternoon and it costs at least ten pounds per day to hire a bike. Maybe next time.
Fantastic views of the Hoy cliffs on the way round to Stromness and a pleasant enough hour spent wandering around the town with free art exhibitions to view.
Got to Hoy and found that I was to join a group going over to Rackwick where I was only charged three pounds, presumably because I was now part of a group. I also noted from the taxi driver that the Burnmouth bothy was now open; a possible option for the night, the alternative plan being to kip in a survival bag on a carry mat near the beach.
The burn crossing that had put me off in March was now easily negotiated via stepping stones and the rest of the way along the dunes was easy going though my knee was reminding me a little bit that it wasn't quite right. Got a bit rougher after cutting inland but then got easier but steep once onto the second and second steepest path up. That path petered out at the flatter area above and I was then able to double back across the grassy hillside to reach Craig Gate. By this point my knee seemed to have settled and didn't bother me very much at all until later the next day.
Easy walking thereafter but a lot slower than anticipated as it was both very interesting and quite warm. My original plan of a much longer walk out to a waterfall beyond the Sneuk was soon ditched in favour of a slower and more detailed examination of a couple of the geos along the way. Kept going until about seven thirty then doubled back to find a place to watch the sun going down. That change of plan was greatly aided by my water filter that enabled me to top up from a dribble of water in the moss without necessitating a lengthy continuation south or a premature retreat north.
On the way back to the bothy I was amazed to see dozens if not hundreds of what looked like bath white butterflies (identified afterwards by my wife) in the heather and grass behind the dunes.
Got five hours of light sleep then set off along the road back to Moaness. Had though about taking the Berriedale path but thought the road might just be a bit better for the knee. In fact no knee problems really until nearing the ferry when I got a few twinges.
DSC00543c by John Little, on FlickrThe Berry. I visited these wonderfully colourful cliffs in March.
DSC00550c by John Little, on FlickrRora Head, Candle of the Sneuk and The Berry.
DSC00581c by John Little, on FlickrThe Old Man of Hoy.
DSC00587c by John Little, on FlickrCaithness hills in the background.
DSC00595c by John Little, on FlickrRounding the magnificent St. John's Head.
DSC00612c by John Little, on FlickrGraemsay lighthouse.
DSC00616c by John Little, on FlickrThe cliff tops that I am headed for.
DSC00618c by John Little, on FlickrThe Caithness hills again.
DSC00636c by John Little, on FlickrRora Head in the distance with Black Nev in front and the path to the Old Man atop.
DSC00637c by John Little, on FlickrNo problem crossing the burn today and not bad going up the hillside once I had cut onto the second and second steepest path up.
DSC00643c by John Little, on FlickrLoyal and Hope.
DSC00647c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00654c by John Little, on FlickrReminiscent of the bay below Menawn Heights.
DSC00655c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00657c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00661c by John Little, on FlickrDSC00661c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00663c by John Little, on FlickrAt the top of Craig Gate.
DSC00676c by John Little, on FlickrNot quite as I imagined it would be but still good.
DSC00669c by John Little, on FlickrLooking a bit like the Canary Islands here. Think this might be Red Geo.
DSC00683c by John Little, on FlickrSlowly working my way along the many mini geos.
DSC00698c by John Little, on FlickrNot exactly sure where I am here but it might be White Chest.
DSC00703c by John Little, on FlickrMorven prominent again.
DSC00704c by John Little, on FlickrLots of bog cotton.
DSC00711c by John Little, on FlickrZooming back to Rackwick Bay -the camera, not me!
DSC00712c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00719c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00727c by John Little, on FlickrAlways like to be beside the seaside.
DSC00735c by John Little, on FlickrPossibly Geo of the Lame.
DSC00736c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00740c by John Little, on FlickrThe Hamnavoe.
DSC00744c by John Little, on FlickrOne more of Morven and co.
DSC00763c by John Little, on FlickrSantoo Head from Lyrie Geo?
DSC00766c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00771c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00778c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00842c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00843c by John Little, on FlickrPicked my spot to watch the sun go down, back at Red Geo.
DSC00844c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00848c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00855c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00870c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00871c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00875c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00876c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00883c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00901c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00902c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00929c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00946c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC00979c by John Little, on FlickrNext morning.
DSC01006c by John Little, on FlickrOpted for a bit of road walking.
DSC01012c by John Little, on FlickrPassing Ward Hill's south east corrie.
DSC01014c by John Little, on FlickrLooking back to Black Nev -I was doing one post per minute and two hours forty five minutes for the whole of the road walk.
DSC01015c by John Little, on FlickrDwarfie Hammars.
DSC01016c by John Little, on FlickrLast leg to the coast.
DSC01019c by John Little, on FlickrDwarfie Hammars again.
DSC01041c by John Little, on FlickrCoulags -my first WH report.
DSC01042c by John Little, on FlickrHaist.
DSC01047c by John Little, on FlickrCoulags again.
DSC01055c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC01056c by John Little, on FlickrWard Hill and Coulags.
DSC01059c by John Little, on FlickrAlmost there.
DSC01062c by John Little, on FlickrHandy waiting room with loos and books.
DSC01063c by John Little, on FlickrThe last few metres.
DSC01079c by John Little, on FlickrRora Head and yesterday's route up beyond.
DSC01084c by John Little, on Flickr
DSC01098c by John Little, on FlickrBack soon hopefully.
Two videos; one with my flip camera and one with my new camera:
