Across the Top to Durness

Another wonderful day of sighting and learning.

This morning we left Dunnet and headed west along the coast line to Thurso.

Our first stop was St Peters Church, which is a ruin, but we had been told of the Stone arch window frame that had been build from one piece of stone. It was amazing.

We then took a detour down to the harbor for a quick look. It was a quick look as the temperature this morning was 3, and the wind was savage.

The “main” road along the top of Scotland is nearly all one lane with passing areas every 100 meters or so. Most people are really polite and so travelling is fairly easy, but then I was not driving.

Main road across the top!!

Pass here on left

Our next stop was Bettyhill. We were here to visit the Heritage Centre and see a Farr Stone that was in the cemetery.

The heritage centre was really good. It is housed in an old church and had lots of wonderful info.

We found out about the Clearing and the Pict people and also about how they collected peat for fires.

Blackhouse replica - before the clearing

Peat for fires

Farr Stone

From there we continued west towards Durness. The road took us through the village of Tongue and across the Kyle of Tongue Bridge. It was a wonder to see, but the strength of the weird made me a bit nervous. 🥺

Centenary Cairn

We then travelled around Loch Eriboll and into Durness. By the time we reached there today the weather had turned even nastier. The wind was so fierce we could not get the van doors to open, and when we did, we could not shut them.

We stopped at Balnakeil Craft Village for a bit of a look. My favourite was Cast Off Crafts where they make items from recycled materials. It took all my strength to not bring home a hand-embroidered wall hanger that had shells, sand and beads with a heart hook. There is still tomorrow.

We then headed back to Smoo Cave.

Smoo Cave

This cave has been created from the sea at one end and rain water at the other. It was well worth the walk down in the rain to see. In summer you can get a boat tour through the cave, but today we only got to see the waterfall that ends the cave.

To finish the weather off today, we were treated to a quick storm that included the tiniest balls of hail.

Tonight we sit snuggled up in our van while the wind howls around us.

All for now.

The North coast 500 we are travelling on - Most anyway, around the top of Scotland

Stay safe and keep enjoying life.

Love us.

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