Dunbar (and Cove)
July 9, 2021
9 Jul '21 HM 138. Dunbar has one the most dramatic entrances of any harbour I have ever entered, a narrow gap between two rock faces, which I found out later was man-made. Kenny Maule, a Harbour Trust Director, came to meet us and kindly took photo 1 as we sailed in.
The HM, Quentin Dimmer, was away on holiday but I had a good chat to him on the phone. He is a very keen environmentalist and told me he feels very responsible for the way Dunbar harbour is managed. He has a degree in Psychology and he joked that every HM should have one to work out how to deal with harbour users.....does he mean fishermen or yachtsmen?!
The town and its harbour is brimming with history and incidents.
- The now ruined medieval castle which towers over the entrance has its origins going back 2,000 years.
- In 1574 money was raised to build the first, south eastern harbour, now blocked off from the sea. (photo 8)
- Since 1729, some 400 wrecks have been recorded off the coast of Dunbar.
- In 1828 Dunbar harbour exported 203,000 gallons of whisky and 10,000 tons of potatoes.
- By the mid 19thC, 800 herring boats were working in and out of the harbour - something that is almost impossible to imagine but so common up and down this east coast.
- Only recently the harbour entrance was blocked by a dredger which holed its own hull with its own crane!
With three separate inner harbours (see photo 3) it takes a little time to get your bearings in Dunbar - but it also makes it a fun place to explore. In photo 5 you can see Good Dog in the deep water visitor berth which is made particularly memorable by the constant noise of Kittiwakes (video 7) which nest on the wall immediately above.
Thank you to Assistant HM Denholm Horsburgh, photo 9, for looking after us.
A few miles down the coast is a rare feature. Cove (photo 10) is a tiny harbour privately owned by the architect Ben Tindall - he is also the Harbour Master! (I am rather envious - comment if you read this!)
The HM, Quentin Dimmer, was away on holiday but I had a good chat to him on the phone. He is a very keen environmentalist and told me he feels very responsible for the way Dunbar harbour is managed. He has a degree in Psychology and he joked that every HM should have one to work out how to deal with harbour users.....does he mean fishermen or yachtsmen?!
The town and its harbour is brimming with history and incidents.
- The now ruined medieval castle which towers over the entrance has its origins going back 2,000 years.
- In 1574 money was raised to build the first, south eastern harbour, now blocked off from the sea. (photo 8)
- Since 1729, some 400 wrecks have been recorded off the coast of Dunbar.
- In 1828 Dunbar harbour exported 203,000 gallons of whisky and 10,000 tons of potatoes.
- By the mid 19thC, 800 herring boats were working in and out of the harbour - something that is almost impossible to imagine but so common up and down this east coast.
- Only recently the harbour entrance was blocked by a dredger which holed its own hull with its own crane!
With three separate inner harbours (see photo 3) it takes a little time to get your bearings in Dunbar - but it also makes it a fun place to explore. In photo 5 you can see Good Dog in the deep water visitor berth which is made particularly memorable by the constant noise of Kittiwakes (video 7) which nest on the wall immediately above.
Thank you to Assistant HM Denholm Horsburgh, photo 9, for looking after us.
A few miles down the coast is a rare feature. Cove (photo 10) is a tiny harbour privately owned by the architect Ben Tindall - he is also the Harbour Master! (I am rather envious - comment if you read this!)