Lochs and Lochs of Mountains

Friday 8th October 2010

I was up with the lark, bright and early to a beautiful new day, and ready to continue with my journey, down the West Coast of Scotland,again taking advantage of the good weather to continue my travels, and get all the sights, and phew ! what a day I was going to have!..

As I looked out at the view beneath me… I couldn’t see any buildings anywhere, just hearing all the animals, and watching a bird of prey (don’t know what !) circling the area, looking for it’s Breakfast..as I had my own Breakfast of fruit juice and Weetabix..and off I set from Kylestrome

towards the Big Mountains of Assynt…

I firstly crossed Loch Assynt, coming across the remains of Ardvreck Castle,and had to have a wander around,and inside it..the views out and along the Loch were tremendous, especially in the Sunshine ,with only some German and French tourists for company.

I then continued South, through Ichnadamph, with the bulk of Suilven in the distance.

By mid morning I stopped at a place I had heard referred to in several places – Knockan Crag ,http://www.knockan-crag.co.uk/ and what a place to stop.. it was the exact location where geologists had first worked out how the various countries in the World had been made, and come together ( and apart) and it had a brilliant ‘Earth Room’ to explain everything ( in a fun way! ) to those aspiring geologists amongst us –and that means ME !

With this wall,identifying all and showing all the differing rocks, at least I’ll have something to refer back to now….

and one of those surprising revelations …..

Scotland really is different from England…

and don’t the Scots love that, especially as those from America could really have been their neighbours !

As I went on the discovery trail along the crag, and up to the top the views of Assynt really opened up, with lots and lots of future climbing becoming evident..and fast jets (Wayne ?) flying overhead, and sometimes almost underfoot as they hugged the valley floor, roaring in,round,and gone..

I then continued South,along a good Road,into the sunshine ahead.As I went through the Cromalt Hills I decided to divert out right onto the Coigagh peninsula,and drove along a narrow single track road to Aciltibuie, looking out onto the Summer Isles from a different direction to yesterday. The sky was hard to describe, it seemed hazy, or ethereal, as the sun shone down through the clouds, almost floodlighting the Islands in  the bay , and yet it was sunny !

On this peninsula was Stac Pollaidh (Stack Polly) almost looking like it should be in Texas ! and looking great in the afternoon sunshine.

As I continued towards Ullapool I wondered what I would find…as both Kate and Wayne had spoken so well of it…I arrived just as the large car ferry from Stornoway was berthing, and loads of traffic was coming off, and being loaded back on…probably making Ullapool far busier (and noisy) than usual..   the only campsite in town was shut, so after having a wander round for a while, and with the rain starting whilst I was eating my Fish supper from the ‘Best Seafood Pub in Britain’'  ,  I decided I may be better off on the East coast again , so set off towards Inverness , on the wide A9 road, intending to stop on the way somewhere.

I found a great spot in Ardcharnich, mid way to Inverness, at a car park next to some walks, which had Toilets next to it (and Open all night –almost ensuite!) and snoozed Peacefully..