One day ten weeks or so ago (how time flies!) we went to Cockburnspath to visit Eric and his family. it was the last week of Freya’s school holidays. It’s a very historic area, being very close to the border with England, battles were fought nearby. When King James IV married Margaret Tudor in 1503 he presented the land around here to her as a wedding gift.
Our visit usually includes a walk to the beach at nearby Cove, a settlement that was once a fishing village with quite a lot of houses and families living there, but due to the ravages of the North Sea most of the houses have been swept away, there are only around three left that are inhabited.
Uther found a ball on the beach and he thought it was a great game to poke it over the edge of the quayside and watch it drop into the harbour, Eric wasn’t so enthralled with the game. Luckily he had his wellies on! The bystanders were very amused.
The North Sea has worn some lovely patterns into the rocks.
Although we’ve been there numerous times we had never witnessed the place when the tide was out, it looks so different. It meant there was far more territory for Uther the red and white setter to investigate, and I must admit that I was happy to follow in his pawsteps. Mooching around on a beach is one of my favourite pastimes, why anyone would want to lie down on a beach is a mystery to me.
The low tide had brought a couple of cockle/whelk gatherers out – rather them than me, apart from not liking seafood – there’s a nuclear power station lurking in the background!
Freya, Jack and Eric were happy to sit and chat while I risked broken ankles scrabbling around amongst the rocks.
These old houses are incredibly picturesque and part of me thinks it would be exciting to have the North Sea battering off your walls, but the fact that all the other houses have been torn down by the sea makes me see sense. This one is now only used to store fishing gear nowadays.
Uther is the only dog that I’ve ever known that doesn’t like to go into water, whisper it but – maybe he was a cat in another life!
What a spectacular coast, what gorgeous rocks! And how nice to be able to share the adventure with Uther!
Joan,
It is a dramatic coastline. I think I’ll just stick to borrowing dogs now and again!
I find it interesting that the harshest natural elements seem to create the most beautiful scenery….in many places around the world. Thanks for the peak at this fascinating area.
Paula
Paula,
You’re right, whether it’s wind or water, it leaves beautiful prints behind.
Sounds like a lovely day. Beautiful photos. I think my gorgeous new male cat was a dog in a previous life. Though that doesn’t mean that he likes to splash about in water!
Sandra,
I could get to like a cat that was more like a dog. Their normal aloofness unnerves me!
Looks an interesting place to potter and fossick, especially with the tide out.
Your tidal ranges are more than double the ones here, by the way – two to three metres would be the average range of tide here.
Beautiful dog!
Valerie,
It is a lovely area. In some places here the tides go so far out that you can hardly see the sea from the promenade! That’s interesting that you have a very small tidal range in NZ. I thought it was only the Mediterranean that was like that.