Along the top

Tuesday 24th July

From Ullapool to Borgie via the North Coast 500 and the Pebbles route. Again it was all about the scenery, and fabulous scenery at almost every turn. One thing I don't think of when you talk about Scotland is beautiful beaches - amazing blue water and beautiful white sand. We only saw a few surfers in wetsuits actually in the water, but quite a few families with kids playing on the beach. I think the temperature was around 20 or 21 but quite a cool breeze.

Around the far northwest and looking inland.

Around the northwest coast
- yes the sky and water really were this blue.

The village of Drumbeg along the way.
We didn't find too many places to eat along the road.
I am sure this will change as it gets more tourists.

Looking back inland. Hardly a tree to be seen,
just grassy, craggy grazing land.

Amazing beaches.

Zipline - 10 second thrill.

This isn't the common heather we see everywhere, but just one variety.
We are seeing some beautiful wildflowers - lots of pinks and purples.

We stopped at a place called Sango Sands for lunch and ate at the pub at the top of the cliff. Next to the pub was a caravan park and below was a beach. A very appealing setting if there was no cold breeze, and about 10deg warmer. We are seeing a lot of motor homes along this road and a lot of caravan parks - also a lot of roadside camping.

Our accommodation tonight was off the main road and heading in we came across a farmer moving his sheep along the road with the assistance of his 3 dogs.

The old dog in the middle looking back
- I'll leave it to the young ones.

This is Mia - the hotel dog. 15months old and very busy.

Wednesday 25th July

Today's drive was quite short and found us in Thurso around 10.30am. We have moved out of the mountainous terrain with loch after loch, and are now in much flatter farming terrain - sheep country. Still not a lot of trees. It was too early to check in to our B&B, so we wandered the street, visited the tourist information office and had morning tea.

We've had to abandon the idea of visiting the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother's holiday residence, because Prince Charles and Camilla arrived yesterday for their summer holidays and they don't welcome visitors! We'll have to keep our eyes open for him in the area.

We had information about a wildlife cruise out of John o'Groats so we decided to see if there were places available. The cruise people advised that today would be better then tomorrow as tomorrow would be windy. What a great cruise - seals, lots of birdlife, the highlight was the puffins. Apparently it is close to the end of their time here so we were very lucky.

Ooh, goody!  Another cruise.

See, we are both here together.
The last place on the British mainland.

Famous hotel landmark at the end of mainland Britain.

Abandoned cottages on the island just off John o' Groats.

The lighthouse on the island. Automatic since 1996
but would have been a lonely, bleak place for the keeper.

Puffins!

Seals.

More puffins.

Great black backed gull - with 2 chicks.

Seals at play.

My favourite puffin picture.

These look like penguins but are actually Guillamotes.

Tonight we had dinner in the Halkirk pub (we are staying in Halkirk 2 nights) and it was probably one of the best meals we have had since arriving in the UK.