Thurso to Inverness

Walk 23.

September 2016. 144.5 miles


Walkers, Richard Porter, Bernie Porter, Carl Hamill, Paul Harris, Stuart Page, Hamish Morton,Phil Wilson, Paul Brearley, Russell Matthews & Kevin Devereux.



Wednesday 7th September 2016
10 miles Thurso to Dunnet head.

Start of the Spoilt ramblers walk NE coast of Scotland A very early morning start with the spoilt ramblers on the train for the 7 am flight Southampton to Manchester then onto Inverness. Everyone in good spirits. High quality Logan air loads of leg room and free drinks! Stuart arrives on time for once. Phil has a tight squeeze on the plane. Usual porridge stop at the Inverness airport, Russell cuts a deal. Kevin had issues with quality of the van after kerbing it and no power for his phones. Picked up Paul from the Inverness train station. Paul and Russel liked the Bonk and co house fire shop Russel gorging at the co op chocolate shop for supplies for the drive up to the start of the walk at Thurso Special Scotsman boxer gives us walking advice. Rare breed Rams with large balls. Dunnet head Beach walk to end. Surfers on the beach. Dog fish and jelly fish on the beach. Light drizzle over cast most of the day. Wifi issues at the Castle arms hotel. Great meal from Veronija and Tomas.


Thursday 8th September 2016
15 miles today St Margaret hope to Kirkwall airport

Lovely 8 am breakfast Veronika and Tomas czech couple. Waitress and chef. Excellent meal last night and breakfast. How many questions can Richard be asked before breakfast Pentland Ferry from Gills to Orkney islands. Bus load of American with labels Chad Tuna Sandwiches from Fatty cutie Here comes the rain Michael and Stan fisherman just in from a catch.sea monster lobster and scallops. Ate the sandwiches at the bus shelter Churchill barriers Italian church Wilson wet wouses does the distillery, highland park With Fairweather Paul Russel and Phil Highland parks all round tonight Amazing sunsets Unexpected excellent meal at the Albert hotel with Elaine. Only ones there.


Friday 9th September 2016
18 miles altogether

Coastal cliff Walk from Stromness up to Birsay on the Orkney Islands via Skara Brae Started churchyard and golf course. Could we could see the old man of hoy? Bernie and the Barbwire The Wilson wobble after the little stone throwing Used the rear entrance of Skara Brae and had a light lunch in the cafe enjoyed the Cullen skink soup Hamish ,Carl and Stuart visit Highland park distillery The other walkers walk on up to Birsay, visited the ruin palace They got very close to 40 seals on the beach.Kev Attacked sheepdog. Dinner at the busy Kirkwall hotel Stayed a second night at the Albert hotel.


Saturday 10th September
Dunnet head to wick. 18 miles

6.30 walk up call left with our Breakfast boxes. Paul "I wasn't late I just thought for myself" Ferry crossing Russell and Richard unusually very quiet Conversation with skippers Orkney football club ( they lost) Drove to start of north highland way. Phil decided to avoid 4 miles road walking and followed the north highland way sign ,5 miles off road, off path . Wilson wild wacky wilderness walks the wrong way. Bambi jumping out in front of Paul and off the cliff Hanging on to cliff edges North south ,East west directions all in one day Dunnet head most Northly point of Britain mainland Russell meets Sue Norris the retired dept head Ballard John o groats lunch at the natural stone house cafe Separate table for the children to eat Quiet pretty cove beach just east of John o groats Seals and sand. Duncansby lights and the stacks Shear drops and spongy under foot Great weather and views Heading south homeward bound 1st time in 4 years Boggy coastal bath to Wick Philip saves Richard again Guard at the farm Stuart wet feet The witch of the north ,No entry under any circumstances no exception. Road waking and Spurs 4 nil against Stoke, Kev very happy. Staying in wick at Makays hotel by the river Had a great meal at he hotel thanks Carl for arranging the timings Deconstructed pie Long and longer grass Maclarien car spotted Whiskey in the bar after dinner with Carl and Hamish felt like we were part of a comedy sketch. -Robs Sunderland the timber merchant and golfer very drunk -Mandy bar lady -Jennifer and Neil the young couple doing nc500 -Mcnaughts canadians , husband and wife A baptist minister and insurance sails man. Donna receptionist Old pudney whiskey is the local dram. Ellie j wife's owner of the hotel Dave The wick hotel was a Temperance hotel long ago.


Sunday 11th September 2016
Milltown to Thrombster agreed at 18 miles.

Photo with the Harrods Teddy and also the shortest street in the world – Ebenezer Place. Photo with Ellie – owner of the hotel, Russ misbehaved. Missing Madonna on the memorial, first barbed wire fence overcome. First cup of tea of the day at Keiss corner store. 5 mile beach walk to Wick. Spontaneous stone throwing competition took place. Carl won longest throw and Hamish won stone skimming. Passed a large house – the lairds! Late lunch at the Rumbling Tums – Glynn F Sinclair, author, restaurant owner and fretting person. (Wooden sculptures). Went down to lighthouse at Noss Point and then walked to Wick, tearful goodbyes to Hamish, Russell and Phil and then walked through Wick, grey and bleak and out the other side. Late afternoon walk of barbed wire fences, bogs, wind, rain, geos and worse. Found Kev and after Richards half hour of stretching set off for Helmsdale. Fifty minute journey even with Kev driving! Arrived at Navidale House Hotel, former hunting Lodge of the Duke of Sutherland. Met by log fires and a wonderful time capsule of history. Owner of hotel called Larry, great character. Had a perfect pork roast dinner with accompaniments followed by Etonian Mess. Happy days. Forgot stone throwing competition yesterday. Carl won longest throw and Hamish won stone skimming.


Monday 12th September.
Bora to Dornoch 19.5 miles

Gulag archipelago - World War Two listening post. First railway crossing of the trip. Beach on Bora for many miles. Came across bullocks on the golf course and then further on seals on the beach - very close to them and lots of photos. Duke of Sutherlands' Castle, and then we walked to Golspie across a ford. Then to Coffee Bothy, sat outside, lovely then Rich saw a wasp so all moved inside. Saw Mr and Mrs Bates on the beach!! Weird shoes. Kev kindly picked us up and transported us round to the other side of the estuary, was a ferry but no more. Went to Embo, nearly had a coffee but didn't! Walked past the beautiful golf course, had a Tee off tee 5. Arrived to the Royal Dornoch, despatched the paupers and the rest of us went to 'At No 9' it was superb and we hd welcoming coffee, tea and cakes. Dinner at the Royal Durnoch. Very fine wines. True spoilt ramblers


Tuesday 13th September 2016
Dornoch to Shandwick Agreed 21 miles.

Walked from hotel to the A9 -don't feed the ponys Stuart -missing brown spaniel in the garden -kingfishers on the bridge -roman road straight and never ending -disused air field -walked into inver d day landings evacuated in 1943, no shops, pub opens Friday-sun -Bernies mathematical correction on mileage from Dornoch to Inverness -quad bike on the beach -trail of a thousand snails -mosquitos attack on the beach -Bernies chat with the decorators, lunch at the church hall, salad cream at last for Carl , only brown rolls -walked to ness point -Laura beauty treatment sign from Essex -sad goodbyes to Kev , Bernie handed the key ceremony -Paul speech to Kev thanking him -free range farm vending machine eggs -pics turned to Christianity stone -who lives at number 4 and a half, mermaid of the north on the beach -pride in the lawns -Dornoch cathedral visit,Andrew Carnegie reference dinner at duke of Sutherland


Wednesday 14th September 2016
Shandwick to Chanory Point, Fortrose. Mileage agreed at 17.5 miles

-pick up on time at 8.15am -Dornoch craft fair market -Carl on a sprint -Pictish stone enlisted In glass -Nigg church , stone and loft poor pews, skull and crossbones on grave -Donald Ross 108 year old man from Nigg -mystery of missing fuel and how did the van miss Carl? -ferry not working, technical issues -oil rig decommission -Paul spotted a dolphin -lunch in Fortrose , more beans and cheese -walked from Cromarty to Fortrose -vending machine with eggs -Paul H explaining extra large TV mast -Bernie mountain climbing with Carl - waterfalls at ferry glen - Jos nursery sign - dolphin watching at Chanory point with 50 people and drone


Thursday 15th September
Fortrose to Inverness 7.5 miles

- dolphins swimming library phone box £1 purchase Inverness bridge finished at Inverness FC
- airport fish and chips
- goodbyes and flights back