Wednesday 6^th September - Inverness to Tongue

Followed the A9 crossing the Moray Firth and Cromarty Firth to Alness before taking the first big climb into the Eastern Ross. Great viewpoint on the other side where I met a couple of heavily laden touring/camping cyclists as well as a pair of women club riders out for a day ride. Crossed Bonar Bridge and rode on to Lairg where I stocked up in a shop for lunch, having found no open cafes. From there the A386 turned into a single track unfenced road with passing places. I met virtually no traffic and the weather remained fine but with some Northerly headwind. The route past Ben Klibreck and later Ben Loyal, felt very remote with little habitation and it seemed like I was truly in Highland country.

Late in the day light drizzle turned into heavy rain, but shortly after it was good when the land finally began to fall away and the first sighting of the North Coast was made, the Kyle of Tongue. Although I had arrived in Tongue I had to seek shelter in a Hotel, unsure on where else I would get a meal. Glad to be finally out of the cold and wet, I stayed there fair while warmed by tea and a hot meal before going back out into the cold and dark to find the hostel. Struggled to find the hostel in the pitch black and stormy night, a friendly couple I chanced upon fortunately set me back on the right course.

    Distance: 92 miles

View from bridge back to Inverness                             View from Eastern Ross

The long road towards Tongue                                    Mackay Country, typical Highlands scene

Loch Loyal                                                               Another evening sky