Wednesday 6 June 2018

River Run - North Esk


Last year I took a run along the River South Esk and found much of interest. So today I visited its northern neighbour. We have been enjoying a long spell of fine weather and this seemed a good trip for my newly re-activated FJ1200.
 
The river rises in the Cairngorm Mountains of the Eastern Highlands and river flows into the North Sea north of Montrose. My run along the river is only 30 miles but there was plenty to see. 

My first surprise was the beach at St Cyrus. This is north of where the river joins the North Sea and is a stunning stretch of sand.


Beach selfie

Just inland there is the Lower North Water Bridge.
The Montrosians (?) must have been proud of the bridge because they erected this huge plaque. But East Coasters have a reputation of being stingy so maybe having spent the money they wanted everybody to know about it.

Adjacent is a railway bridge. The line is now closed and the bridge is part of a long-distance cycle route

In a farmyard I found this standing stone - The Stone of Morphie. Erected by the Danes…or maybe the Picts.

It has ancient carvings….. of Mickey Mouse, strangely

The river from Marykirk Bridge



Ruins of the Church of Pert

 

I am fascinated by old grave stones. The lower panel has the Latin phrase "memento mori" - remember that you have to die. The other text and the carving is a biblical reference (I think) - "the trumpet will sound and the dead shall rise to meet Christ Jesus in the skies" (???)

The Royal Arch in Fettercairn. Built to commemorate the visit of Queen Victoria in 1861

The FJ gleams in the sunshine.

The upper reaches of the river - I can't get much further
The road ends at Invermark Castle
This splendid building is the library and public hall in Edzell. It just shouts Scots Baronial






10 comments:

  1. How did the FJ feel after so long on the Suzuki?

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    1. Weird at first - long and heavy. I soon got used to it but U turns have to be done with care. There is no way I'd buy another bike as big. But the FJ is comfortable & a good long-distance bike and I like riding it.

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  2. Lovely road snippets, Stuart. Ah... and the beach...

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    1. This is an region I don't visit often but it is beautiful with many great biking roads. The beach was stunning in the sun.

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  3. Have you visited the graveyard at Athelstaneford? A fair few old Victorian headstones there.

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    1. I'll pop in next time I'm over that way. It's the earlier (18th century) graves that tend to have the weird carvings.

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  4. Thanks for the nice photos, great looking weather!

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    1. Thanks. We are enjoying a long spell of warm, sunny weather and I'm trying to make the best of it.

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  5. Beautiful photos as always. You have so many interesting and historical sights to see. I am jealous, but in a good way.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoy my efforts. Hopefully some more posts in the near future.

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