Up North.

We headed north for our last full day. A two hour drive to Durness on the north Sutherland coast, across from Cape Wrath.

We went to the Balnakiel Craft Village which is made up of ex MOD buildings with one housing Cocoa Mountain. Fabulous for hand made chocolates. We had coffee and then found they had an offer of 4 chocolates with any hot drinks at a special price. Well we had to! It was fuel for our walk which started here just around the corner on Balnakiel beach.

Traveling in this region the landsape can be a bit 'other worldly' but some of the best beaches are to be found nearby. We have walked to Sandwood Bay a few years ago, only accessible by foot and a 4.5 mile walk, but stunning. Also we have walked round Oldshoremore and Pollin beaches in the last two years which are both fabulous and a bit more accessible. As you can see Blanakiel beach is also wonderful white sand and although we saw more people than on previous visits it was virtually empty.
We crossed and headed up Faraid Head which you can see here and is MOD land, part of the Cape Wrath range, but accessible in most parts to the public.

We took sandwiches but needed tea after 5.5 miles so went back to the chocolate shop and of course made some appropriate purchases.

About half way back is Kylesku and Loch Glendhu. We had a sail here a couple of years ago and thought the revamped hotel would be a nice place to eat but rather a long drive. So we booked in this evening and had a pleasant meal over looking the loch where the ferry landings can still be seen, which was the only way further north here until the bridge opened in the '60s.

Lots of deer, quite a number on the loch side field at Inchnadamph. We stopped to take a snap of the sun going down here over Loch Assynt and Ardvreck Castle. We are getting so blasé at seeing the deer we didn't stop to photograph them!

A long day but a good way to end our week.