Blogs from Caithness County, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

We’re on the NC500! a route we’ve been wanting to take for some time, the glorious coast of the wild Highlands. Launched in 2015 by North Highland Tourism, it was intended to be Scotland’s route 66, bringing much needed income to businesses in the remote Highlands. A circular route, north of Inverness. All seemed to be well until ‘lockdown’ and staycations of 2020/21, causing a huge increase in campervans and motorhomes driving the route. We were aware there had been some bad press about motorhomes undertaking the NC500, poor thoughtless driving and camping, making for some really fed-up locals. However, we only found fabulous scenery and friendly people. Its quite a challenge heading into the Highlands at the end of October, most of the campsites are shut so it was a matter of negotiating some ‘off ... read more

We had another amazing breakfast by Sheila today (included in our tariff) - the food is delicious, but she has such a sense of style in the plating up. Her sons wedding happening in 3 weeks time has an amazing story. It was supposed to happen 3 years ago, but then they went into lockdown and it was postponed indefinitely. During the covid lockdowns they decided to continue with their plans for a family (hence the highchair at our table last night), but first off, Sheila tells us, during the lockdown her husband said “Sheila, I need you for an hour or so today”. She asked if she needed to get changed and he said no, we’ve got to go now and they drove off. She thought it was to see her son’s plot of land ... read more

Sorry I didn’t write this up yesterday - I was not in the right headspace. This morning we left Sandend - so sorry to leave, we’ve had the loveliest time. We set off with lovely plans for stopping enroute to Dunnet, but these did not eventuate. We had planned to stop off at a distillery as we were passing right by, but unfortunately they were unexpectedly closed. So we continued on to Glen Morangie, but they were open only for sales in the shop. We had planned to have lunch at the Morangie House Hotel, but contrary to their website, they were not open at all, until Sunday (Mothers Day). It was about this point that the Optus coverage ceased. It seems they cover the UK, just not the highlands of Scotland. So we drove on ... read more

Dear All Greetings from the top of Great Britain! Yay! I made it here, to a place called Thurso, mainland Britain’s northernmost town, at the very top of this island on its northern coast, with amazing views out over the sea towards Orkney. It feels grand to be here, an important geographical place in the British Isles, and I’ve enjoyed very much spending time getting to know this most northerly mainland tip of my country. On Tuesday morning I left the Highlands, taking a 10am train from Carrbridge station, and waving farewell to the beautiful Caingorms National Park. I was heading to Inverness, for a 12-minute changeover of train, hoping that my train wasn’t going to arrive late. It didn’t, and I made the next train, a four-hour two coach ScotRail service, following the most stunning ... read more

Technically, not the start, as I did the John O'Groats start signpost yesterday, after I left the ferry, and then I cycled off to my Glamping Pod. Breakfast at the Sea View Hotel, with coffee reinforcement for the day ahead. Then, headed off on today's journey and was 2kms in when I started having chain issues again. Checked and loosened binding chain as best as possible. This seemed to work for a while, then worsened. I decided I will have it looked to at in Inverness. I tinkered, rode on, then total failure. After checking everything, I notice one jockey wheel on my derailleur had departed somewhere behind me. So,...not going anywhere at this point. I knocked on a couple of rural doors and no answer, then I found a rural clinic and was able to ... read more