Dingwall Field Club

On the day of Storm Kathleen, 16 members of Dingwall Field Club set out for Cromarty. The storm didn’t come when they were there - no rain, not much wind and sunshine. Starting from the Car Park they climbed up The Paye, that old street in a town of many historic streets, heading for the Ladies Walk and the grounds of Cromarty House.

Though not wet that day the rain of weeks before made the footpaths quite difficult and alterations to original plans had to be made as they went. However, that didn’t matter. There were plenty of new spring flowers to be seen – firstly the rather coarse butterbur and then the more delicate primrose, golden saxifrage and celandine plus some daffodils. Birdlife, too, could be heard in the stillness of the woods – the ‘teacher teacher’ sound of the great tit, the wren and the distinctive rattle of a woodpecker, for example.

Some of the group returned via the Gaelic Chapel to see, in the graveyard, the graves of some of the crew of the HMS Natal disaster, Commonwealth War Graves and Hugh Miller’s Memorial. Further on was a look at the fine memorial windows in St Regulus’ Church by Sir Ninian Comper whose many other works include windows in Westminster Abbey.

The others had a longer walk taking them further uphill and back down the South Sutor road and into St Regulus’ Cemetery - the Pirates Graveyard – with its underground Mausoleum. Lower down, more old Cromarty buildings were passed - no longer stables or a brewery but still well used by the local people. They returned to the cars and the other members via the lighthouse, having had a most enjoyable day.