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| Nigg headland from Cromarty |
It was such a windy day that I phoned in advance to check it was running - 'yes' for cars but 'no' for foot passengers, in case they had to shut the service later in the day and the pedestrians became stranded on the wrong side! The ferry is tiny, it only holds a handful of cars, and each is turned on an on-deck turntable so that they can drive on and off the same end. I have to say it is a little nerve-wracking to drive down the little concrete pier onto a gently moving ramp while the ferry revs it's engine to stay in the same place!
The location is rather incongruous. Cromarty is a beautiful fishing village, with a very long history thanks to the natural harbour (first appearing in historical records in the 1200s as a royal burgh). Nigg, on the other hand, is an industrial hub with an oil rig rerurbishing yard, renewable energy and one of the largest dry docks in Europe.
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| Waiting for the ferry at Cromarty, looking across to Nigg |
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| Cromarty, from Nigg |
Next was a visit to ANTA for tea and scones. I ogled a lot of stoneware, and even more beautiful tweed (particular the rugs!), but didn't spend a penny.......it is a case of spend none or an awful lot!
Our last stop, after a hurried picnic lunch, was a walk through Evanton Community Wood (which I loved, we'll be back) to Black Rock Gorge. The gorge is incredibly deep and narrow and the children were suitably impressed - it was the scene for the dragon chase in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (apparently it took 10 days of filming using a remote-controlled helicopter).
I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have all this on our door-step. It does feel pretty isolating at times only having acquaintances rather than friends but that will come with time, and in the meantime I just need to soak in the scenery and magic of the area and be thankful that the children are settling so well.
10 comments:
We weren't allowed on when we tried as it was too windy and we were cycling.
It is lovely up your way. Good luck with finding new friends, I'm still rubbish at that!
It does sounds like a lovely area to live, lots of great place to explore! Glad you are all settling in well.
Sounds and looks like a wonderful place.
Clare x
Fantastic photos Julie, and it all looks so lovely.
lovely photos, and i do hope we can meet up. x
Hi Julie - What a wonderful part of the world you live in....it looks so tranquil.
I think of you often since we've moved (almost together) and wonder how you are fairing in your new land. I'm just starting to realise how much colder it is now that Autumn has set in and today we dug out woolly hats. This would of been unheard of until at least November where we've just come from, But I am loving every moment of our adventure...not that I would admit that to my family - best they think I'm missing home :)
Take care,
Nina xxx
That looks like a great day out. You have some wonderful locations on your door step. Sarah x
Looks like you have a lot of local goodness to enjoy these days :o)
Holy smokes Julie, that sounds like a fantastic little ferry. Our ferries here in Van are great big things which hold a ton of cars and don't have turn tables at all. They go across the straight to Vancouver Island and other harbour islands. We did have one quaint little ferry which just ran across the Fraser river, but it was retired for a bridge. That was a sweet little one which only took about ten cars and about ten minutes to cross. I love ferries. One day I'm coming up your way to experience the turn table. :D
Sounds like an adventure, not sure I'd have been up for the driving the car on bit!! Bx
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