DAY 55
SATURDAY 14TH MAY, 2011
CAPE WRATH TO BLAIRMORE – 14 MILES 6 HOURS
MORRIS, DEREK, KEITH, GARRY, JAMES, PHIL, ALAN AND STEWART
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 841 MILES
After breakfast we loaded our vehicles and said our farewells to Francis and the staff at the excellent and friendly Smoo Cave Hotel and Morven B&B. We would highly recommend both to everyone. We dropped a car at Blairmore and returned in the minibus to the ferry where by arrangement John was waiting on us at 0930. After crossing we took the minibus to Cape Wrath Lighthouse and again enjoyed tea and cake in the cafe before we set off. Making our way from the lighthouse to the cliff tops we followed sheep tracks passed Am Bodach and on to Geodha Ruadh na Fola having been forced inland twice to cross severe gullies. From here we got our first views of Sandwood Bay. To avoid further difficulties ahead we took a route through the valley between Sithean-na h-lolaireich and Cnoc a’ Ghuibhais and round a gully running in from the Bay of Keisgaig. From here we were able to walk on the cliff tops passed Geodha Ruadh before dropping down on to Sandwood Bay. The magnificent golden sands and crashing waves made the British mainland’s remotest beach spectacular. We walked out of Sandwood Bay over the dunes picking up the path then vehicle track to the car park at Blairmore. After retrieving the minibus we spent a very enjoyable afternoon and evening in the lovely Kinlochbervie Hotel.
Summary; Another excellent walk to end the week and start the challenge of the west coast. A mixture of walking conditions and again we made good use of the sheep tracks.
Highs; Fantastic sands and sea at the beautiful Sandwood Bay
Lows; The end of a great weeks walking.
Summary of week; We walked 117miles in the seven days which proved quite challenging, we were rewarded with amazing coastal scenery , beautiful immaculate beaches, breathtaking cliff tops not to mention the otters and other wildlife we were priviledged to see. All our accommodations were welcoming, provided clean comfortable rooms and good food and we have no hesitation in recommending them. We also met many lovely helpful people and one or two not so helpful. Our Thanks go to Angela and Jim at the Tigh-Nan-Ubhal Guest house in Tongue, Francis and staff at Smoo Cave hotel, Morag and her husband at Morven B&B in Durness, staff at Kinlochbervie Hotel and John the Cape Wrath ferryman for helping to make our week so enjoyable and one we won’t forget.
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- The excellent Smoo Cave hotel at Durness
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- Enjoying a cuppa and home baking at the Cape Wrath lighthouse tea room
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- Ready to set off on the first leg of the west coast
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- Making our way south from Cape Wrath lighthouse
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- One of the deep sea gulleys near Dunan Beag
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- The cliffs near Geodha Ruadh na Fola
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- Looking back north from near Bay of Keasgaig
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- Making our way on sheep tracks near Geodha Ruadh na Fola
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- Looking ahead to Sandwood Bay
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- The amazing sands of Sandwood Bay
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- Sandwood Bay
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- Morris on the beach at Sandwood Bay
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- Stewart striding out on Sandwood Bay with the waves rolling in
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- Dunes at Sandwood Bay
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- Making our way off Sandwood Bay
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- Looking back to Sandwood Bay from the dirt track road to Blairmore
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- Sandwood Loch
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- The road from Sandwood Bay to Blairmore
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 55 ROUTE MAP