Downhill from HERE

And Duncansby Head, the most northerly point in mainland UK is HERE

1. Get BBQ out and find least windy location and spot the “between downpour moment”

2. Find big brolly

3. Hope for best

4. Watch from inside

The weather is poor today. Windy and heavy rain showers means it’s not a great day for sightseeing. The drive over the bog (yes endless boggy barren landscape) to Thurso was pleasant but due to such low cloud there’s not been much of a view. Contrast that with the setting sun last night.

Onwards then and past some bleak cliffs, an old church which houses a Pictish stone and a quick stop for refreshments

To Dunnet Bay. Our original planned stop was due to be a remote farm campsite. On the top of a cliff. We did turn up, it looked very barren and literally a farmers field so we scarpered and went back 2 miles to a Caravan and Camping Club site. It’s right on the edge of Dunnet Bay, a very long beach about 2 miles in length and has a number of Viking settlements found over the years.

So, a quiet night in tonight to stay warm and cosy. Then tomorrow it’s on to John O’Groats

Lovely night in Tongue, now onto Dunnet Head and John O’Groats tomorrow

A wonderful drive from Scourie to Tongue (yup, how cool is that and it’s at th mouth of the sea!). Maximum speeds of 30mph through the single track roads up via Durness and Europe’s largest live bombing range, you could hear the booms every few seconds Read this

Mrs Fogg even found the “worlds best chocolate drink” shop which we had to hike a mile to. Also en-route was the Smoo Cavern, a funky waterfall that has turned a cave into a very wet cavern

Oh and while emptying the “crapper” this morning, which involves opening the side of the camper, removing a 20litre full cassette and wheeling it to the chemical waste point (a bloody big hole in the ground), as I emptied it the process went into slo-mo as one wheel and axle dropped off and slipped into the slime, never to be seen again! you couldn’t make it up. Do I stick my hands in to retrieve it, err not a cat in hells chance!

Travelling from Ardmair after a gusty wet and chilly night onwards then via Lochinver

And tonight we will mostly isolated here

Lovely drive today up and down the highlands to the windiest point so far. Ardmair Point is on a windy headland and it’s sideways rain howling at us.

We stopped at Mungasdale bay to wander along the pretty beach and to use Mr Foggs giant binoculars.

We visited the Falls of Measach today at the Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve. At 160ft falls the water plunged a mile long down through the gorge. Very spectacular and especially so after all the rain

Now we are chilling in the warm camper watching the rain

It’s official! We joined the North Coast 500 today at Loch Carron and experienced very narrow single track roads, grumpy locals (darn tourists driving oversized motor homes on my lanes….) and incredible scenery. 24 miles of a single track road heading up and over mountains, through highland bogs and down through scenic glens is what the NC500 is all about.

Breathtaking scenery and our final stop for the night is tiny seaside Gairloch. Our caravan site is right on the hillside overlooking the sea inlet. We’ve just sat watching the stars come out in the still and peaceful night.

Next stop will be Ullapool. 67 miles away and more single track roads methinks. Mr Foggs turn to drive this time. And these are the A roads. Wait till we try a B road.

A trip from Glencoe across to Eilean Donan via Fort William and of course the chance to scale Ben Nevis

But then to Eilean Donan Castle and the chance for Mrs Fogg to visit the set of her favouritist film of all time ever, Highlander, there can be only one. Oh yeh and the last snowball!

Here in the campsite, a chance to BBQ and meet fellow travellers who have just hired a camper van without a clue that it needs water onboard to shower and cook, or electric to power it. Oh boy. As Mrs Fogg sits with Highlander on the iPad in preparation for the castle tour tomorrow. (Hogg Heaven eh Mrs Fogg).