The Flow Country

We’re on top of the world - well at least mainland Britain - and seem determined to fit everything possible into our one full day here. Our ‘holidays’ are increasingly like expeditions; for us travelling is about seeing and experiencing, but sometimes I think we need to remind ourselves to build in a little ‘down time’, and today is a case in point.

The morning is bright and sunny, if cold, and it’s off for the obligatory selfie by the John o’ Groats signpost - though in fact someone takes our photo as part tof a quid pro quo deal. 

Our next stop is Duncansby Stacks - stunning cliff formations with the added attraction of seabirds and coastal flora. Here the stars are fulmars nesting amongst the thrift, but we’re delighted to find a fair number of puffins flying about, some with beaks full of straw - maybe it’s time to refresh those burrows? 

We make a quick stop-off at the Castle of May, but haven’t pre-booked tickets and anyway we had our castle-fix yesterday. 

Instead, we make the journey to Forsinard Flows, an RSPB reserve. It’s a longer journey than we want to make today along rough roads, and by now the morning’s sunshine has turned to cloud, but despite all this, we’re so glad we’ve made the effort. Forsinard has the rugged beauty of the Flow Country, an area of rolling peatland punctuated by dark pools, rich with bird and plant life. The  most fascinating for me are the sundews which I discover for the first time. Enchanting creations jewelled with water droplets, but behind the beauty lies a carnivorous beast, devouring insects lured by its magic.

Apart from this, however, is the carbon storing power of the peat, the Flow Country storing 400 million tons, over three times that of Britain’s woodland. Small wonder conservation of this land is crucial. (More about The Flow Country in the link below). 

By now, I’m ready to head back to base, but G thinks we may as well explore further, and we end up walking down to Melvich beach - or at least the river estuary behind it. Suddenly I realise the sky is full of arctic terns, dive bombing gulls who dare come near their nests. This is the first time I’ve encountered these most elegant of seabirds, and we end up sitting on a sand dune watching as they wheel and turn through the air - several times attacking G who clearly seems a threat! We notice a few adorable chicks on the river shingle nesting grounds, and also a ringed plover mum and chick. The later is the cutest leggy creature, who wonders carelessly from the nest much to mum’s consternation. 

Finally, we visit Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the UK mainland. It literally is just a case of getting out of the car, looking towards Orkney, and getting back in. It’s been a long but satisfying day. 

So out of some 500 photos and an agony of choice, today’s main is Forsinard - I can’t believe I’ve relegated the puffin to extras, but I’m hoping there will be more to come! There’s also a sundew, Duncansby Stacks and a flower collage - and John o Groats with a tiny insert of us! 

https://www.theflowcountry.org.uk/assets/Uploads/1585-Flows-Leaflet-6-final.pdf 

I’ve just realised this is going to end up as a back-blip as I’m not going to get it posted by midnight! Thanks to all of you for your lovely comments, hearts and stars. They’re very much appreciated, even if I haven’t responded - and thanks for your understanding on this too.