Today we went on a beautiful walk. To get to it we travelled along past Larnach Castle and down Sandymount Road . This turned into a gravel road and eventually after many bends and steep hilly bits we came to a junction. Not sure which way to go we turned left and came to a huge tidal inlet/ marshy area called Hoopers Inlet. The tide was out and there were loads of birds to see. We were spoilt for choice! Pukeko birds, spoonbills, shags/cormorant, herons,ducks, birds of prey, plovers even a kingfisher and sheep everywhere. We took many pics with our long lenses. We realised we were not too far from Portobello and so had a coffee break there.

 

We returned to find ….yes more wader birds and then retraced our steps back to Sandymount/ pikiwhara.

You park your car near the top of the steep gravel road hill and there is a circular walk

 

. It was so lovely with fantastic views 360 around the top. We got to the “chasm” and then to “lovers leap” fairly easily and decided to continue round rather than go back the way we had come… …….big mistake! We ended up climbing up a steep steep path that twisted and turned and began to be more of a sand dune. I had to pull myself up using the long grasses at times as it was very steep. We would just think we were at the top when the path would turn and it would still go up. Needless to say we are here to tell the tale! When we got to the top we looked down on where the car was parked and so had to descend again. If we had climbed another 100 feet there was a trig point for the highest part. We just hadn’t got the energy I’m afraid.😜

So we went back near our hotel and had lunch in a garden centre. They often are good places to get a lunch or meal and nit too expensive but healthy fresh food.

In the afternoon we travelled along the Southern scenic route to Brighton beach where we relaxed and watched the surfers and I had a fruit boysenberry icecream

 

we had a lovely tiring day today and so enjoyable..

We moved to the Caitlin’s tomorrow. We couldn’t find a motel or b&b so we are staying in Inverscarvill and travelling into the Caitlin’s each day.

More tomorrow xxxx