(Backup) Day 8 Bettyhill to John O’Groats

The Bettyhill Hotel was brilliant, great beds and great food, plus the views were stunning.

We started the day by leaving our car at the garage, where they were kind enough to loan us this yellow Punto.

We had a couple of hours to kill while they replaced the wheel bearings so drove to Thurso.

After a little retail therapy we parked near the sea and came across this fascinating church ruin.

So long forgotten and with no clues as to its origin we walked around the outside and grave yard.

Many of the old grave stones had scull and  crossbones and navy sayings.

It was certainly a very full walled in church yard dating from 1800 ish.

Time to return to our loan car.

Back at the garage the Land Rover is repaired and we pay £140 for the privilege.

Next stop a gin and vodka distillery, got our passport stamped but didn’t buy anything.

Danette Head, the most Northerly point in the UK mainland, whose cliffs fall 300ft sheer into the Pentland Firth.

Next stop The Castle of Mey. Lunch in the cafe and then the guided tour of the castle 

The only home the Queen Mother ever owned. Built in 1566 the Queen Mother fell in love with the Castle in 1956 when it was due to be demolished.

It was a fascinating story of a home, much loved by the Royal family and now in trust for the Nation.

Onward to the very touristy John O’Groats. 

The famous sign post showing mileage’s to New York etc...

Really liked this sign on shop pointing straight down to New Zealand 12875 miles!

Spending the night in a B&B near John O’Groats where we have been made most welcome, but poor WiFi!

Day 7 Drumbeg to Bettyhill

The Croft we stayed in overnight at Drumbeg was very welcoming and served a great breakfast. The building itself was interesting with walls about 30 inches thick! Again the sun was shining as we left and this was the view opposite the Croft.

Stopped for a cuppa in a lay-by with this view.

At Durness we, well to be fair Chris, made a visit to the famous Smoo cave

My iPad seems to have muddled up the photos so bear with me....

We stopped here at Kinlochbervie for supplies, coffee and hot chocolate

It was a very busy fishing port.

Hard to get a really nice picture of the Kylesku bridge that replaced a ferry crossing.

Just about every large Loch, and there are a LOT of them has a fishing farm

The Smoo cave taken by Chris as I could not walk down all those steps!

This looked an interesting island with bunker type building built into the hillside, but I cannot find any info on it.

Maybe I should have started today’s blog with Once upon a journey in an eighteen year old Land Rover...

Yes you guessed it we have broken down, the front wheel bearing has gone. Limped to a small garage in Tongue where a helpful mechanic told us of a garage that might help as he did not have the parts or equipment. Luckily we have a night booked at Bettyhill Hotel a few miles down the road and the garage that have offered to send for the parts and fix the car tomorrow is just a few miles further at Reay.

First garage stop at Tongue.

The view from our bedroom window at Bettyhill Hotel, such luxury, they even serve food!

Day 6 Ullapool to Drumbeg

What a night!! The rain slashed down and the wind blew a gale which meant the Hotel rattled all night.

Check out was 11am so we decided to stay until then, by which time the sunshine was trying to push through.

A quick walk around the town and two failed attempts to get our passport stamped, we eventually called at the museum where we were told we were the first to use their new stamp.

Back on the road heading further north we took a detour from the NC500 to Achiltibuie, a fifteen mile single track road with passing places. The scenery is so barren but somehow beautiful as well. There are few people living in this area, but at Achiltbuie a shop selling everything including fuel stamped our passport and sold us lunch. Big plus, blue sky and no rain.

The wild North West coast

At Lochinver we searched for someone to stamp the passport, even trying the famous Roux family restaurant, who according to our book should have had a stamp but didn’t. A B&B far up a single track were happy to stamp us and again said we were the first this year.

At Clachtoll a winding wooden path leaves to a very pretty beach 

The beach had a lone person and dog on it while the sea lashed the rocks.

At Stoer Point stands a lighthouse with a To Rent sign on it... now that would be a different place to stay!

Our home for the night is Croft 338 Drumbeg B&B and we were given a most warm welcome.

Tomorrow we will reach the North coast.

Day 5 Torridon to Ullapool

The start of the day looked a little mixed but the sun soon came out and brightened the day.

The Torridon to Ullapool journey was very interesting, with museums and Scottish Nation Trust gardens and dramatic scenery.

A short walk to the Victoria Falls made for an interesting stop.

The view from Victoria Falls to Loch  Maree Island

A slight detour off the NC500 along a twisty single track road took us to Redpoint, where it was blowing a gale!

This area overlooks Ramsay and Skye.

One of the displays inside the Gairloch Heritage Museum.

I even managed to buy a Gairloch sock pattern here.

As members of the National Trust we are able to visit the Scottish National Trust for free.

Famous for its Rhododendrons we wandered the gardens and visited the house designed in the 30’s style.

This wonderful tinkling statue was  hung with metal leaves engraved with names of people that had donated money to the restoration of the house and gardens. 

A slate statue in the garden by James Parker

Isn’t this a great lamp shade? Three different hats hanging in the hall of the house.

It has been a long and tiring day so we will leave wandering around Ullapool, where we are staying tonight, until tomorrow.

Day 4 Applecross / Torridon

The morning looked gloomy and foggy as we left Strathpeffer but a few miles down the road the sun came out and stayed with us all day.

As we reached the West coast our first stop was Attadale Gardens to get our passport stamped and walk around the beautiful gardens famous for their Rhododendrons. Sadly being Sunday it was closed but a sneaky peak through the enterance was all we could manage.

Attadale Gardens in the sunshine

Next stop Carron cafe for hot chocolate and millionaires shortbread.. yummy! And the all important NC500 stamp.

Such friendly service and with a magnificent view of Loch Carron.

Leaving Ardarroch we took the scary journey over the mountain with narrow roads and small passing places.

You have been warned!

Twisty hairpin bends wind their way up the mountain

Chris at the highest point.

We made it!

The views all along this route are amazing, even the snow looks nice.

A herd of Highland cattle walk past ignoring the car

Love this view and don’t think I’d ever get tired of seeing it.

We have now arrived at Torridon Scottish Youth Hostel for a night. The room is basic but nice and we have it to ourselves.