Herb Riddle's photos

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.

Our virtual journey up the NC500 continues north along Loch Assynt. A view of the ruined Castle of Ardvreck here. Ardvreck is famous as the place where the royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was handed over in 1650 to the Covenanter forces by MacLeod, Laird of Assynt after the Battle of Carbisdale. Clan Mackenzie attacked and captured Ardvreck Castle in 1672, and then took control of the Assynt lands. 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.

Still on this NC500 route and up at the bone Caves, we see a heard of deer with this timid fawn keeping an eye on us as we clamber to the four caves. 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 continue north on this virtual NC500 route we come across these. "The Bone Caves are a series of natural caves set into a high limestone cliff called Creag nan Uamh (Crag of the Caves). The caves are named for the large numbers of animal bones found during excavations. There are four main cave openings in the cliffs, formed before the last ice age by water dissolving limestone in cracks in the surrounding rock. Subsequent glacial action and erosion of the glen by water left the caves hundreds of feet above the valley floor." PiP. 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 safe seat here with the fence too. This is where we would await our private yacht delivering us to and from the nearby castle. PiP One for the Happy Bench Monday group too –maybe :) Have a good weekend.

Looking back south on the A835 we see here how the road winds between the countryside with splendid views. From here we head up towards the ‘Bone Caves’ and Loch Assnt. 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.

Travelling the A835 between Ullapool and Lochinver one cannot be but awed by the stunning landscapes showing us the Lochs and mountains of Assynt. Here ware are near Drumrunie looking west towards this wonderful mountain. ‘Stac Pollaidh at 612 metres, is one of the best known and most popular mountains in Scotland, its steep pinnacled ridge often likened to a porcupine. The true summit is at the west end; although most of the difficulties on the ridge can be avoided, there is a final sting in the tail in the shape of a very short but difficult and exposed scramble up the final tower. This has to be reversed on the descent, making the actual summit perhaps the most technically difficult to reach on the British mainland. It is harder than the summit block the Cobbler, and many non-baggers will give it a miss.’. www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fionas/stac-pollaidh 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. Best full screen

A short walk from the Durinish railway halt towards the sea we come to this most wonderful spot. We are looking over the waters of the ‘Inner Sound’ towards the Applecross Peninsular. The light brown rowing boat was a real bonus for me. Hopefully for you too. Best full screen Enjoy the day.

Another from Ullapool looking up Loch Broom. As I am doing this virtual tour clockwise (whilst Roger does it anti-clockwise) from here we travel north to and through Assynt. 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.

2021. Ullapool Ferry terminal. The main crossing to the Hebridean Island of Harris. A real tourist hot spot here as a place to rest for a few days on the NC500 route. A large campsite caters for those enthusiast. The town itself sits on the north east side of its most wonderful Loch Broom. 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. Many tourist cut short their NC500 tour by driving straight to or from Ullapool from Inverness leaving out the Applecross and Torridon stages.

1989 and we have arrived at Loch Broom, the big sea loch on which its famous small town of Ullapool sits, an important stop-off point for this North Coast 500 tour. We are at the eastern end here with Ullapool the white line in the far distance. 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 am doing this virtual road trip clockwise as our Ipernity friend Roger does it anti-clockwise. We are hoping to meet up in Durness.

Somebodies view on VR and AI too perhaps. In reality I can live with both VR and AI as places to explore. Hope you enjoy this mix between a friendly snowman and a scary ghoul. Taken on the banks of The Rochdale Canal not too far from my home. Enjoy the day.

Gairloch 1989. A slide. Gairloch is one of the principal villages on the North coast 500 route. This view taken over Loch Gairloch looking south. This is the view from the Gairloch beach looking over to Charlestown and much further to the mountains of Skye taken with my Canon long lens. 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.

Seen just south of the village of Plockton. Best full screen Enjoy the day.

Shieldaig on the edge of the Applecross peninsular is about 10 miles NE of Applecross village as the crow flies but almost 20 miles by road. Situated on Loch Torridon. Described as one of the most picturesque villages in the Highlands . We are going north from here via the A832 towards the village of Torridon and then via Kinlochewe and Gairloch to Ullapool our next port of call. A 1993 slide. 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.

From this location, just south of Applecross village we can get some great sunsets. It is almost silent except for the calling of seabirds. A 1993 slide. 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 Lochalsh view here taken from within the Plock of Kyle, looking north towards the Isle of Skye. Enjoy full screen. HBM, enjoy the week.

Another look across to Skye from Camusterrach, Applecross. The white house was our home for a week. See adjacent photo for details of the area. A 1993 slide. 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. NB the village of Plockton is just 10 miles south of here -as the crow flies!