North of Scotland Road Trip

[del320]

It has been a few years since I have been able to venture North – August 2009 and May 2010. So, with the old gal approaching her 23rd birthday with over 150k covered, it was time to stretch her legs - covering part of the NC500 and then Orkney – some 1400 miles at 31 mpg. We returned via Craigellachie and Aberdeen, flying over to see friends in Bergen for a few days. Superb weather and great B & Bs.

Touching on the leccy car theme, around half the cars in Norway have some sort of partial or entire electric propulsion. Teslas are ten a penny – all part of Norway’s tax system.

The lonely road north towards Loch Hope


Broch

Ard Neakie Lime Kilns, Loch Eriboll
Ceannabeinne Beach (easy for you to say...)

Clashnessie

Kylesku Bridge

Loch Glean Dubh

Canisp and Suilven

Lochinver
Heading north agin from Dornoch...

John o' Groats.

Keeping good company at Gills Bay Ferry Terminal

Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm.

Scapa Flow.

Brough of Birsay

On the road back...

Stones of Stenness

They don't half pack you in!

 

[del320]

I thought I would take the liberty of posting a few more piccies:


Dornoch: Best known for hosting Madonna and her ex, Guy Richie, when their sprog Rocco was baptised at the Cathedral. The usual suspects guested - McCartney, Paltrow and Sting.
Every Saturday evening during summer, the pipe band entertains.

Assynt: Part of this area was subject of a crofters buy-out in 1992 - perhaps going some way to redress the evils of the Clearances 150 years previously.

The old Kylesku ferry lies beached and abandoned after being made redundant when the bridge opened in 1984.

I remember the ferry in better days... (photo from internet)


On the Orkney ferry. The 250SL is no garage queen; from the Midlands withe 80k on the clock.

Orkney: "Among the fields of barley" Crops grown for Highland Park and Scapa distilleries. Looking across Scapa Flow to Stromness and Hoy.

As you would expect, palm trees grow in Stromness.

Orkney is a mecca for passing cruise ships. With a population of around 22,000 a couple of cruise ships can potentially dump 2-5000 tourists in Kirkwall. Apart from the historical artefacts from WW1 & WW2, there are archeological sites some of which pre-date Stonehenge. Whisky and jewelry attract the Yanks.
Here is "Disney Magic". up to 2700 passengers, and when she leaves port, "When you Wish upon a Star" is played on the ship's horns. Tacky or what?

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[AMV]

Amazing photos!

The scenery was ok but your car looks awesome.

 

[grober]

Gills Bay - St Margarets Hope or Scrabster- Stromness?

 

[del320]

Gills Bay - St Margarets Hope or Scrabster- Stromness?

Gills Bay - just an hour - £140 return incl driver and passenger.

 

[RonFleet]

Thank you! Lovely photos.

 

[grober]

Gills Bay - just an hour - £140 return incl driver and passenger.

Great local family business success story about taking on the mighty P and O Ferries!

They are building a bigger one!
https://www.pentlandferries.co.uk/our-family/

 

[del320]

The Pentalina does the job, but is now badly in need of a lick of paint!