December in Hopeman

Burghead from Cummingston with a snowy Ben Wyvis behind

Apart from a cold snap early on and a bit of blowy weather in the middle of the month, December was remarkably mild and pretty dry.

Ben Wyvis and Hopeman Harbour

Being soft Southerners we thought we may have been feeling a bit chilly by now - but so far so good.

Dark mornings and dark evenings have meant the usual winter torch-lit dog walks, but the weekends and the Christmas break have been a great time to be out and about.

Hopeman Harbour from West Beach

Here's a few views from round and about during December....

Ben Wyvis from Hopeman Harbour

Surfers in the rough - Hopeman West Beach

Near Cummingston

Burghead from Cummingston

Hopeman Harbour from West Beach

Rafe enjoys a winter paddle - Hopeman East Beach

Eider Ducks by Daisy Rock, Hopeman East Beach

Rafe - snow on Hopeman East Beach

Rafe - Natural Arch at Clashach Cove

Beach Art - Clashach Cove

Clashach Cove

Morning gorse over Clashach Cove

Rafe above Clashach Cove

Clashach Quarry

Storm in Hopeman.

Wave Watcher - Hopeman Harbour from East Beach

The north and east coasts of Scotland were battered by what is being described as "the perfect storm" overnight last Friday/Saturday - spring tides, high tide and gale force winds from the north east.

Daring Wave Watcher - Hopeman Harbour from East Beach

Wave Watcher - just before he makes a hasty retreat - Hopeman Harbour from East Beach

To be quite honest, we slept right through it.

Hopeman Harbour from East Beach

Rafe - Sheepie Loch, East Beach, Hopeman

There was a lot of sea damage done to the coastal communities - Hopeman seems to have come off quite lightly in comparison to some.

East Beach, Hopeman

Hopeman Harbour from East Beach

Here are some photo's taken the morning after - when the wild sea had not quite died down and the wind was still blowing in from the icy north.

East Beach, Hopeman

East of Daisy Rock, Hopeman

Rafe looks at the waves, east of Daisy Rock, Hopeman
Our usual path through the dunes is completely washed away at this point

Froth - East of Daisy Rock, Hopeman

Views to Clashach Cove

Looking east from the coast path east of Hopeman

Rafe on the rocks thrown onto the coast path
at least 10 metres from the cliff edge

Looking west from above the Arch, Clashach Bay

The Arch, Clashach Bay

November - Hopeman

Ben Wyvis, Cromarty Firth and Nigg Point from Hopeman Harbour

With the longer nights upon us, I've been doing most of my weekday walking by torchlight. 

By Hopeman Harbour

But we've been lucky enough to have had some wonderful weather at the weekends this month - so here are a few of the photo's I've taken, whilst out and about, around Hopeman.

Hopeman Harbour

Across the Moray Firth from Hopeman - Morven

There's something about the colours up here.......

Rafe - Dunes, East Beach, Hopeman

North from East Beach, Hopeman

Oystercatchers caught napping- off East Beach, Hopeman

Dunes and Beach Huts - Hopeman

North from East Beach, Hopeman

Daisy Rock from East Beach, Hopeman

East Beach and Hopeman Harbour

Frost on Daisy Rock

Rafe does his washing
"The Unconformity" - East of Hopeman

North across the Moray Firth from Hopeman

East of Hopeman

North from the cliffs by Clashach Bay

Coconut flavoured - by Clashach Bay

Clashach Bay, from the Arch

The Arch - Clashach Bay

Rafe - Clashach Bay

A low sun highlights the dinosaur footprints above Clashach Bay