At Anchor Under the Lee at Tarbat Ness

 

Inverness Courier, Wednesday, January 27, 1841

Scenes on the Coasts of Sutherland and Ross Part F

 

“We do not know the value of health until we are ill, and we do not know the full value of a lighthouse until we have been upon a lee-shore in a dark night and by no means certain of our exact position. How earnestly was the light watched as we tried tack after tack to double that long dreary point; and how many sighs of disappointment hailed the glare, as after its momentary obscuration it burst forth again, but still bearing in much the same direction to windward. “Its no use trying, we cant do it,” at length exclaimed the old skipper, “we must just get as well as we can under the shelter of the point, and lay by till morning.” 

Rocks below Tarbat Ness

 

"There was evidently nothing else for it: so the helm was put up, and we soon found ourselves at anchor under the lee of the point, and partially protected by it from the sea. We were so close in-shore that the gleam of the lighthouse threw a red lurid glare over the low ridges of rock and the tumbling flashing surf that sparkled among them, and even lighted up the boat and the agitated water around it. There we lay, hour after hour, listening to the loud thunder of the now hard-by surf, and watching the intermitting light, that sometimes shone merrily out, and then, as it faded away, seemed to leave us companionless upon that dark lonely sea”.

 

 

To be continued...