Day 9 – Back to the North coast
Friday, 20.07.2018
My days on Orkney were numbered, the North and West coast of Scotland were calling. The goal for the day was Lochinver, a nice disctance for the day with a few pretty spots to stop over. But like always time was in short supply and making it worse the weather didn’t play its part. Most of the time the route was foggy or covered in drizzle, so stopping wasn’t too appealing an idea. Since this trip report will be rather short. There were some noteworthy places still.
One of course is Great Britain’s most northern nuclear power plant in Dounreay. Placed in an idyllic spot at the coast, some 10 miles from Thurso. It felt very fitting that the Scottish Police have a firing range right next door.
Onwards on the north coast there are surprisingly many beaches. You should make the effort and slowly scroll along the North coast with Google Maps satellite view. The white is impressive and so it is in real life. Especially the beach at Durness where conveniently there’s a campsite with pretty good review. Sadly sadly I had alreaddy booked my B&B, otherwise I would definitely have made camp here despite the rain. Well, or not.
Finally the route from Durness over Scourie and Kylesku is very well worth seeing, even with bad weather and fog in places. When driving through here, through the barren, rock strewn bogs and moors, you understand where Tolkien got his inspiration for some of the more dreadful places in The Lord of the Rings.
Lochinver then was again a small, nice fishing village with surprisingly many B&Bs and guest houses. And at least one very good restaurant. A beer and a dinner later I left the rather wet and foggy day and 224km behind me. (I used the normal Google Maps this time, seems easier for routes than creating a new Map every time)
