Lost Solace: Tourism, Social Media and Our Shifting Sense of Place in the North Highlands

Earlier this summer, my husband and I made an evening visit to the harbour at Dunbeath on our way back to Caithness after a day of appointments. In the preceding days, I had been reading Neil M. Gunn’s Highland River and wanted to reacquaint myself with the information boards on Gunn – who was born…

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Goodbye 2021 – The Highs and Lows of Another Year Behind the Blog

At the end of each December, I’ve fallen into the habit of writing a reflective post on the year that’s about to leave us. The format has varied slightly during my time in the blogosphere, but sharing the highs and lows of another twelve months has become a ritual I enjoy. It also eases me…

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Stories and Solastalgia – The Aftermath of Writing About The North Coast 500, Park-Ups, Potholes and Poo

This summer, I wrote a piece about living on the popular ‘North Coast 500’ route through the lens of my own experience as a resident of Caithness. Entitled ‘Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route,’ the article was probably more even-handed than the alliterated headline might suggest.…

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Snow Days, Post Pals and Lots of Writing – Little Loves

It seems like forever since I wrote a Little Loves post (to be honest it has been a while as I don’t join in with Little Loves in December). Whereas most people join up with the linky on the last Friday of every month, I just do it when I can manage (which usually ends up being about a week after…

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Sea Views, Roses and Highland Cathedral: A Day to Remember at Dunbeath Castle Gardens

Last weekend we visited Dunbeath Castle Gardens for their annual summer open day. Staying at home more than normal over the holidays has encouraged us to check out some of the attractions on offer on our own doorstep (or at least within a 30 minute radius of our house 😉 ). And what attractions they are – Caithness has…

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Ten Outlander Locations in the North Highlands of Scotland

If you’re a regular reader of my blog I don’t think I need to repeat myself here: I’m a big Outlander fan. From epic Scottish landscapes to heart-pounding romance, the TV series (and the books that inspired it), has so much to recommend. Not least of these is the opportunity to cavort around Scotland in search…

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Life Within Four Corners – My Favourite Photos of 2017

Earlier this year, I started a monthly blog series called Life Within Four Corners –  somewhere I could share my favourite photos and the stories that went along with them from the preceding month.  Over time it’s become a virtual photo album and a place to store my monthly highlights. So to finish off the…

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Life Within Four Corners – May 2017

Welcome to the May instalment of ‘Life Within Four Corners’, where I share some of my favourite Instagram photos, and the stories that went along with them, from the preceding month. You can find out all about Life Within Four Corners here, and I’d love it if you joined in by sharing some of your favourite monthly photos…

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Venture North!

I recently wrote a guest blog on my love for the far north of Scotland for the Venture North travel website, and was delighted to see it published on their ‘Discovery’ series in the summer. For a taster, see below, and then head over to the website for the full article. If you’re planning a trip…

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