Herb Riddle's photos

An eight mile return hike along a bleak moorland track is amply rewarded when the fabulous views of Sandwood Bay comes into view, perhaps the most beautiful beach in Britain. If you thought Oldshoremore beach was remote then you have not seen anything till you get here! In the distance we see Am Buachaille, a sea stack composed of Torridonian Sandstone.It is 65 metres (213 feet) high and was first climbed in 1968. - Yes the footprints in the sand are my wife's and mine. 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.

HFF from this wonderful area of North West Scotland. We are here just north of Kinlochbervie overlooking the wonderful Oldshoremoor beach. Said to be one of the remotest beaches in the UK. Judging from the amount of tourist here in June, I can vouch for that too after a long drive and hike. 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.

Detouring of the main Northern NC500 road ( A838) we head up to the beautiful Oldshoremore area and its wonderful Sandwood Bay, passing through the village of Kinlochbervie. Described as a crofting community, with a huge fish-processing plant with a modern concrete harbour shown here (without the bad bits :) ) Of course the reflections did it for me here. 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.

Standing high on Handa's northern cliffs we see a small smattering of its thousands of seabirds on this worn down sea-stack. Around the corner we will see puffins and close-ups of guillemots and razorbills. Described as a stunning wildlife reserve at the north of Scotland. With dramatic cliff views and 100000 breeding seabirds including internationally important numbers of guillemots, razorbills and even puffins to watch with dramatic cliff views. The Island is 760 acres in size. 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 breakwater or small pier here for todays HWW offering from way back in 2021. A slight detour from our road as we begin a visit to the wildlife reserve of Handa Island. Here we are still on the mainland at the hamlet of Tarbet and this is the staging area for our short crossing to the Island with our cruise liner shown here :) 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. Have a good day

Welcome to the Kylesku Bridge. Quite a wonderful structure, known as a box-girder bridge with its elegant curve that unfortunately I miss on here :) “It was opened in 1984 by our Queen Elizabeth. In 2019, the bridge was classified by Historic Environment Scotland as a Category A structure, recognising it as "visually striking and technically innovative". The bridge crosses water which is approximately 120 metres (390 ft) wide and up to 25 metres (82 ft) deep, leading to fast tidal currents. It replaced the ferry between Kylesku and Kylestrome, which was 400 metres to the east. The bridge is designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding country, and the approaches were chosen to minimise changes to the landscape.” Wiki 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 we regain the A894 we have a chance to look back over the magnificent landscape here and see the giant Suilven against the horizon. A mountain that beckoned us again and again whilst in Assynt. 'Suilven may be only 731 metres high, but its remarkable outline make it one of Scotland's best known and most easily identified mountains. Lying in a remote area in the west of Sutherland, it rises from a wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs and lochans known as Inverpolly National Nature Reserve. Suilven forms a steep-sided ridge some two kilometres in length.' Wikipedia & Walkhighlands 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 we now regain the route we head east for a time towards the small village of Nedd and through the small crofting hamlet of Drumbeg with its viewpoint over Eddrachillis Bay. Deserving more more time here than we are affording it. 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 have now arrived on the headland known as the ‘Point of Stoer’. It is home to the Stoer Lighthouse and this wonderful stack, called ‘The Old Man of Stoer’, a very popular climbing goal. 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 like its neighbour Achmelvich, Clachtoll has the most beautiful beaches. The rocks on the right are called 'The split Rocks". From here we continue north along the B869 towards Stoer. 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.

The most beautiful sands of Achmelvich Bay and yes, the sand was as soft under our bare feet as it looks! We are steadily heading north on the B869 scenic route before we rejoin the NC500 A894 road again. 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.

Once you have got to Lochinver it is only a short drive west to the lovely hamlet of Inverkirkaig. Not only great views up the sea-loch but also a wonderful waterfall to hand (Falls of Kirkaig). PiPs 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.

Lets face it, there are not many seats with an outlook like this has. To slowly watch the flow and ebb of the tide here and listen to the small plops and splashes in the water is the thing that dreams are made off. I at first thought the blue rope was to stop somebody taking the seat away and then realised that the sea must sometimes get to the bench and might wash it away and hence the need for a tie-down. The far mountains would be the Cuillins of the Isle of Skye. The PiP show the view from here too. Enjoy full screen. HBM, enjoy the week.

We have now reached Lochinver, a village at the head of the sea loch Loch Inver, on the coast in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland. A fishing port frequented by European fishermen primarily from Spain and France. In 2020 it was the fourth largest whitefish port. We were actually staying in the nearby village of Inverkirkaig. The new fishing harbour is in the distant right. 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.

Three young geese (not quite goslings) attempt to cross this road and look, they are not paying proper attention to the ‘Green Cross Code’. Oh dear! Best full screen Enjoy the day.

Loch Leitir Easaidh (Little Assynt) After a visit to Ardvreck Castle we decide to take a walk in an area called Little Assynt, located just a few km north of the castle. A wonderful stroll past beautiful lochans full of small islands that looked inviting even in our worsening weather. This is a relatively small loch at only 2km at its maximum length and 4 metres deep. The hut to the right is a natural WC and the hut on the left just a seated shelter. 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 Port-an-Eorna in North West Scotland. The small row-boat is our centre of interest here, maybe a spot of fishing or just a photo shoot for otters is in order. PiP Enjoy full screen.

Loch Assynt can be a broody place and it is difficult to think that a whole community lived in the Castle of Ardvreck here just behind me. (PiP) . This spot must have been a safe mooring place for the fishing boats that would have been a necessity here. Loch Assynt is a freshwater loch in Sutherland, Scotland, 8 kilometres east of Lochinver. The famous North Coast 500 road is across the water where you can see the white vehicle. 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.