Bit grey this morning, but hey, no rain….
My original plan was to drive to Sandwood Bay, reputed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland. However, from advice from my host, it seemed the drive would be at least 2 hours each way ( single track road and mega traffic at the moment). Also, the walk from the remote car park is, itself, at least a 4/5 hour round trip – this was supposed to be a rest day ! As it turned out, this was to prove a wise decision – see later….
Instead, I decided to try and satisfy one of my silly childhood memories and drove to Altnaharra, in the middle of nowhere. When I was doing geography at school, this place was famous at the time as having the record for being the coldest place in Great Britain. There’s not much there, mainly just the Altnaharra Hotel. I think you have to be a fishing enthusiast….
However, some magnificent scenery .This part of the Highlands is “one of Europe’s last great unspoilt wildernesses” according to the blurb. I agree, certainly not a place to break down !
This is the view dropping into Altnaharra – what you see in the middle distance is all there is – a few houses, a small school and the hotel.
My curiosity satisfied, it was a drive back to relative civilisation via the B873 and B871 back north via Syre village towards Bettyhill. I’d noticed a few Hercules-style aircraft doing VERY low level passes earlier in the morning and soon found they were using Loch Naver as a target.
What I hadn’t expected to find was a band of merry men camped out (literally on the side of the road) watching proceedings. Apparently, they’d been there for a week already !!!! That’s what I call dedication to an extreme interest. Crazy ! Later, I found that there is a Government website which includes all the low flying schedules for the whole UK, so you can plan when to go.
Mind you, a pretty beautiful place to do it all…….
Then back to base at Talmine. On the way, I noticed this lonesome charging point in the middle of Bettyhill. This is VERY rural Scotland mind……
I spent the afternoon roaming around Talmine itself, getting a bit wet in the process. Used to that now !
My journey is now really getting into the rugged part of the NE coast. It seems to be becoming more beautiful with distance travelled. Next stop Clachtoll….