Walks in Cromness

(From: Walks of the Dark Isle, pub. by Cromness Chamber of Commerce.)

Route 7: East Cromness to the head of the Suitor.

At the east of Cromness, follow the shoreline, where there is a rough path. In season, the visitor may see many wildflowers by the pathside: Sea Campion, Splurge and Old Man’s Breeches among them. (A full list may be found in the companion leaflet Plants and Flowers of the Pathside.) Thornapple, Deadly Nightshade and Witches Eye may also be seen beside the path. These were reputedly used in times past by the wise women of the locality, who claimed that they could develop second sight and mystical abilities by the use of these plants – but experiments are not recommended!

The visitor wishing a shorter walk may make a detour where the path turns uphill towards the famous Hog Graveyard. Here the 15th Baronet Farquhar interred the most illustrious boars from his experimental pig farm. The statues which remain are considered by some to be among the finest examples of late 17th century farmstock sculpture.

Continuing, pass to the seaward side of the Clach Mor (Big Rock) to avoid the Bog of Morrigan, where a battle was fought in 1254 over possession of the Red Pig of Newton. The monument – erected by Sir Thomas Farquhar in 1883 – has unfortunately suffered catastrophic subsidence, but the upper part of the monument is still visible when the bog subsides in periods of dry weather.