Jockland Jaunt

[mikey k]

We've just got back from a week in Jockland
We normally trek from B&B to B&B each night, this time we tried a different tack and rented a cottage on the shoes of Loch Ness near Inverness, this meant we could do one of any 5 routes each day depending on the Met Office rain radar app (which worked a treat!)
We found this place and were really pleased with it.

http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/properties/C...

We decided on a straight run up to the cottage east of Loch Ness


Jockland 010_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


Jockland 132_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

[mikey k]

Next day the Highlands were pissing down so we headed for the Cairngorms;

Corrimony Cairn
Loch Garten Osprey Centre (they had gone South a few weeks earlier but the staff showed us some great videos from the nest)
Loch Morlich & Cairngorms (we were going to take the railway up but the summit was in cloud )
A86 past Kinguissie & Loch Laggan
General Wades Military Road up East of Loch Ness

Lock Morlich was stunning


Jockland 092_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Bizarrely we found a herd of reindeer wandering around, they didn't seem to mind me blending in!


Jockland 062_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

My sat nav seems to like loops and back roads


Jockland 039_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Sunday 8th September 19:09

[mikey k]

Next day we went dolphin, whale and seal spotting on the Black Isle
Not too much spotted but a nice drive!
Mrs K hoping and searching with the 'noculars


Jockland 127_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Sunday 8th September 19:09

[mikey k]

The weather in the highlands improved the next day so we headed north;

A836
Balnakiel Beach
Smoo Cave & Sango Bay beach Durness
Tongue
A836 Lairg – Melvich
Grey Cairns of Camster
Hill o' Many Stanes Mid Clyth
Whaligoe Steps & cafe

This is the view down to Tongue causeway, always good for some photos


Jockland 173_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

The causeway always has some stunning views


Jockland 196_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Jockland 191_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Jockland 195_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Smoo Cave always interesting the rain had flooded the cave so no boat trip (again ) well worth a wander round though!


Jockland 249_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

It was a tad windy on the beach


Jockland 265_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

The Hill o' Many Stanes is a strange place but ancient

Jockland 284_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

The Whaligoe Steps are superb, 365 steps down to a mini harbour that was still used until the '70's. "Dave" who lives at the top gave us all the history and the cafe at the top serves some excellent food with excellent views


Jockland 300_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Jockland 302_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Sunday 8th September 19:12

[mikey k]

We had a down day the next day and planned the following day;
Clava Cairns
A939 Grantown on Spey to Cockbridge
A93 Braemar to Spittal of Glenshee
Bruar Falls walk to the top
A9 scenic route back to Inverness

The penultimate day was the one I was looking forward to, the weather to the west broke out in sunshine!
A837 Inveran - Ledmore
Ardvreck Castle (DBS owners should know this one! )
Kylesku bridge (and this one!)
Achmelvich beaches
A832/896 Wester Ross coastal road
A896 Incheril - Annat
Applecross pass
A896 Glen Docharty
Corrieshalloch Gorge near Ullapool


Jockland 372_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Any DBS owners know where these are?

Jockland 405_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Jockland 429_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Glen Docharty

Jockland 469_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Wester Ross Coastal road looking out to the Cuillins on Skye

Jockland 521_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

[Ed50]

Excellent Mr K, truely excellent and nice hats to boot.

Pleased to be Home I'm sure!.

Did you get a peep at Loch Ness Lodge?.

Like the look of the Wee Harm might try it myself if you give it the thumbs up.

[mikey k]

Last day the rain returned so we headed home along the A82 (bad move ) the weather, coaches & shed draggers dispersed and the sun shone as we went through Glencoe.
We did 2281 miles in 6 days, I am proud to say I achieved 20.8 mpg on the M-way home, the rest of the time it was in the 17's
This is Johnny's last run out before his "op" and it confirmed sticking with the S and letting Bamford Rose convert it is the right move

[Token Jock]

Nice one Mikeyk

I'm off to Jockland week on Friday for a few days so this has whetted my appetite nicely

Will be driving a lot of the old favourites that the Aston just eats up so not going too much off into unknown territory this time. I will also be on the Old Military road running from Granton-on Spey, Ballater and Braemar.

Thanks for propping up the Jock economy again

[mikey k]

Ed50 said:

Excellent Mr K, truely excellent and nice hats to boot.

Pleased to be Home I'm sure!.

Did you get a peep at Loch Ness Lodge?.

Like the look of the Wee Harm might try it myself if you give it the thumbs up.

we have a hat shop in the boot
Didn't make it in to the lodge
Hamish Hame is superb, easy for anywhere above the central belt, real character and loads of little touches and neat tricks!

[mikey k]

Token Jock said:

Nice one Mikeyk

I'm off to Jockland week on Friday for a few days so this has whetted my appetite nicely

Will be driving a lot of the old favourites that the Aston just eats up so not going too much off into unknown territory this time. I will also be on the Old Military road running from Granton-on Spey, Ballater and Braemar.

Thanks for propping up the Jock economy again

It really is a "BIG" country especially when the weather is good and you do the Highlands, £1.50 litre for petrol in Kinlocheven stung though

[Russwhitehouse]

Careful. They eat their young up there!

[Token Jock]

mikey k said:

It really is a "BIG" country especially when the weather is good and you do the Highlands, £1.50 litre for petrol in Kinlocheven stung though

Ooof that does hurt

Thinking of heading up from Laxford Bridge to Durness, what is the A838 like heading North and from Durness across the top round Loch Eriboll?

Edited by Token Jock on Sunday 8th September 20:52

[mikey k]

Token Jock said:

Ooof that does hurt

Thinking of heading up from Laxford Bridge to Durness, what is the A836 like heading North and from Durness across the top round Loch Eriboll?

If you mean the A838 from Laxford Bridge to Durness - nice and empty
If you mean A836 from Lairg to Tongue - belting road! my fav A road

[cardigankid]

Fantastic, just fantastic. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[Jockman]

The usual quality write up we've come to expect Mr K

[Token Jock]

mikey k said:

Token Jock said:

Ooof that does hurt

Thinking of heading up from Laxford Bridge to Durness, what is the A836 like heading North and from Durness across the top round Loch Eriboll?

If you mean the A838 from Laxford Bridge to Durness - nice and empty
If you mean A836 from Lairg to Tongue - belting road! my fav A road

Thanks Mikey, I meant the A838 upto Durness and across the top, had a typo but you provided further info which helps on the A836

Can you "press on" on the A836 like you can on the 2 way A835 upto and out of Ullapool?

Cheers

John

[Gettoff]

Looks like you had a fine trip Mikey, some quality photos in there aswell .

[Ed50]

Mikey.........

Technical question if you please from the Wife.

What were the Fish and Chips like at the Applecross Inn.

[Speculatore]

This just made my heart beat faster. It sums up the whole trip.

[sukh_m]

Looks fantastic mike! Great pics