Wild Moment: Jenny Davis
A return visit to Sandwood Bay with her daughter, after 35 years, inspires Jenny to put pen to paper.
Some 40 years ago I backpacked my toddler daughter into Sandwood Bay. She returned the favour and accompanied me in some five years ago. Sandwood Bay is as wild and as beautiful as I recalled. Thank you for taking care of these precious landscapes.
Sandwood Bay
Trekking pebble strewen path alternating with peat clefts, boulder hopping
Tiny lochans sheltering newts, on and on.
Cresting, vista rare and beautiful, massive dunes, like child’s play rolling below.
Honey-coloured sand left perfect by retreating tide, boiling waves stark white rising to reveal the turquoise treasure, heart-stopping beauty.
Black clouds billowing, racing through
Sheltering ‘neath towering dunes, soggy sandwiches, dripping
Sun breaking, shedding wet clothes, new trods
Weathered pickets? Second thought, nae whale back bones all lined up in a row!
Girl in disbelief starts to dig, repulsed by the semi rotten flesh and stink, squeals
Whale arrived on a winter storm.
Knee deep, strong current, exit stream from Sandwood Loch
Psychedelic swirls of tortured pink and grey pre-Cambrian rocks
Gannets kamikaze bombing, sandlerings, stints, high tempo flights.
Retrace our path, toes crying, shoes off, heart full and happy.
© Jenny Davis, March 2025
