Fighter jets scream overhead tearing up the sky, these are friendly skies though so we are safe to walk the golden sand. It's the last day of our week in Scotland so we intend to fill it with all things Scottish. We are on Findhorn beach, the highlands makeway to forest and the forest spills on to the beach. What a beach it is!

The tide is out and in the distance a dark mass promises a glimpse of something special. Intrepid, we set out to investigate with one eye on the horizon, one on the tide. As we approach, the mass becomes a hundred or so seals gathered in groups. Mothers, pups and bulls relax on the beach, watchfull eyes assess our approach for danger. For a while we keep our distance and experience the magic of nature at its very best, eventually curiosity gets the better of us, we get a little too close for their comfort and like a stack of dominoes they cascade into the water. A dozen heads bob in the water maintaining watch whilst others knife through the surf presumably in search of the next meal, with similar thoughts we head home.

After lunch we head out for the obligatory distillery tour, I enjoy a malt (or two) so head for the Cardhu distillery, also the spiritual home (haha) of Johnnie Walker blends. The whole place, or at least the whisky making process is manned by just two people, there are more staff for the tours!

It's strange to think that the guys making this famous whisky will not be able to taste the fruits of their labour for at least 12 years! A tour is well worth doing, it's sort of a blokes thing, machines, vats, barrels and all but it does end with a tasting session and everyone (of age) can join in that.

The grain hopper at Cardhu is no longer used, however some of the malts blended into that 18 year old Johnnie Walker you are drinking were ground through it!

That's the end of a great week in Scotland, back to Inverness airport and home to the summer rain and floods!

It's a thriving metropolis, OK well for the highlands it's 1/2 dozen restaurants and pubs make this a major city especially after our 5 hour townless drive from Durness!

It's beautiful, in fact Kathy was convinced the backdrop was a film canvass painted in. When you stand on the harbour looking out it is hard to believe the view, I would try and describe it but they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are 2 thousand...

Duncraig Castle, dominates the bay. This was the subject of the BBC program 'The Dobsons of Duncraig' about the Nottinghamshire family who clubbed together to by and renovate the place.

From Durness, we head south. It's a long journey to our next stop Plockton but first a walk on the beach. Rocky coves, perfect sand and mountains for a backdrop, even the water is a crystal clear turquoise, these beaches rival any in the world! It's a shame summer is just a few short weeks.
On our long road south we pass through Ullapool, along the beautiful Loch Broom and on a whim follow signs for a waterfall.
There are a dozen of us on this narrow suspension bridge and it's swinging & swaying just a little too much for comfort. The water pounds the rock 190 feet below us carving this chasm ever deeper and the roar of the water echoing around the Corrieshalloch Gorge adds to the drama. The chasm is so narrow and the trees so thick that the bridge, or more to the point the drop takes you by surprise, you're on it before you realise.This was the point Kathy's vertigo kicked in, it was also the point at which she broke into a panicked run and in a strange run of coincidences it was also the point the bridge started to swing! Kathy makes it to safety while we all hang on and exchange nervous glances.

After a short walk in the forest we head back to the car, Kathy has to face the bridge again this time at a fast walk!

We continue south through more mountains, lochs, glens and rivers. Each valley has its own weather, atmospheric skies one sunshine the next!

Once again global warming is on our side, our first 24 hours on Loch Ness have been glorious, our first couple of nights are in a loch side B&B on the south bank in Dores.

The place is great and the views are spectacular.


Dores is in a state of shock, this tiny village (one pub, one post office & a dozen or so B&Bs) has just hosted Rock Ness. Thirtythree thousand revellers have just snuck out like a drunken one night stand leaving sleepy Dores to clean up the mess! We leave them to it & head out in search of Nessie.

First stop is Foyers and a walk through the forested valley side, well maintained paths lead us to various 'waterfall viewing points' but in truth the magnificent Victoria Falls is still fresh in our memories and as nice as this is it just can't compete. St Augustus at the lake's south west end is picturesque, has Scotland's largest canal vertical drop through 6 consecutive locks and unless you feel the need for a pub lunch shared with hoards of coach parties is not worth the stop. We head round the north shore in search of a quiter spot and take an hours boat trip taking in Urquhart Castle and fine views all round.

Finally a walk out from the B&B past the pub and along the loch's only beach, this certainly is a beautiful area and once again we have brought the sunny weather with us. Another great meal in the Dores Inn topped off the day nicely, tomorrow we head another 100 miles further north to Durness which means the sunset will be even later than the 11pm it is here!