1st June 2014 Cramond

Island 13 of our 100 Island adventure

 

This was Sunday and we had a quick continental breakfast and left for uninhabited Cramond in the estuary of the river Almond. We got there before it was officially deemed safe to cross the causeway but it was fine. We went at 9am instead of 20 past. The causeway is another war-time cast-off with concrete pylons on one side looking very like dragons teeth, constructed as a submarine defence boom during World War 2.

 

We had 4 hours before high tide when several feet of water cover the concrete path. People stranded and who called the life boats out are usually named and shamed in the local papers. The speed the tide comes in often traps the unwary.

 

It was about ¾ of a mile and apart from a jogger we were the first to cross this morning. Smoke was rising on the beach from a portable barbeque and camper’s breakfast. Someone pushing a barrow with a large water container on to the causeway said there were 50 party- goers with tents at the top end of the island.

 

On top of the rocks at the end of the causeway is an artillery building though it could have been as old as the ruined farmhouse further in on the island.

There were sycamore trees and land used maybe for sheep grazing. Birds sang in the trees and broom grew by the path.

 

As the path became indistinct we followed boot tracks and met a group of individuals pushing trolley suitcases, incongruous with the overgrown terrain. As we got nearer the top end we heard music. It came from an old wartime concrete building with blacked out windows and a portable generator providing power. We think it was a punk party though they all seemed ordinary in dress- no safety pin or spiky hair- cut in sight. All around were signs of a boozy time with bottles smashed to smithereens. This was worrying as we saw numerous dogs coming over as we left. There were good views around and we watched heron and eider ducks as we walked back.

 

Being a sunny day many more people were crossing and we left after one hour, pleased to have seen it but it was a shame about the rubbish. As we had passed the barbeque spot on the beach flames were engulfing the whole thing. The picnickers had just left it- on the rocks out of the reach of children but a hazard still nonetheless.

 

It was another night at the Premier Inn.

 

Here is Bob's video of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4IhNwuNxpk