My Summer holidays as a kid were often spent searching for cowrie shells between Saunton and Croyde in Devon. It wasn't the easiest place to reach... a scramble over rocks or down the cliffs but it was always worth the search for the beautiful little shells that I've never found elsewhere since.
So, I was pretty delighted to find two tiny little cowries on Big Sand beach a couple of days ago. I didn't think I'd find them this far north but it turns out these are arctic cowries or Groatie Buckies as they are known in Orkney. Apparently finding the shell is looked upon as a token of good fortune. Even better!
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