Travel Photo of the Week: Spreadeagle Hill, Dorset, England
The picture was taken at the top of Spreadeagle Hill, on Melbury Downs, near Shaftesbury, Dorset. The poppies appeared quite suddenly, out of season, last October, after the field had been harrowed. Poppy seeds are able to lie dormant in the ground for many years, but can often flower if the conditions are right, after they have been disturbed in the ground, producing a vivid and very colourful display. It so happened that these red poppy flowers appeared not too long before our annual Remberance Day, when the poppy is used as a symbol of rememberance for all those who gave their lives in the World Wars.
Photo courtesy of good friend Lavinia from Dorset.
Sandaig and the ‘Bay of Alder’ is a very remote destination found on the Isle of Tiree, off the west coast of Scotland. Here writer Gavin Maxwell lived with his beloved otters. Guest writer Jean from the Netherlands shares his dream, travel destination and fondness for the author with TravelTipsPlus.com.
Some places are more special than others. The most special #dream #travel destination for me is Gavin Maxwell’s (1914-1969) ‘Bay of Alder’ in Scotland. It’s the remote place where Maxwell lived for almost 20 years. The place where he wrote his books, took care of his otters, planned his travels and licked his new wounds.
Camusfearna during the 1950s
Sandaig, Bay of Alder (in gaellic ‘Camusfearna’) in 1950 to the right and top photo, of present day Camusfearna.
I have read all Gavin Maxwell’s books. I have also read all the books that talk about him and his life. His father and grandfather were also authors and I’ve read some of their books also! To be short, I’m very fond of Gavin Maxwell. Here is a quote by him (1959) that I would like to share:
“It is October, and I have been for six unbroken months at Camusfearna. The stags are roaring on the slopes of Skye across the Sound, and yesterday the wild swans passed flying southwards low over a lead-grey sea. The ring of tide-wrack round the bay is piled with fallen leaves borne down the burn, and before a chill sea wind they are blown racing and scurrying up the sands. The summer, with its wild roses and smooth blue seas lapping white beaches, is over; the flower of the heather is dead and the scarlet rowan berries fallen. Beyond are the brief twilit days of winter, when the waterfall will thunder white over flat rocks whose surface was hot to bare feet under summer suns, and the cold, salt-wet wind will rattle the window and moan in the chimney. This year I shall not be there to see and hear these things; home is for me as yet a fortress from which to essay raid and foray, an embattled position behind whose walls one may retire to lick new wounds and plan fresh journeys to father horizons. Yet while there is time there is the certainty of return.”
Edal the Otter's Grave
My three favourite Gavin Maxwell books: G. Maxwell, ‘Ring of Bright Water’. G. Maxwell, ‘The House of Elrig’. Douglas Botting, ‘Gavin Maxwell, A Life’.
One day in the month of May I will walk with a rucksack from Inverness to Sandaig. Accompanied with rain, wind and sun. At the end of the journey I’ll find Edal’s monument at Camusfearna. It’s the exact place where once Gavin’s writing table stood. The house was burnt to the ground in January 1968 and Otter ‘Edal’ perished in the fire.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the very remote location accompanied with wild otters once in a while.
Wings of Wild Swans
Contemporary folk song. Inspired by the Scottish Highlands. Lyrics inspired by a line in Gavin Maxwell’s ‘Ring of Bright Water’. Photographed at Sandaig where, as Camusfearna, Gavin made his home.
I was recently nominated to participate in Tripbase’s “3 Best Kept Travel Secrets” by Katie Sorene.
“Congratulations on being nominated in Tripbase’s Best Kept Travel Secrets Project! Two months on, and we’re amazed at the response we’ve had. Over 100 travel bloggers have participated so far, sharing their Best Kept Travel Secrets on far-flung destinations, hidden hotels, exotic foods and expert travel tips.” – Katie from Tripbase.com.
And so here are my ‘3 best kept travel secrets’. They were all unknown to me and I found them to be true gems…
1. Xlendi Bay, Gozo, Malta
Found on the small island of Gozo, is the fishing village known as Xlendi. Its focal point is the small sea-inlet ‘Xlendi Bay’ with its deep turquoise waters, sandy beach and surrounding cliffs. The bay is often dotted with the traditional fishing boats displaying the bright colours of blue, red and yellow, adding further beauty to this town.
Photo by stevesheriw
2. Stourhead Garden, England
For a period of six months I lived and worked in Shaftesbury, England. Every weekend was spent exploring the surrounding areas and the National Trust property of Stourhead Garden was a place I frequented. For a short period of time I worked as a groom just down the road. What a divine area of Wiltshire it was to work! I don’t expect, as a passing traveller, I would have had the time to have Stourhead on the itinery but as a ‘local’, I got to truly explore the magestic, 18th century garden with its bridges, grottos and temples.
Photo by BethM527
3. Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt is still the travel destination that I hold the fondest memories. I have in the past already dedicated a full post to Hallstatt. What captured my attention is that I stumbled upon it quite by chance and found it to be so lush and green, and tidy with a dolls-house atmosphere within the village. The surrounding mountains and lake, simply resembled nothing like what I would see here in Australia.
I now have to nominate five other bloggers to share their 3 best kept travel secrets.
The Traveler IQ challenge ranks geographic knowledge of cities such as: Punta Cana, Willemstad or Columbia by comparing results against 5,473,834 other travelers.
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