Wednesday 11 Oct
Jess hopped on a plane at Inverness airport to Birmingham to stay with Miranda Taxis in Shropshire, and two hours later I picked up my Dad, and we set off on the "NC500".
First stop was a lovely catch-up with cousin James S-B at Mains of Geanies, near Tain. Excellent dinner and old stories, and even a cooked breakfast to see us on our way!
Thursday 12 October
We pushed up the East coast, stopping at Wick where my great, great grandfather James Barron designed Bridge St Church in the 1880's - but unfortunately it closed 9 years ago and is now a carpet warehouse!
We decided to hunt for James Barron's house, and ended up in the stunning new Nuclear & Caithness Archives out by the airport, who staggeringly managed to locate letters from James and Wilfred (my grandfather) Barron - both civil engineers -about the construction of Wick & Poulteney Harbour.
Next stop, John O'Groats - with the obligatory sign post photos and crappy cafe lunch!
Top tip: Dunnet Head is actually the northern most point of the UK Mainland, and far more impressive:
Then over the 'top' of Scotland via Tongue and Durness - with glorious beaches, and livestock hazards on the road...
And we arrived at Dunbeg Hotel bang on schedule at 6pm - having covered 252 miles since Inverness.
Friday 13 Oct
On down the West coast, blessed with sunshine and scudding clouds in the 30-50mph winds
Clash Nessi Beach
Young gannet diving for fish (Barn - please verify?!)
Ardvrek ruin
And on past my old hiking grounds of Torridon to Dad's first ever experience of a hostel, having covered some amazing a single track roads and racking up another 238 miles. We made up for the military style hostel with an excellent dinner in the Applecross Inn.
Saturday 14 October
Early morning cows and rutting stags, as we headed over the Applecross Pass
Just after the pass - we reached a narrow section and slowed to let our first fast-car convoy past coming in the opposite direction: an ostentatious purple Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge, and a Porsche Cayman GT4. Much waving from the Dawn driver - who was senior Rolls-Royce designer Alex Innes, whom I know very well and last saw in LA! Small world indeed.
Around Loch Carson and coffe in Plockton
Then across to Skye for a walk beneath the awesome Cuillins, and a small detour through a peat bog (!), lunch then fast blast (Dad driving!!) back to Inverness.
A total of 678 miles in 3.5 days on the NC500 plus Skye extension. I would highly recommend this trip - but avoid summer when apparently it's hideaously busy with camper cans. Great fun, stunning scenery and amazing driving roads.
Dad: thanks for the "NC500 completed" dinner this evening. A lovely trip together, and a new found taste for Old Pulteney Malt!
Jess hopped on a plane at Inverness airport to Birmingham to stay with Miranda Taxis in Shropshire, and two hours later I picked up my Dad, and we set off on the "NC500".
First stop was a lovely catch-up with cousin James S-B at Mains of Geanies, near Tain. Excellent dinner and old stories, and even a cooked breakfast to see us on our way!
Thursday 12 October
We pushed up the East coast, stopping at Wick where my great, great grandfather James Barron designed Bridge St Church in the 1880's - but unfortunately it closed 9 years ago and is now a carpet warehouse!
Next stop, John O'Groats - with the obligatory sign post photos and crappy cafe lunch!
And we arrived at Dunbeg Hotel bang on schedule at 6pm - having covered 252 miles since Inverness.
Friday 13 Oct
On down the West coast, blessed with sunshine and scudding clouds in the 30-50mph winds
And on past my old hiking grounds of Torridon to Dad's first ever experience of a hostel, having covered some amazing a single track roads and racking up another 238 miles. We made up for the military style hostel with an excellent dinner in the Applecross Inn.
Saturday 14 October
Early morning cows and rutting stags, as we headed over the Applecross Pass
Around Loch Carson and coffe in Plockton
Then across to Skye for a walk beneath the awesome Cuillins, and a small detour through a peat bog (!), lunch then fast blast (Dad driving!!) back to Inverness.
A total of 678 miles in 3.5 days on the NC500 plus Skye extension. I would highly recommend this trip - but avoid summer when apparently it's hideaously busy with camper cans. Great fun, stunning scenery and amazing driving roads.
Dad: thanks for the "NC500 completed" dinner this evening. A lovely trip together, and a new found taste for Old Pulteney Malt!
As Yogi Berra once said 'That place is so crowded, no one goes there anymore.'
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