Herb Riddle's photos

At last we reach our next stopover destination here at the small village of Dunnet with a big sandy bay, seen here on arrival in the sea fret. A very interesting week of adventures awaits us. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

As out tour continues, we visit the old town of Thurso and we are regaled by the towns Highland band. (Or perhaps a visiting band?) Not only did we have pipes and drums but a very nice display of Highland dancing too. The real flavour of Scotland here as they march and play 'Scotland the brave'. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Thurso has some wonderful headland cliffs on what is called Holborn Head. Populated by nesting seabirds it has some dizzying views. Its quite funny to see this fence jutting out over the cliff -maybe to stop birds from flying to the wrong cliffs :) The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

A short walk along Thurso's Scrabster harbour brings us to this splendid lighthouse. Just around the bay from Thurso on the western headland of Scrabster is Holburn Head Lighthouse. Close by in the harbour, ferries run from Scrabster to Stromness in Orkney. Another David & Thomas Stevenson design. A light was first exhibited at Holburn Head on 1st September 1862, displaying a flashing white light towards the Pentland Firth and Thurso Bay. A red light sector shone towards Scrabster Roadstead. Discontinued in 2003. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

...and so we arrive on the North East section of the NC500. We are at Thurso's Scrabster Harbour - one of the top fishing harbours of Scotland and an established gateway to the North of Scotland. It is a recognised cruise port with a modern ferry terminal and used for the fishing, oil and gas industry too. It is the Scottish mainland's most northerly port and has a varied history. The origins of Scrabster date back to the age of the Vikings. Its natural harbour was perfect for their longships, and the seafaring Norsemen frequently landed here in the 11th century. From here we were to sail to the Orkney Islands. (However that is really not for this NC500 Grand Tour.) The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Driving up the west back of the Tongue we arrive at the charming hamlet of Talmine. We are looking east towards Modary but the foreground may well be the 'Rabbit Islands' From here we have an almost unbroken drive of c50 miles towards Scrabster and Dunnet on the east side of top of Scotland along the same A836. Our Ipernity friend Roger will have filled in many of the gaps that I did not have time to see along that path. See our NC500 group. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Looking down the Kyle of Tongue as we head for the hamlet of Talmine. We see another view of the Ben Loyal on the left with a little of Ben Hope on the right side. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

A short distance from the Kyle of Tonge crossing towards the village of Tongue stands Castle Varrich. It is a crumbling old tower house of the Mackays, in a beautiful rugged spot, near Tongue in Sutherland . The castle's precise origins and age are unknown. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Another view of ben Loyal with now a section of the Kyle causeway crossing is seen too. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Rolling across the top of Scotland our route crosses the Kyle of Tongue via a combined bridge and causeway. Looking south down the Kyle from the end of the crossing we see the majestic outline of Ben Loyal described as an isolated mountain of 764 m in Sutherland. For us, I could have wished for better weather for my take but I was just happy that I could see it anyway. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Having left Durness and its locality we head east to the Kyle of Tongue. On the way we see remnants of its history and gaze at the mountainous backdrop of Ben Loyal, a Corbett of 764m. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

A short skip from Durness sits hidden away, the very impressive Smoo Cave. It has a combination of sea water and fresh water here. You see the starting point for a marvellous little underground tour consisting of a little walking and a small dingy/boat ride with a most proficient and enjoyable guide (at least in 2014 (˚◡˚) .) through the caverns and then to the Lake chamber. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Before we head east from Durness, we get to sample the golden deserted beach of Balnakei Bay again. This is my answer to 'Why do you visit Scotland ?" The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Our home for a week here at the Durness camp site of Sango Sands overlooking Durness Beach as seen on my previous photo. This is the type of accommodation used by probably the majority of North Coast 500 explorers. Our home was the first on the right here. From here we are only a short walk to the famous Smoo cave. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Half way around the NC500 route for me and I am here at the most north westerly village on the Scottish mainland boasting spectacular scenery with a rocky coastline, pristine beaches and turquoise waters. This is my agreed virtual meeting point with our Ipernity friend Roger (Grisly) before we venture further along this route. Roger antic-clockwise, now travelling south via the west coast and me, travelling first eastwards along the entire northern top of Scotland and then south via the east coast meeting again at our start point Inverness. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Just as we approach Durness we visit Balnakei Bay here at sunset. This spot is quite famous for its glorious sunsets as you might imagine. However we were to sample its wonderful golden sands and beach walks too whilst up here for a week. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

We are here at the most north-westerly point in Great Britain. A small ferry ride then a rather rough drive over the wild countryside used as a military training area. Here we are greeted with a misty scene rising from the Atlantic Ocean to the famous lighthouse. The cape is separated from the rest of the mainland by the Kyle of Durness and consists of 107 square miles of moorland wilderness known as the Parph. Wikipedia Another Robert Stevenson designed lighthouse, established in 1828. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

I don’t think so. Another here that conveys to us the peace of the Scottish west coast. Best full screen Enjoy the day.