Day 859 continued! A lovely day in Portpatrick ⛵️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️🌊

Now I know fine well that you can love anywhere that the sun shines… it has a habit of making everything look so stunningly beautiful. I have a feeling that Portpatrick can do that whatever the weather.

I don’t feel awkward travelling alone anymore. I do wonder if they clock the wummin in orange dungaree shorts going here, there and everywhere but I guess that all visitors do that!

After a walk round the town I head up the steps of the cliff to the aptly named Portpatrick Hotel. It’s huge!

The steps take you right up onto the cliff beside it. It’s actually part of the Southern Upland Way.

Even the steps are beautiful with the wild flowers against the deep blue of the sky and the sea. There are stunning views from the top of the cliff.

Showing Portpatrick in all its glory.

There’s a diversion in the path due to corrosion around a disused radio station and then you come to North Witch Rock. The coastline is really dramatic with steep cliffs and lots of stacks like this.

I carried on towards Sandeel Beach Bay. I stopped when I could see it rather than when I got to it! It was very hot for a big walk!

It’s a beautiful day and once again I’m fully present in the moment. I’m not worrying about anything, overthinking anything, regretting anything. It’s a welcome relief from the bad anxiety days.

I head back down to earth 🤣 and potter about for a bit.

I head back to the van and get some breakfast. It’s still only 11am. I sit for a while out on the rocks but have to move sadly due to the overwhelming smell of urine…. It’s a perfect place for people to jump over and have a quick pee without anyone looking. It’s sadly disgusting and spoils a beautiful spot. I guess everyone who does that will not realise they are not the first and won’t be the last.

Fed and watered and with Claire’s directions I set off up the other cliff to explore Dunskey Castle ruins. She called this killer hill in her text… I can see why!!

But look at the view…

In the distance I spot the ruined Dunskey Castle, it’s pretty dramatic up on the edge of the cliff.

There’s a sign saying private property and a gate across the entrance. There are fences at either side to stop you getting around it but they’re all torn down and there’s a family in the castle up at one of the windows, half hanging out posing for photos!

Nothing will allow me to go in there. Another one of my rules… but it seems everyone passing is torn too. As we watch the adults scramble round the broken fence and the kids climb through a hole in the gate I hear a lady say… that’s some example to set your kids. Any thoughts I may have had about heading in are blown away again…. 😂

Another random dandelion doing it’s bit for Scottish tourism. It’s was such a vibrant yellow against the blue sea.

So heading back down the way I came I decided to find some lunch. The Crown had been recommended but it was heaving so I popped into the Boardwalk Cafe… only to find if only did pizza and kebabs etc… I wanted to be healthier than that. I headed into a wee village shop which had a very limited selection so I picked up some morning rolls and some corned beef. I should have been better prepared than that but it did the job and on a budget too!

I sat here and ate lunch.

By this time I’m pretty knackered so I spend the rest of my time in Portpatrick wondering around and stopping for a seat when I needed it. I got a a Mint Magnum from the Boardwalk Café… soooo good but ended up dropping the last of it down my front 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😂

I wanted to go to some other places today but honestly staying right there felt right. It’s too hot to be driving too much.

Some reflections in the van!

I headed home through Stranraer to Lidl and now have some more supplies. I’m currently sitting here….

Despite my factor 50 I may be burning a bit in the wind. The tide is heading back out again so I’m gonna sit here and read a book or crochet.

Life in my lane doesn’t get much faster than this!

Happy weekend to you all!

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️