Solo Walking: Crosskirk, St Mary's Chapel, Snuff mill

I am behind time with walks and blog posts and email and such, so as always, I'll start with a photo. As I walked along I thought that this is representative of the landscape hereabouts. Although there is lots of variety, if you had to pick just one shot, this would do pretty well.

I was walking seaward with sheep and winds and periodic mizzle for company on a greyish, blowy mid morning. Just off the main road and within easy walk we have remnants of civilization for more than 8 centuries --not counting the time the rocks spent tumbling and retumbling along the shore or the iron age broch that was excavated to destruction because the sea is encroaching. This first photo shows a current residence on the right, the remains of a snuff mill presumably converted to a house at some time, and vaguely discernible on the far left, St. Mary's chapel, the remains of a church built in the 1100s.

In the midst of such big sweeps of time and the relentless sea below, I often find myself drawn to the little stories like the civil war among the elements on a tread on the footbridge over the walkway--the play of colours in the small drama are as compelling as the larger scene in their own quiet way.