Go west...

Kildary, Ross & Cromarty, Day 8

Today we decided to explore a little of the NC500 route over in the west side of the country.  

During lunch we sat with the map and discussed various circular routes that would take us east to west and back again.  We settled on Bonar Bridge to Invershin then followed the A837 to Elphin.  I love that despite being an A-road, the A837 is single track with passing places (see first extra :-)  The Highlands forces one to slow down and smell the roses and I love that :D 

As we neared Elphin, the dramatic mountain landscape of the west coast loomed into view (second extra) and the weather changed from bright and sunny to cloudy, hazy and even more stunning!

We turned onto the A835 (more recognisable an A-road :-) heading for Ullapool when rounding a bend the view of Ardmair was revealed to us.  So beautiful it had to be my blip today.  

The view of Ullapool was also stunning (third extra). It's the first time we've been to Ullapool and it won't be the last.  Such a lovely place.  

Our priority was to find a public loo and we did so without any problem.  The loos were absolutely spotless and provided antibacterial soap AND had hot running water!  Excellent.

Lunch seemed a long time past and we followed our noses to a Fish & Chip shop that had a long, socially distanced queue outside (surely good sign) and bought two fish suppers (they were enormous!  One between us would have been more than enough!)

We drove uphill to a fabulous view point and found ourselves a bench with a brilliant outlook down Loch Broom to the Minch and the Western Isles.  

As we sat munching our chippies, the ferry from Stornoway came sailing in.  I said to D it would be full of holiday makers crying as they leave the Outer Hebrides behind.  That will me me next year when we return from Harris and Lewis.  We are getting the return ferry from Ullapool, so at least now we know the system of parking for the ferry when we get here :-)

Having eaten our fill of fish and chips, we sat for a little while enjoying the view and the feel of the sea breeze on our faces.  All too soon it was time to head back east.

One part of the NC500 I would love to do is Lochcarron to Applecross (via the notorious Bealach na Ba road,) continuing on to shieldaig via the coast road, then Torridon to Kinlochewe and finally back east on the route we took home tonight (the A832 to Dingwall.)  I had thought it would be too far on this trip but I was surprised how quickly we drove the route west today and we didn't leave till well after lunch.  If we get out act together we could make a full day of it and be able to cover that route. ISo that's been added to our list of to-dos.

We need to sit down at breakfast tomorrow and plan our days properly for next week.  There's still so much we want to see and do and Saturday will be here before we know it! 

Tomorrow however, is another chill out day. David will play golf, I will paint and read and crochet, and depending on the weather in the evening, may try and get a sunset shot from Portmahomack.  

So much to do, so little time!  A good dilemma to have :-)))