Portskerra Pier and Jetty.
Start. Portskerra Pier (Drownings Memorial car park).
Route. Portskerra Pier - Meall Mor - Sgier Ruadh - Portskerra Harbour - Portskerra - Portskerra Pier (Drownings Memorial car park).
Notes. This short straight forward walk traces the grassy coastline from the Drownings Memorial above Portskerra Pier to a tiny harbour surrounded by skerries and cliffs. The Drownings Memorial commemorates the lives of 26 local fishermen whom lost their lives in three separate accidents off the coast here. Our return was made over tarmac through the long narrow fields of the Portskerra crofting community.
From the memorial car park a finger-post promises passage to Portskerra Slipway. This path we followed, rough in places, wet in others with small bridges to guide us over the really wet bits, it was a short stretch of coast, we soon found ourselves descending to a tiny harbour guarded be rocky outcrops and low cliffs.
After a quick photo shoot tarmac guided us between long narrow fields, these were once crofts and probably still are. On reaching a finger-post pointing back to the coast we turned left, continuing over tarmac we soon found ourselves back on the coast, the car park and the Portskerra Pier.
Portskerra Pier with views to dune backed Melvich Beach.
The spectacular cliffs of Rubha an Tuir across Melvich Bay, in the distance because they always build nuclear installations in remote places, Dounreay Power Station.
Views along the ragged joint between rock, sea and sky.
Wandering along a coastline of wonderful beaches, spectacular headlands and wilderness.
Descending to the tiny harbour at Portskerra.
Another spectacular view along the north coast of Scotland, fading into a grey distance Dounreay.
One of many delightful secret corners on this coast, Portskerra Harbour.
Just to prove it is a harbour, here's Sue on the jetty.
Guarded by skerries with a narrow entrance Portskerra Harbour.
The long narrow crofts of Portskerra.
Back at the pier enjoying views over Melvich Bay.