Around the Parish - Part 2

 There are a number of beaches in Orkney called Sandside.  Of course my favourite is the Graemsay one!  However there is a lovely Sandside beach in Deerness too.  

The gate above looks out from the kirkyard St Ninian's, which has a fascinating history (click here for info)

It's on the edge of Sandside bay with beautiful views too as you can see.

At the far end are a group of buildings for the former fish farm.  Locals worked here and talk of grading halibut to move from one tank to another.  The site closed many years ago and is under new ownership but nothing much seems to be going on at the moment.  

Looking over to Copinsay.  As you can see it's a lovely sandy beach.  It has lots of shells, including the much sought after groatie buckies. 

Looking back to St Ninian's kirk. 

Click on the picture below to enlarge.  The white blob is the lighthouse on the tiny island of Auskerry.  

One family have lived on the island for 35 years.  They have a family business selling sheep fleeces and wool.  Do take a look at their website and browse the blog (not updated recently but still fascinating). Link here

Rory Auskerry (surname from the island) is a journalist and broadcaster and has made several videos of the island.  Take a look at this YouTube one of a summer on the island.

And Rory has other videos on his youtube page here

Around the parish - part 1

 

My new home is in the parish of Deerness.  It's very much a farming community, has a Community Hall where various events are held, and a shop.  There are a few special sites of interest around but it's a quieter part of the Orkney Mainland, not frequented much by the various holiday bus tours, or visitors.  It's a great place if you love walks, natural history etc.

So - this is Newark Bay.  It's a lovely sweeping bay with an easily walkable footpath around it's edge as well as easy to get onto the sandy beach.  Popular with wild swimmers whatever the season!

At one end of the bay is some archaeology that is in danger of falling into the sea.  It includes an early medieval burial ground, a 10th Century chapel, a 16th Century Laird's house, a prehistoric Souterrain, and a Pictish carved stone was found (link to info about the stone).

February update - new home!

 

Dingieshowe

I moved into my new wee hoose towards the end of January.  Still getting a few things unpacked, rearranged etc but very happy with my new home.  The scenery here in the East Mainland of Orkney is glorious - different from the West and Graemsay but still lovely.  Unfortunately the weather has been pretty grim since I moved in.  We've had ice and snow, gales, heavy rain.  Still gales and heavy rain this week!  So not much in the way of out and about to explore.  However here are a few pix from recent weeks.

Clouds over St Peter's Pool.  I love the light on the grasses and the way they echo the waves in the wind.

I have found a sandy beach with shells on - no groatie buckies though.  The tide goes right out here and provides mud flats for lots of wading birds.  Can't wait till Spring!.

While Dingieshowe is mainly shingle but there are sandy areas, also a wonderful dune system.

Ronnie, one of the garage cats, and some of the other neighbours!

Yes Button is aware of Ronnie and Reggie and not impressed.  Especially as she is having to remain a house cat for the time being.

There is a "catio" (cat patio) but she keeps escaping!  However she does enjoy taking the air from the windowsill.  It's when she gets off the windowsill the trouble starts!

And the views from the windows are spectacular!  Big skies and cloudscapes.

And facing North - a pastoral scene - plus my wind turbine!

The garden around the house is laid to gravel with wild flowers growing among it.  Also some whalebones!  And gorgeous gabion walls created by previous owners.  As you can see we are close to the road - hence Button and the catio...

And this looks East  - the edge of the cliffs there.

Hopefully as Spring returns there will be more opportunities to be out and about!  I'm reading a book about the parish so can share some of the history too.

Happy 2023!

 

Apologies for gross dereliction of blogging in recent weeks.  I struggle with low energy in Winter and with the impending move to my new home later this month I have been concentrating on packing - again!  I also managed to pick up a virus despite still not mixing very much.  Fortunately a course of steroids and antibiotics kicked it into touch, though I am still weary and am croaking away!

Anyway as it is a very blustery day today (50mph winds this morning) I decided to stay in my cosy rental place in Kirkwall for the day and do some catching up.  So here are a few photos taken over the last month.

The weather has been mixed as ever, we even had a bit of snow and a lot of ice for a while.  I'm hoping for benign weather on moving day.

Button is less than impressed with more packing.... Bless her she has settled into town life remarkably well - though confined to a small garden and no cat flap.  

But she will get underfloor heating again and windows with views like this!

The snow covered hills of the island of Rousay in the distance!

Meanwhile a short walk away....

My new home has a history too which I want to explore.  It was a former Coastguard shed....

Meanwhile back in Kirkwall over Christmas..... snow!

Wishing everyone a good 2023...... 

My new home.....

 

Life is still hectic and it's Autumn/Winter so my energy levels are not great, but am loving my new home.  Stunning sea views within a short distance.   View from house over a quieter pool of water, that has very low tides exposing mud flats.  This will be wonderful in Spring/Summer - and it faces West so great sunsets too!  Anyway a few scenic shots to keep you going!

Wild Atlantic ocean!

The front of the house has a calmer view across the pool and mudflats....

The house comes with two "sitting tenants" - 2 outside cats.  No I am not sure how Button will cope - but given we are near a fast road and she is mostly a house cat now, she won't be allowed to roam far anyway.  She's quite arthritic so prefers lazing in the sun to hunting these days.  A "catio" will be built to contain her and we will see how that goes.

Meanwhile here are Ginge I and Ginge II.  Ginge II is very shy and I have only seen his head up in the rafters of the garage.  Ginge I is bolder.  They get supplementary feeding as do many farm cats.  And judging by the remains nearby their main diet are mice, rats, and rabbits.  Though sadly will also include birds....sigh... They are about 5 years old, neutered and were born nearby so are well established.

Here is Ginge I

And a head shot of Ginge II

There has been a lot of wind (and rain - oh goodness a lot of rain) so the sea was quite busy today.

Next adventure...

 

Photo by Graham Campbell

Sandside sale completed last week.  A bittersweet moment but I know the new folk will make excellent custodians to take the house through to the future.

So now I feel ok to talk about my next home - soon to complete on a wee house on the Orkney Mainland parish of Deerness.    Deerness itself is a peninsular joined by an isthmus so I'm *nearly* on a small island.  The house has history too, being a former Coastguard shed converted and extended about 15 years ago.  And yes it has a sea view and is near some of the best beaches in Orkney.  Wonderful for bird watching, seals etc.  There is even a lighthouse on the horizon. Deerness has lots of history too.  A small shop AND a gin distillery!

I'm really excited about my new home and once it is truly mine (later this month) I will post more photos of the environs.  Meanwhile here are a few photos around Deerness.

Photo above is of the isthmus and in the distance is the uninhabited island of Copinsay. The water in the foreground is St Peter's Pool, which faces West.  Wonderful mud flats when the tide is out so lots of waders to watch.  On the other side of the isthmus (I love that word...) is a wild and rugged coast.  Wonderful waves, great surf.

There's a sailing club in Deerness with a small place for the public to park with picnic benches etc.  And a slipway and walk along Newark Bay....

The island of Copinsay

Great places to park Freda for a cuppa

Sea views everywhere

Surfers in the water!

So I hope you stay with me on my next adventure!