Portnockie to Lossiemouth

On arrival at Lossiemouth, or Lossie to the locals, I called the harbourmaster to secure a berth, but being out of hours I spoke once again to an answer-phone.

 Sunset over Lossiemouth West Basin

All too many of these harbours are feeling the economic pinch and reducing their manned hours. This is a sad sign of our times. Still, that gave me to option to pick my own berth once inside. I chose an easy space in the East basin. The following day I went to the office to meet Ian the harbourmaster, a gently spoken ex-services man who welcomed me to the harbour. He made me feel very welcome as he introduced me to the usual showers toilet and laundry (again very clean) Ian is a credit to this harbour. I spent a couple of days here being buzzed by the military in what seems like 24x7 operational training. 

Lossiemouth East Basin

Today’s Factoid – Lossiemouth is located at the point of Stotfield Head. Just around the corner from the current harbour there was previously located the Hythe, Stotfield’s harbour, where on Christmas Day, 1806, 21 fishermen put to sea. After hauling their fishing lines they made for the shore when a fierce storm blew up from the SSW and not one of the boats were ever seen or heard of again. Twenty-one men and boys, the entire men-folk of the village perished that day. The oldest male left in the village was a boy of 12 years of age, besides two bedridden old men. A sad tale indeed.

How small were Lossiemouth fishermen of old? Compare this door with the road cones.

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Regards,

David H.