This was just about the most perfect day for any expedition
so far. The Feis had just finished and possibly a lot of explorers
were having a lie-in, only four stalwarts turned up: Abbie,
Alexander, Robin D, and Sarah, with two helpers: Elizabeth
and Philippa, with only Ellie to cover the demanding canine
duties.
As one would imagine, with four healthy teenagers, we set
a cracking pace and covered the ground very well. We followed
the coastal path from Samalaman Beach passing the memorial
tree to the young lad and stopping to see some lichens on
the old sheep fank.
We quickly pushed on to Graham Croal's stone seat and climbed
down to the caves where the explorers investigated every corner
of the caves and apparently found some commendably large spiders
in the darkest corners. We took a few pictures here before
pushing on round the coast to the small cove.
We examined the peculiar boat house but the tide was too high
to see the details of the little harbour. However we were
able to get out onto the fishing point and see the glacial
scratches on the rocks. The day was getting pretty hot at
this point and there was a temptation to stretch out on the
rocks and take a rest, but the leader was relentless and on
we went.
The next bay had some houses and rock shelters and the explorers
went into each one before taking a wafer break. There were
some huge boulders on the shore and I tried to get a picture
of the explorers clustered round the boulders like invertebrates,
but it wasn't too successful.
Leaving the shore we negotiated a tricky climb to reach the
path up the glen through the birch woods. At the top we reached
the township of north Smirisary, where the explorers stood
on an old clapper bridge for a picture before climbing back
to the road.
From there is was a fairly easy walk back to the beach and
the cars, pausing to look at Samalaman House and the little
building said to have been the monks' loo.
John
Dye
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