Vegetarian haggis and an old graveyard

A crisp, cold, frosty morning greeted us when we woke today, so what else to do but to head out for a day of fun. It was mid morning so our first stop was at James Cafe in Nairn for a cup of hot chocolate - the seats are outside with blankets provided if you're feeling too cold. It overlooks the crazy golf course which had a few ice hazards today.

Our first stop on our Sunday drive was Portmahomack which is 54 miles from Nairn. This pretty fishing village dates from 975 AD when St Colmac established a priory there. It's very quiet and as it was a Sunday there wasn't anything open.

Fountain on the seafront that celebrates the arrival of gravitational water in the late 1800's - very strangely it has crocodiles in it.

After a brief stop we travelled onto Tain which is a bit bigger and had life going on, including the lovely Sunflower Cafe being open where we stopped for lunch. It's a lovely bright little place with a distinct theme going on inside.

Even the ceiling has sunflowers painted on it.

We both ordered the vegetarian breakfast for our lunch and as you can see it was huge! Also very tasty, including the vegetarian haggis. I haven't eaten any tea tonight as I was still full from this monstrous lunch.

After we left Tain we came across a wonderful old graveyard and as it would have been rude not to stop and have a look around we pulled in to explore. This is Edderton Old Church which was built in 1743 on the site of a much older church.

There are some lovely old headstones around the church, with some interesting carvings.

At some point in the last couple of hundred years this headstone has fallen over and nature is claiming it back - as you can see, even though it was now about 2pm it was still very frosty.

Looking across the graveyard and sheep to the Dornoch Firth.

This headstone is quite interesting with it's dark surround.

Bramble Jelly amongst the snow drops which are starting to appear everywhere.

A few more interesting headstones for you to enjoy (or is that just me) including a very lovely angel.

Frost on the wall moss.

Within the burial ground is a large Pictish Stone that is believed to date from 900 AD. This is the picture on the information board at the entrance to the graveyard.

This is what we got to see as they cover it up in winter to try and protect it from the Scottish weather. We'll definitely have to go back in summer to have a look at the real thing.

At the bottom of the graveyard is this beautiful old Ash tree which is at least 200 years old - it's full of character with lots of nobbly bits sticking out on the trunk.

I think I'll stop there and share the rest of our Sunday of fun in another post. We found lots of interesting things so I think it might make one post a bit long. So until then, be good, stay safe, and have a wonderful week.

Pamela & Ken

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P.S: Final picture is of our very strange Cookie Cat who no longer sleeps inside her tunnel but instead sits on top of it surveying her minions.