Fortrose ( day 2)

We really enjoyed our anniversary meal at the Anderson Gastro Pub. The food was fantastic. The atmosphere great. The dining area in the pubs whisky bar, (250 on offer), of just eight tables made it both intimate and sociable.

By the end of the evening we were in conversation with the couple opposite who'd just retired and were spending three weeks driving the NC500 staying at bed and breakfasts. Plenty of walking for them then!

As for us we had yet another day to explore the area. We walked down to the pretty village of Rosemarkie stopping at Crofters restaurant for refreshment. Then took the long walk up to the Fairy Glen to see the waterfalls. The path was muddy and in places sucked at our boots. But the scramble up was worth it. By now the waves of rain and hail had ceased and the temperature climbed just a little. Back in the village John bought a scotch pie and cheese and onion pasty at the little Spar shop. We sat by the beach, the sand coloured pink by the nearby red sandstone. Behind us swallows and sand martins darted and dived feeding off small airborne insects. Suddenly it was warm. Dressed in waterproofs we began to feel like a couple of boil in the bag meals. But we didn't complain. No rain, no hail and sunshine. We'd waited a long time. But back at Marge the wind continued to gust. We talked to our neighbour whose wife had a fall the day before and had broken a rib. He wasn't sure if they'd carry on with their holiday or return to their home in Yorkshire. He'd like to stay as the weather was nicer here! Was he joking!

Not wanting to leave the area without seeing some dolphins we took a walk down to Chanonry Point just after seven in the evening. As we stood with other anticipating dolphin spotters the wind blew cold. Suddenly a shout went up and there near to the shore were a pod of dolphins, graceful and majestic, dipping and rolling on the grey waters of the rising tide. Before decent photographs could be taken they swam away seeking out food in the churning ocean. We've seen dolphins before, but not close by. Brilliant. We'd just wished the sea had been calmer, but hey, we saw the dolphins.