The national press seems almost daily, to have news stories about whales being spotted in Scottish waters (an example here in the Mirror and a list of sightings can be found here). I can't tell you how envious that makes me feel down here in the South West of England!
To make up for all those of us who can't get to Scotland right now, I've dug up these news stories from long ago:
"Dead Whale found at Croyde
"A dead whale about 60 feet in length, and weighing many tons, has been cast up by the sea on Croyde Sands, North Devon. It had a large hole in its side which was evidently the cause of death. Many people from different parts paid a visit to Croyde on Sunday to view the find. This is the second whale within recent years which has come ashore in this locality, another huge specimen having been washed in on the sands at Saunton a few years ago."
Source: Western Times, Monday 16th February 1916, page 2
A few years earlier, the North Devon Journal (11th January 1912 p8) reported a whale stranded on Saunton Sands on Boxing Day 1911. It reported that the carcass was buried above high water in quick lime.
And a beaked whale had washed up also on Saunton Sands in 1853. It was reported that was was 23 feet long and 'such was its size that four men and four horses were occupied for nearly two days in cutting it up and carting it away'. North Devon Journal, 22 December 1853
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