The road to Shielhill

An enjoyable if cold day visiting a friend at Kinneff. We walked along the track below Kinneff Old Kirk which leads down between banks of whins to the remains of Shielhill, a clifftop fishing village first recorded in the 15th century. By the mid 18th century there were 9 families - a total of 31 inhabitants - most of them with the surname Watt. A dozen line fishermen worked from the small bay below the  village using 5 boats. Their catch - including haddock, ling, whiting, skate, mackerel and crabs caught in creels, was hauled up the steep cliff in baskets using a blondine. A winch was used to pull the boats up on to the shore.
The main image shows the track and chimneys of the ruined cottage in the extra.