Talmine by Achininver. 10th June 2012.

It was a bit cloudy when we left Wick but the weather improved the further west we drove. We eventually reached the start of our walk at Talmine pier. This is a beautiful setting with Rabbit Islands in the foreground and further east the island of Eilean Nan Ron.

We walked north to Portvasgo, passing the small island of Eilean A Chaoil on the way. North west of Portvasgo, just opposite Stac Dubh there is a memorial which has sadly fallen into disrepair. This was erected to a young man of 18 who was washed from the rocks below it in 1989. A sombre reminder of the power of the sea.

Further along the coast we picked a shelterd beach to eat our lunch. It was idyllic with the warm sun and the blue green sea. We continued the walk inland to West Strathan where we picked up a path which crossed the Strath Melness Burn. After a pleasant walk of two miles this took us back to our starting point at Talmine pier.

We then headed for the Craggan Inn for a meal and to celebrate 20 years of The Caithness Waybaggers.

Talmine harbour	Looking back to Tongue, with Ben Loyal in the background.
Tommy,Alyson, Robert, Marie, Lorna and David.	David, Lorna, Neil, Tommy, Marie and Alyson.
Steep slope down to Portvasgo.	Small cove, with Eilean Nan Ron in the background.
The strangely shaped Stac Dubh with Eilean Nan Ron in the distance.	Strathan beach.
Strathan bay.