Woke to a lovely bright day and went off as planned heading for the west highlands.
Went through Thurso on the A9, then headed onto the A836 on the coast road. At Bighouse we headed south on the A897 which due to lack of use is a single carriageway road with passing places!
Went past places with wonderful names like Achiemore, Craigtown, Dalhalvaig and Trantlemore stopping at Forsinard Station where the RSPB have a nature reserve also there is a blue phone box that is still in use!. We went on along this road to the B871 where the surface of the road was the only difference between the A & B road, oh and less passing places.
It was often very very remote and we often went for miles not passing or even seeing another car or even at times farms or people.
We continued on to Syre where we turned onto an even more remote B road, the B873! This is a truly beautiful area along the side of Loch Naver to Altnaharra.
By now it was 1230ish and the stomach was beginning to think my throat had been cut and woohoo we saw a sign for The Altnaharra Hotel so we headed for there. On turning in we could see that it was a sporting, hunting and fishing hotel as the bar was called "Gillies" for those of us in the know? Oh and very posh! Sue's face said it all and the "do you really think we can afford to eat here" said the rest!
Well you know my attitude to that, yes I said it "WELL IT'S ONLY MONEY" which made Sue wince, and in we went!
We were immediately aware that we were fish out of water but what the hell I was hungry so ordered the Menus and a pot of tea for one. The menu brought forth more wonderful expressions from Sue and I ordered a BLT open sandwich. After much umming and ahhing Sue ordered the same but with mayo as mine was without.
Out came the food and it was superb and even Sue had to admit that it was worth every penny of the cost. The pot of tea for one I also got 4 cups from so again was good value for money.
Unfortunately the weather deteriorated at this time so instead of going along the unclassified road that I had planned to go along past Ben Hope and alongside Loch Hope it was head for home time!
So up the A386 to Tongue and stay on it all the way to Castletown and our home for the week.
Went through Thurso on the A9, then headed onto the A836 on the coast road. At Bighouse we headed south on the A897 which due to lack of use is a single carriageway road with passing places!
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| Sue with the blue (working) phone box. |
It was often very very remote and we often went for miles not passing or even seeing another car or even at times farms or people.
We continued on to Syre where we turned onto an even more remote B road, the B873! This is a truly beautiful area along the side of Loch Naver to Altnaharra.
By now it was 1230ish and the stomach was beginning to think my throat had been cut and woohoo we saw a sign for The Altnaharra Hotel so we headed for there. On turning in we could see that it was a sporting, hunting and fishing hotel as the bar was called "Gillies" for those of us in the know? Oh and very posh! Sue's face said it all and the "do you really think we can afford to eat here" said the rest!
Well you know my attitude to that, yes I said it "WELL IT'S ONLY MONEY" which made Sue wince, and in we went!
We were immediately aware that we were fish out of water but what the hell I was hungry so ordered the Menus and a pot of tea for one. The menu brought forth more wonderful expressions from Sue and I ordered a BLT open sandwich. After much umming and ahhing Sue ordered the same but with mayo as mine was without.
Out came the food and it was superb and even Sue had to admit that it was worth every penny of the cost. The pot of tea for one I also got 4 cups from so again was good value for money.
So up the A386 to Tongue and stay on it all the way to Castletown and our home for the week.
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