The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
‘If this were only cleared away,’
They said, ‘it would be grand!’

from The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll

At this time of year, when most of the tour buses are resting up for the season, a visit to the beach in Orkney is magical.

A beach walk invigorates the spirits and reminds us of how lucky we are to have this beautiful planet as our home.

And it reminds us that for millennia others have walked these same shores. Our time here is but a fleeting moment.

. Fiona Grahame