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Loch Ness is mainly a "tourist" hostel - English speakers being in the minority and no walkers or cyclists other than us.
We cycled our last 9 miles of the A82 before breakfast at Drumnadrochit. Immediately after broke the "no getting off" rule yet again - it doesn't matter now. Had a wonderful long downhill run into Beauly qnd a level ride to Dingwall (home of Ross County FC). Stocked up on inner tubes and food and pressed on.
The landscape becoming quite bleak, with a sense of not being far from wilderness. Weather mild but overcast with light wind at our backs.
Tonight's hostel is a genuine castle, even if build in the early 20th century . Approaching it, the lst 5 miles are a lovely quiet gentle cycle. There are huge sitting rooms and hallways, one of which has sculptures and impressive paintings. Incredibly grand.
This is getting repetitive, but by now the sun is shining. The castle site on a hill overlooking the Dornoch Firth, with more fabulous views. There's nowhere within walking distance to eat so have our meal in the dining room of the castle.
Wander down to the village pub and strike up a conversation with a Los Angelean who has been studying in London for a year and whose family are from the area. The convival atmosphere seduces me to exceed my 2 pints limit - go wild and have a third.
This is the last hostel of the trip and a fitting end to hostel life. We've just over 100 miles to go and tomorrow we reach the north coast. I've never been this far north, so its an unknown quantity.
Just a mention of the light - of course the further north we go the longer the days become. Its 10.30 and still daylight. There are only a few hours, at most of darkness per night.
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