Kid Free Weekend in Dornoch Day #2

Up, dressed, fed (Full Scottish) and on the road for 10 o'clock.  We drove up to John O'Groats - about 80 miles north.  Not much to see in John O'Groats - a bit like Lands End, you go just to say you have been!! 

There was a nice photogenic red fishing boat in the harbour which is shown below - might be a future camera club entry.

We had a coffee (I got a wee cake too - I was fading away!!) and jumped back into the car along the north coast towards Thurso.

About 10 miles along this road there was a sign for Dunnet Head - most northerly point of mainland Great Britain.  We decided to go have a look - we were on a single track road for about 6 miles - along real rugged coastline.  We stopped and went down to a rocky beach which had about 10 seals all lounging about.  They were a bit far off for any good pictures - however the surrounding scenery was not bad!

After getting out of the car and being as far north on the mainland as was possible we jumped back in the car and carried on along the road to Thurso.  Not far along this road we came across an enormous, amazing beach.  The wind was blowing and the waves were crashing.  We got wrapped up and went out for a walk.  I tried to get a few shots of the beach - but they just didn't do it justice.  Mo got a call from her Mum to let us know how they were getting on - so while she was talking I took some pictures of the stairs to get on and off of the beach - maybe another winner - what do you think?  We got to Thurso and decided to keep driving along the coast road to a place called Tongue (about 70 miles from John O'Groats) before turning in and heading back towards Dornoch.  This was 60 miles along a single track road - amazing rugged and barren scenery.  Hardly passed a house, car or evidence of mankind!  It rained a bit on the way back - which added to the atmosphere, but made it difficult to take any pictures.  Got one on the way back.  There was a river meandering along beside the road for a bit.  The picture below was taken a point where it was meandering a bit faster (can that happen!!)We got back to Dornoch about 6:30 - just as it was getting dark.  We went out for dinner and were back in the hotel, crashed by 10:00.  A great day.  All in we must have done about 220 miles.