Every September, when the dust has settled on the Edinburgh Festival, ten days of wonderful chamber music is performed in a wide range of churches, the museum of air and flight and other interesting places.

“Miniature miracles are what East Lothian’s Lammermuir Festival specialises in, concerts featuring top rank artists in implausible venues, so that every September the union of great music and beautiful locations cre-ates a peculiarly special atmosphere.” Though not one of their venues, the ‘Holy Rock’, as we call it, has been used to promote Laura van der Heijden, a soloist at several of the concerts, winner of the 2012 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition and “one of the leading cellists of her generation.” Royal Philharmonic Society

An excellent exhibition of this title at the Edinburgh Festival included three large paintings by Moy Mackay including this of the Blue Cabin, with words by her sister, Janis Mackay. Moy works with felt and her Moy Mackay Gallery in Peebles shows a changing programme of art, ceramics and jewellery as well as her own work.

I went there once,
surprised to find a world
away from the world;
a passageway to an opening,
as if time rolled back in that
tunnel of stone
and the traveller between
worlds
slipped out in a slower
century
where the blue house in a
quiet cove
looks to sea.

Sophie (9) and Issac (7).  “……, I saw lots of star like crabs, fish and lots and lots of seaweed.”

It is delightful what so many guests write and draw in the Visitors Book, whatever their ages or interests.  In future these will be such formative memories.

Adam & Roz from Bath’s fine and pretty crab also made it into the Visitors Book Gallery, in some style.

After many years we have got around to replacing the rather flimsy entrance gates with something more substantial.  They were made of Western Red Cedar by Oastler’s in Dundee.  The posts are of solid Oak from Dunfermline.  The sign-writing is by Paul Robinson of Whitley Bay.  The ‘Eel’ hinges were designed by Ben Tindall and made by Alan Dawson, friend and Master Blacksmith, who has made most of Ben’s ironwork designs.

In the recent storms from the east, the harbour has experienced more snow than it’s had for a long time.  The Cabin’s renewed electric heating has been keeping it warm and safe for when guests can return.

Phil & Tina, of the Haxby Bakehouse, outside York, make the best Rye bread ever ever.  They are also regular guests at the Cabin and in the height of the second lockdown sent us this loaf along with the excellent York Gin; so much appreciated!

We are immensely proud that Neil Barnard, of the Rachel May, has been nationally recognised for his skill and entrepreneurial abilities.  It was typical that Neil dedicated his award to his late father-in-law, George, who very sadly died in summer 2020.  George was a wonderful man and an irreplaceable part of life at the harbour. 

It is widely known that the ‘Glasgow Boys’ found the inspiration they sought at Cockburnspath and how they managed to substitute Scottish cabbages for French sunflowers!  The Fleming Collection is touring many of these paintings around the country.  The show includes a particularly beautiful painting by E A Walton done on the beach, when the Cabin was red!

From the Guardian:

‘Described by Stephen Fry as “the coviest of coves”, the conservation of Scotland’s pretty Cove Harbour is part supported by profits from this sea-facing cabin. An hour’s drive from Edinburgh, this bolthole sleeps up to 4 in one double and two bunks. There’s also a small kitchen, living area with a woodburner, and a shower room. Outside, a terrace with seating and barbecue help make the most of the local haul, including lobster and crab direct from the fishermen. Beyond the beach, there are cliff-top coastal paths to explore.’

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