Todays leg was 202 miles. The day dawned stunningly beautiful once again. The Smithton Hotel is best described as basic but very clean and with friendly staff. The dinner menu although limited was good as was breakfast. Whilst not the quality of yesterdays accommodation it served our purpose beautifully and we both gave it 7/10. At least we got a decent nights rest, a good pint of beer and a mean Chilli Con Carne.
We set off for Cromarty on the tip of the Black Isle. It was always mentioned on the old BBC shipping forecast being one of the sea areas in the North Sea. I had to go there. We stopped and took in the peaceful view. There looks like an oil rig repair yard across the bay and parts for an offshore wind farm.
We crossed the Cromarty Firth and climbed into the hills to the North stopping at the viewpoint at Dornoch Firth before heading for Bonar bridge and a stop at a cafe in Lairg. A quirky little house sits on an island in the loch just to the south of Lairg. A photo op.
From Lairg we climbed again and headed east along a single track road with stunning scenery to join the main highway North towards Wick. We had wanted a coffee there but could not find a cafe so pressed on to John O’ Groats for the obligatory photo at the sign post. Well why not.
I wanted to visit the NE tip of Scotland at Duncansby Point having rounded it many times on ships entering the Pentland Firth. The tide rips through here at up to 8 knots. It was today. The water appeared to boil.
A final stop at Dunnet Head lighthouse, the northern tip of mainland Britain was at the end of a winding and remote single rack road. Well worth the effort.
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Our lodgings for the night are in Murkle just to the east of Thurso. Valley View B&B. I will let you know more tomorrow.
I’m keeping a close eye on the weather for the coming days. Looks like a change coming on Sunday perhaps.
Woodend Wanderer 