Scotland (G-I) – Smtfhw's Travels

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 13 (Gairloch to Shieldaig)

Thursday 10th October, 2024 – Gairloch, Kinlochewe, Lochcarron, Strome Ferry, Applecross, Sheildaig Distance driven: 110.0 milesTime at the wheel: 3 hours 43 minutesHeiland coos spotted: 0 After the storms that rolled through overnight, the temperature had dropped significantly and there was snow visible on the higher ground. The weather was still wildly variable, with sudden…

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 12 (Around Gairloch)

Wednesday 9th October, 2024 – Gairloch, Inverewe, Badachro Distance driven: 36.0 milesTime at the wheel: 1 hour 14 minutesHeiland coos spotted: 0 After the previous day, Wednesday started out looking like it would be an easy day without much in the way of driving. The initial plan was to go a few miles in one…

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 11 (Lochinver to Gairloch)

Tuesday 8th October, 2024 – Lochinver to Gairloch Distance driven: 86.0 milesTime at the wheel: 2 hours 26 minutesHeiland coos spotted: 0 (Normal service has resumed) We’d done two nights at the Old Coach House (Cosy Highland Fireside Escape) so again it was time to move on to our next two-night stop. First, though, we…

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 7 (Dornoch to Thurso)

Friday 4th October, 2024 – Dornoch, Golspie, Helmsdale, Thurso Distance driven: 64.0 milesTime at the wheel: 1 hour 19 minutesHeiland coos spotted: Still defiantly 0 We were on the move again so said goodbye to Strathview Lodge, though not before sampling their full Scottish breakfast. I would certainly recommend them as a place to stay…

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 5 (Inverness to Dornoch)

Wednesday 2nd October, 2024 – Inverness, Fortrose, Chanonry Point, Rosemarkie, Cromarty, Dornoch Distance driven: 78.0 milesTime at the wheel: 1 hour 50 minutesHeiland coos spotted: 0 We were back on a highish mileage day, made more so because the Cromarty-Nigg ferry does not run after September 30th so we’d missed it by a day, a…

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 4 (Around Inverness)

Tuesday 1st October, 2024 – Inverness, Culloden Distance driven: 19.0 milesTime at the wheel: 40 minutesHeiland coos spotted: 0 After a lot of mileage the previous day it was very pleasant to start the day with a leisurely 20-minute drive to Culloden and the battlefield centre, which is run by the Scottish National Trust. As…

Travel 2024 – North Coast 500 – Day 3 (Tebay to Inverness)

Monday 30th September, 2024 – Windermere, Tebay Distance driven: 301.0 miles,Time at the wheel: 5 hours 56 minutesHeiland coos spotted: 0 And so finally to Scotland. But not before a very good breakfast at the Westmorland Hotel. We’d had a good night’s sleep and been well fed before getting on our way (after wrangling the…