Forres

This is a #wander from last summer, as you’ll quickly see since there’s a photo of Ben in here somewhere. Forres is a small town about thirty miles east of Inverness.

There’s lots of stone and impressive monuments on show here. That’s the Tolbooth at the back, and the forty foot high Mercat Cross in front of it. This 1844 structure was erected around the original and the old Mercat Cross of Forres is now at its heart. In the foreground is a streetlamp, showing the effects of the prevailing winds in the High Street.

 

 

Also on the High Street is the RBS buiding, which features a tree growing out of the roof.

 

 

They don’t make churches like this any more – wonderful carving and impressive stone on the High Street. A plaque notes that the building was used as an Auxiliary Hospital in the Great War.

 

 

 

Across the road we bought chips from Miele’s, which were really good. Ben liked them too.

 

 

 

At first glance, Sheena’s Women’s Lingerie doesn’t seem too interesting (other than the obvious lingerie). Look closely at the chimney, though (pic below), and you’ll see inscribed there two names and a date – “John Young, Marg Elder, 1778”. I’ve tried to find out more on t’internet, but failed. Anybody got any info?

Next up, the spectacular St Laurence Church (photo below) stands on a site which has been used for Christian worship since the middle of the 13th century, when Scots King Alexander III erected a chapel in honour of St Laurence as a memorial to his late wife Margaret. The present building is relatively modern. Its foundation stone was laid on 17th August 1904 and the building was first opened for worship on 28th February 1906

Finally, because I’m a filthy-minded 13-year-old at heart, I couldn’t resist posting a photograph of the street opposite the church, simply because of it’s name. Click on the picture for a closer look – (it’s “Cumming Street” fnarr)

Elgin

“In this rich country is the city, or town rather, of Elgin; I say city, because in antient time the monks claim'd it for a city; and the cathedral shews, by its ruins, that it was a place of great magnificence”. So said Daniel Defoe of Elgin in 1717 when visiting Scotland. These days it is no more nor less than a pleasant little town, although reminders of its past shine through here and there.

There are several stone pillars dotted around at various approaches to the town centre. This one appears to celebrate fishing.

 

Lovely weathered old stone carvings on a building that bnow hosts an estate agency.

 

 

 

 

Atop St. Giles Church in the centre of town sits this column encircled small tower, complete with little door for would be suicides – or more likely, stone masons and cleaners.

 

High fashion is de rigeur in this trendsetting Scottish metropolis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This highly-detailed metal pyramid, featuring moments from Elgin’s proud history, sits in the town square right next to the parking area.

 

Ben, as he always did, made friends. In fact, Scottish folk are amongst the friendliest you’ll find anywhere. No, honestly – they’re generous as well.

 

 

 

 

 

There’s St. Giles Church in the background, behind the statue, and the fountain which has been decorated with traditional Scottish chip papers, plastic cups and beer cans.

 

The salubrious and attractive entrance to a Haberdashery (love that word), and a Beauty Salon.

 

 

 

 

 

Little Mavis discovers an ancient hole at the cathedral.

 

 

 

 

The cathedral entrance. We decided not to go in, cos it was bloody expensive.

 

 

 

The cathedral ruins, and monuments to the dead. The stone you probably can’t quite read is to Isobel Young, of Millbank, who dies in 1910.

Lossiemouth & Spey Bay

Here we go with another catchy-up Wombat #wander. Lossiemouth is a smashing little place; here’s a few pics of there and the nearby Spey Bay.The River Lossie (obviously) reaches the sea here. This is the footbridge across the river to the dunes with the sea just beyond them.

Almost across – there’s the sea!

RAF Lossiemouth is close by (for now) and low-flying jets often buzz the town. Or at least they did on the day we were there.

The town, where we bought some rather nice sausage rolls (not pictured).

The beach, and dunes, and sea, and dog. 

Sing, little birdie, sing!

Fresh water in the river on the right, salt water in the sea on the left.

We took the next batch of pics at Spey Bay, a little along the coast. The landscape here is fascinating and unusual, lots of white rocks, and old dead trees.

Ben appreciated the many shallow pools.

Pebbles galore, and natural driftwood sculptures.

Beachcombing.

Ben and tree.

Sculpture by the car park.

Findhorn

Back in August, The Wombats visited Findhorn in Moray – and of course I grabbed the chance at a few Wander-style photographs. Findhorn is a tranquil coastal village, with miles of wonderful duney white sandy beaches. LOTS of boats, as you’d expect – look, that lot’s all upside-down.

 

 

There are plenty of rules to be observed in and around the bay. Keep your flapping halyards quiet. Also, “watch your wake”? Shouldn’t you be watching where you’re going?

 

 

 

 

The James Milne Institute, apparently, complete with thrilling bunting.

 

 

 

 

There are some very pretty houses – note the fishing reference.

 

 

 

 

 

Sky, trees, boats, water, tracks, sand, stump.

 

 

 

 

 

Findhorn has a fascinating history, in fact. The original village has long disappeared under the water.

 

 

 

And here’s @goodboyben leading us through the dunes to the rather wonderful and huge-skied beach.

 

 

 

 

There are real proper wooden groynes – picturesque, historic. I love the texture of weather-beaten wood on beaches.

 

 

 

 

 

Also, some brilliant pebbles for skimming and skipping on the water.

 

 

I’ll finish with a gratuitous panorama shot of the beach…