Spring in Madeira for me has always felt like stepping into a place that refuses to be put in a single weather box. When I started to préparer son séjour à Madère au printemps, I learned the hard way that one day can be warm and sunny on the south coast and misty, cool and drizzly up in the...
Apr 26, 2026
• by Élise Dupont
Latest News from Hillside Durness Co
I buy a lot of shellfish directly from crofters here in and around Durness. Over the years I’ve learned that fresh shellfish is not just about catching the tide at the right moment — it’s about asking a few smart questions, reading the shellfish itself, and handling it properly once you’re home. Below I share the practical, slightly picky checklist I use every time I buy from a crofter,...
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When I first slipped into a pair of Mario Bertulli height boosting shoes on a damp morning in Durness, I expected only a modest change in my silhouette. What I didn’t expect was how that subtle lift—an invisible +2 to +4 inches—would change the way I walk along a cliff edge, stand at a small café table, or pose for a photograph that captures the vastness of the north coast. If you’re...
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I first learned how fragile a great puffin photo can be when I trod too close to a burrow and watched an adult bird hesitate at the entrance, clearly unnerved. That moment changed how I approach seabird colonies: close-range images are possible, yes—but only when you prioritise the birds’ welfare over the shot. Below I share practical tips I use when photographing Atlantic puffins around...
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I love turning a single night under canvas into a tiny expedition that still feels like a real escape — especially with kids in tow. A family-friendly bothy-to-beach micro-adventure is one of my favourite ways to show children the Highlands: a short hike, a cosy bothy (or simple shelter), a day of sand and rock-pooling, then a night listening to surf and stars. Below I share the practical...
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I spend countless mornings in the Durness viewing hides watching puffins hop, bob and preen in the Atlantic light, and over the years I’ve learned that the right lens makes the difference between a snapshot and a portrait that feels intimate and natural. Below I’ll walk you through which focal lengths work best at the hides, how your camera format affects your choices, practical tips for...
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I first met my first crofter-forager on a blustery morning, boots sinking into black sand and kelp waving like a green ocean flag. I had come to Durness to learn, camera slung across my chest, notebook in my pocket. What followed was one of those slow, sensory lessons that stays with you: how to tell a young sugar kelp from a mature blade, when a wrack species is best eaten, how to dry a handful...
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I love the narrow, roomy feeling you get when the sea pulls back and exposes reefs, rock pools and shards of sand. The walk from Balnakeil to Enamel Bay is one of those small Highland rituals that feels secret until you know the tide beat and the safe line of travel. I’ve done this walk many times at low tide and learned the hard way that the coast looks very different an hour later. Below...
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Camping overnight on Balnakeil Beach is one of my favourite low-key adventures—there’s something elemental about sleeping to the sound of surf with the dunes behind you and the stars above. But the far north of Scotland can be unpredictable, and the stretch around Balnakeil demands respect: tides that can reshape the shoreline, cold winds even in summer, and fragile habitats to protect....
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I get asked all the time which boat operators run wildlife trips from Durness and what a seal-and-seabird tour is actually like. From where I live and write, the answer starts with: there aren’t big fleets here — trips are small, local, seasonal and run by passionate skippers who know the coast intimately. Below I’ll outline the types of operators you’re likely to find, give names you can...
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I learned to read the Sango Sands caves not from one guidebook but from a few soggy afternoons, a couple of late scrambles back along the cliff-top and the quiet confidence that comes from getting the tide wrong and living to tell the tale. If you want the simple version: time your crossing close to low water, give yourself a generous margin, and always have a high-ground fallback. But if you...
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