Also today we started up slowly. It means we left the campsite after noon time.
First we visited the Strathenaver Museum. Then we went to Strath Point. To reach the
lighthouse it was necessary to make a short walk through windy weather. Although we
did
not see the seals which should usually be there the view from the cliff to some rocks in the
troubled water was impressive. Like often before we admired the light
effects on
the thick glass lenses of the lighthouse. On our way back to the car we tried to take
some good photos of lambs. This was not easy to do because they turned their
head every time in the "right" moment. Near Dunray we saw
casually a signpost to the "Dunreay Experimental Reactor Establishment"
Visitor Centre. In the past the largest nuclear science centre of Great
Britain had been existed
at this secluded place. Today two of the three reactors are inoperative but it
will need about 50..100 years (!) to remove all inheritances. Just like in Lubmin
(Germany) they are building up a plant to restore all of the radioactive
contaminated parts and materials in safe conditions. I was very concerned by a documentation file
which showed all the tries and efforts to regain control over a deep hole under the sea.
The hole was used as an "final storage" for poor radioactive components.
Inside the hole the material had been heated up by itself and then an explosion
took place followed by a slight contamination of sea water.
At last they were successful and sealed the hole.
Nevertheless it is worth to think twice:
Was it a good example of mastering unexpected and critical situations or was it
an example of the unpredictable high risk of handling radioactive
material?
However, the exhibition was very interesting.
We took a late lunch in Thurso where we also went shopping. The town is
not beautiful. Its extent is mainly a result of its function as a "sleep town"
for the employees of Dunray.
Much more interesting was our visit to the remains of the flagstone manufactory
of Castletown. Flagstones are thick plates of slate used as the characteristic
roof tiles in Scotland and England. Near Thurso there are a lot of large natural deposits
of this building material. In the past the stones were there splitted and
cut and then shipped all over Great Britain from the factory owned
harbor.
Continuing our travel along the northern coastline we visited the most
northern point
of the Scottish mainland, Dunnet Head and its lighthouse. From here you have
usually a good view to the Isle of Hoy. But meanwhile it was raining and foggily and so
it was difficult to identify the "Old Man of Hoy"
beside the western coast of the island. Although we did not originally intended to stay
overnight there we
pitched our tent in John o' Groats. The campsite was beautiful and John o' Groats is
not so spoiled by tourism and commerce as its "Disney-Land-like"
southern counterpart "Lands End" at Cornwall.
Only the sunset was a little bit kitschy - but this was caused by the nature.
John'o Groats
