Colin Farquhar: What Banff means to me – from historic harbour to Ship Inn memories where I had my first drink |
On the eastern side of Blackpots playpark at Whitehills, a disused 18th-century harbour still stands. It was built for Blackpots Tileworks, which sat close by.
Two small bays, hemmed in by a short, broad wall that protects against the North Sea, the harbour now functions as an extension of the playpark. It is mostly shallow, mostly perfect for ‘jumping in’, unless, of course, you aren’t cautious enough of risk. You might, if you’re lucky, see a seal.
The back wall is flanked by jaggy rocks and crevices that were, just about, big enough to plop into from above. Probably the water wasn’t quite deep enough in places, if you were taller, heavier, or the tide was right out.
And the rocky, stony beaches around are scattered with orange brick, holes complete and rough on the fingers, even with the tides’ smoothing – a remnant and present from the Tileworks, which closed in 1977, the site becoming Whitehills Caravan Park.
The Buchan coast is littered with treasures, once crafted, now left to time.
Even the short two miles from Blackpots to Banff is full of history, industry and change. The beach road from Blackpots curves east around what is now Whitehills Caravan Park, on the site of the........