Up Helly Erroll!

Today’s cold, wet weather has made taking pictures difficult. What better time to remember the warm days of summer (Yes, we did have some!) and in particular that lovely evening on 18 August 2012 when “Vikings” and Scots marched down to Port Erroll Harbour to set fire to a longship. Today I have been editing the pictures which I took that night and reliving the experiences.

A "Viking" watches the lon gship burn.
A “Viking” watches the long ship burn.

In 1012 the Battle of Crochdane between the Scots and the Danes took place the sand dunes of Cruden Bay.  To mark the 1000th anniversary a series of events took place last summer, including the buring of the replica longship.

The dragon's head looks over the dunes at Cruden Bay.
The dragon’s head looks over the dunes at Cruden Bay.

A large crowd of people waited the arrival of the Vikings and the Scots who set about tossing their flaming torches into the replica longship which had been lovingly created by the Port Erroll Harbourmaster, Derek Thompson.   And  what a spectacular sight it was in the gathering dark.

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You can see a few  more pictures of that night on my website.

Cruden Bay looks peaceful now in the growing darkness.
Cruden Bay looks peaceful now in the growing darkness.

 

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