Scotland has long been one of our favourite places to visit.
Becky's mum lived in Aberdeenshire for most of her childhood and as a family we are drawn back here time and time again.
We began our journey on the Isle of Wight during a very unsure time due to covid... were we going to be placed back into lockdown or would we make it to our beloved highlands.
01
Leaving Home
Leaving home.... here we come land of the highland cow!
02
Boat Time
Red Osprey to convey us to the big island.
03
Stretching Legs
Welcome Break Warwick... crazy that 5 hours since we left home we are..... 125 miles further north!!! This could take a while!!
04
Lancaster Services
Bit like a Mad Max film.... head through the red zone.... no stopping, we have water, food, fuel and Eurus for protection.... heading for the yellow and then finally to the green zone.... we can make it!!!
05
Journey to Carlisle
Left our house at 07:30 and arrived at Carlisle at 17:00. Very long day with much wet stuff... saw some cool things along the way though.
Longest Journey Ever!
06
We left Carlisle at 08:30 and arrived in Laide at 17:00. Genuinely the longest drive of my life. Saw so many amazing sights along the way including a “heap” (thanks to a local) of deer and a hydro dam.... long way but worth it.
Hydro Dam
07
On our way between Carlise and Laide we fell over a Hydro Dam.. very cool so stretched our legs.
08
Seaview Cottage
A beautiful and well place little cottage with enough room for 6. Wonderful views of sea and wildlife. Fabulous babbling brook to the side and fields all around.
Laide
09
Have seen my first wild seal colony and how amazing they were. Beautiful, wild coastline with seals lying on the rocks and watching us from the water. Fell over the wonderful Chapel of Sand build in the 7th century.
Loch Ewe
10
And we ended up out for 8 hrs and drove 150 miles!
First stop on our journey.... Loch Ewe and the Isle of Ewe. Loch Ewe is 10 miles long and was the convoy collecting point during WWII
Loch Gairloch
11
Next we went on to Gairloch and Loch Gairloch. Here we looked very hard for dolphins and whales but came up empty 🙁 Beautiful Loch that is 6 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.
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Rubha Reidh Lighthouse
12
After a fabulous drive following the coast for 12 miles we ended our journey at the basic end of the world at the Rubha Reidh Lighthouse built in 1912. The Lighthouse was once run by 3 families but when the light became automated, it was sold off to a private individual. Honestly the most stunning piece of coastline with a smugglers cove and everything.
13
Victoria Falls
So as we had reached the end of the world..... we had to turn around and come back.... let’s go further down he says so we then drive all the way inland to the Slatterdale Forest where we happened upon the Victoria Falls. Getting out of the car and seeing a sign for 150m to the falls when you can’t hear it, is a little disappointing, until , you realise that the trees are masking the sound!!! Tremendous and fabulous and all the other words that make you go “WOW”
14
Red Deer Finally
According to, well, everyone, Scotland has rather a lot of Red Deer 🦌 but we have been unable to locate any.... not so much today. We have been on an epic trek and have had several sightings of the majestic creatures. Very happy to have finally seen them.
15
Laide Woods
Apparently I have to drag my butt out in the cold cause my dog needs a walk.... fab walk in the local woods though. Saw an amazing cascade and my first ever proper toadstool! Apparently make you very sick though so no eating!
Corrieshalloc Gorge
16
Pulling over on our way to Ullerpool to discover the fantastic Corrieshalloc Gorge. You meander down a winding path and find yourself on a suspension bridge over the 100m deep gorge. The largest waterfall is a 45m drop and they think it was cut during the last ice age. Very impressed but didn’t enjoy the rocking bridge!
Ullapool
17
And very nice too.... parked in honestly the stinkiest car park in the known universe.... had a lovely wonder round. Found a cafe and sat outside on the harbour for a cup of tea.... right next to a couple from Somerset! Found some lovely Ullerpool Gin and a local beer and then on wards to Durness....
Ardmair Beach
18
Stopped for a spot of lunch in a glorious place... still on the way Durness
19
Ardvreck Castle
Stumbled upon these amazing ruins by the side of the road. The layout was wonderful including the separate house built because the lady of the Manor didn’t want to live in the castle. Well worth a visit.
20
Kylesku Bridge
So driving along enjoying the scenery when suddenly up in the air... crossing an enormous bridge! The Kylesku Bridge. Build 1982 - 1984 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II. It replaced a ferry from the early 19th Century. 276m long and 24m high. Very impressed. Still on the way to Durness!
21
Highland Cows
Highland cows are NOT very widespread across the highlands no matter what the advertisers tell us! Finally, today, we have seen our first ones. A small herd in a field having their dinner. Very happy to have found some but couldn’t get one in the car so have had to buy moo a toy one instead! Still on the way to Durness...
Smoo Cave
22
Finally arrived in Durness at the sight of the Smoo Cave and the reason that we have been driving for 3 hours!! The amazing cave is completely breath-taking in its enormity, and I am so glad we made the trip. The cave has been dwellings for 7000 years making it officially the oldest house that I have ever been in.
23
Smoo Cave Waterfall
Inside Smoo Cave is a thundering waterfall. The water is freezing and the noise deafening but what a sight!!
24
A flood of SHEEP
So we are forced to pull over by a truck, it’s getting dark and we are literally in the middle of god knows where.... “are the doors locked”??? Are we scared.... obviously! So we sit and we wait for about 10 mins just staring at this truck blocking the road... then... we are attacked by a flood of SHEEP! Have never seen so many sheep in one place and 3 very happy sheep dogs... was fascinating if a little pulse raising!!
25
Rogie Falls
On our way back to Inverness and we fell over the fabulous Rogie Falls.
26
Homeward Bound
After spending the night at the fabulous The Gables in Gretna Green, we have wound our way home through a horrid rainy, foggy day and we are now on the boat winging its way home.
