Durness Hostel

... grim, but great views nonetheless. Perfecto. Completely justified my decision to climb it so early. It took about 45 mins again to get down - it was steep and the ground a bit loose, plus I was already getting random blisters (not good for the next climb ha!). About a third of the way down I saw the first "other people" of the day, who ...

... phones through to the AA and books a transporter to take me back to take me back to Nottingham (East Leake).

Tow truck 1, turns up at 11:50 to take me on the first leg of the journey home from Fort William to Stirling. This takes approx 3 hours and I get dropped at Stirling service station where I am supposed to be met by the next tow truck. It takes about an hour for the next truck to turn up. Which was arranged for 14:30

... home town and one of whom lives in our village! Another "small world" moment... I also meet two women from California, Lia and Laura, and Lia tells me about "Trail Angels". This is an American term for people who help walkers out on the long-distance trails e.g. The Appalachian Trail. I like this term as I've definitely met several so far and it's always heartwarming to know that there are people out there ...

... will be the opportunity for a hot shower at the end!

By the time I reach Beinglas Farm, a campsite just outside Inverarnan, and discover that the link path has turned into a thigh-deep stream necessitating walking back through the campsite, I retire to their bar/cafe for a bowl of hot soup and a cup of tea! Refreshed, I head to the Drover's Inn on the main road to see the famous taxidermy menagerie (including a "haggis") and catch the bus back to Crianlarich ...

... really get anywhere - if you follow me. Not that I was really bothered about getting anywhere, but it kind of annoys me, walking one road and having to walk the same back. Anyway, blithering - last couple of photos for now...

... night tonight!

Tyndrum is disappointingly a glorified layby but the hostel is lovely with plenty of space, a great drying room and I'm looking forward to my day off!

Things that made me smile today:

The sun coming out at Loch Tulla
The gate with the "Please Close the Gate" sign. It was stood all alone with no supporting fence, hedge or wall for miles!
Getting to Tyndrum - I was pretty tired after 64 miles in three days!

... by 7pm (6-7 miles away)!

The last two miles follow the road across the bogs and moorland but the traffic is offset by the huge looming presence of Buchaille Etive Mor, an iconic and much-photographed hill that dominates the landscape. I stop to get a couple of shots, sad that the sky isn't clearer and wishing I'd got here earlier!

Kingshouse's only building is an historic droving inn and there is a popular wild camping spot ...

It was a day of rest today. It rained all day long and it was actually a welcomed respite. We have been going every day since we arrived nearly 2 weeks ago. We did attempt to go into Aberfoyle to the local market, however, the roads had a different idea. When we arrived at the edge of town, the road was flooded and we could not go any further. We simply turned around and came back.

Sveglia necessariamente all'alba per prendere il traghetto per Uig. All'arrivo sull'isola di Sky il tempo continua ad essere brutto e piovoso, prendiamo la strada che ci porta sulla costa est per visitare le scogliere, ma le guardiamo molto in velocità per non inzupparci. Procediamo celeri verso l'entroterra e poi verso nord e Ullapool (con una breve sosta caffè) e quindi fino a Durness. Il pomeriggio è bello che inoltrato e purtroppo tutte le ...

... by a the flat expanse of Assynt. The way it rises it truly spectacular and gives it an feeling of being much bigger than it actually is. Before long we arrived in Durness, on the northwest tip of Scotland, adjacent to Cape Wrath. Cape Wrath is famous for being one of the main training areas for the British military. We made our first port of call our B&B which was the main residence at the Kyle of Durness. The Kyle of Durness is narrow passage of shallow ...