Forbidden territory - 'til 30th September ...

... for dogs, that is. Nairn beach, between the pier in the far distance and the swimming pool, about 300 yards behind me, is off-limits to dogs between 1st May and 30th September each year. Nairn prides itself on the cleanliness of its beach and our canine friends, it is thought, might jeopardise its 'Blue Flag' status - fair enough, the town is a traditional Scottish seaside resort and is popular with bathers (hardy souls!) and even if I doubt dogs would choose to foul the beach when there is plenty of more congenial grassy land behind the beach, I accept the presence of dogs at the same time as families with children would probably be seen as 'counter-productive' for the tourist trade. I haven't yet heard whether the beach has retained the 'Blue Flag' it won back last year (this will probably be announced later this month, or early in June).

Nairn beach - 2 May 05 (photograph taken with my Sony Ericcson mobile 'phone and sent to my email account)

- Tara will have to be patient until 1st October, and of course we can go beyond the harbour until then.