Durness

Last night we were lulled asleep by the waves tickling the shoreline. This morning the sunshine of the last few days was gone. Nethertheless it was dry and not too cold. We bid farewell to our canoeist's neighbours, John forwarding them the photographs he had taken of them yesterday

Shortly into this morning's journey we stopped at a viewpoint to photograph yet another stunning view.

There was an information board detailing where the public toilets were in the area, and for anyone caught short, there was a small shovel for their use!

You'd have to be desperate, wouldn't you? This information board, and its fellow shovel, were common in these parts.

We were on route to Ullapool, a place where Marge's namesake often talked about after a coach holiday to Scotland. But once again we were distracted from our journey, as we saw a sign for the Corrieshalloch Gorge. Stop Marge, we're going to take a look at this.

Corrieshalloch Gorge is a 65-metre-deep slot gorge through which the river Droma rushes for a mile. We walked down to the suspension bridge, where a notice stated only six people were to be on the bridge at any one time. The view down was breath-taking, if you like that sort of thing, or in Angelas case, take a quick photograph and get over to the other side. Then down to the viewing platform. The falls of Measach here drop 45 metres, so all in all an impressive place. We walked back through the larch trees, ferns and fungi. The area was popular, and by the time we returned to Marge the car park was full.

We arrived at Ullapool around one o' clock, and parked Marge in the Tesco car park. After some shopping and lunch, we walked around the small port town. It was nice enough, but we couldn't see why our Marge liked it so much.

Leaving Ullapool, the weather began to deteriorate, the wind increasing and a light rain splashed over Marge. In places the sun split the clouds.

We stopped at the ruin of Ardvreck Castle, taking the opportunity to stretch our legs. Our journey from then on became bleak and miserable.

We saw barely another vehicle, the landscape was bleak and barren, the light dull, we felt like we were in no man's land. With time getting on, we travelled on yet more single-track roads with passing places, and decided to head for the town of Durness, hoping to find civilisation and a fish and chip shop. We found civilisation, but no fish and chip shop. Morale low, we parked up Marge with another van beside Loch Eriboll. The wind rocking Marge and the rain coming down, we hoped tomorrow would be a better day. We have been driving now for nineteen days, and as yet have not found a place we have wanted to stay a couple of days at. We have been told by quite a few people that the west coast is the better coast, so let's hope we are not too disappointed from here on.

Tomorrow we will drive along the north coast towards John o' Groats.