NC 500 2017 - Day 7 - Keiss to Dornoch
Friday 7th July 2017
Keiss to Dornoch
Route
A grey morning with a chilly breeze gave an autumnal feel but the overnight rain had stopped.
Our first stop was an accidental find. A deserted cliff top parking spot at Sarclet, where a grassy path led down to a natural pebble beach and a safe haven for the herring boats. A rusty winch a reminder of the past.
Our intended stop was a few miles further down the coast at the Whaligoe Steps. Here 365 stone steps wind their way down to the beach and a man made platform called the bink where the women gutted and smoked herring so that it could be collected by schooner.
We spent a good while bird watching here, Razorbills and cormorants being the main stars today with a few puffins on the far cliff.
Lybster was our next stop, still a working harbour but not as busy as it's heyday when it was the third biggest fishing port on the East coast of Scotland.
The waterlines visitor centre had some very interesting displays and also did an excellent crab roll.
In contrast we were disappointed with the harbour at Helmsdale so we didn't linger.
We finally made it to a whisky distillery at Clynelish and after a tasting of their signature single malt decided to buy a bottle.
Dornoch Castle Hotel is our final stop on the NC 500, we check in before exploring the town and the fine stained glass windows in the cathedral.
We walked to the beach and shuddered at the spot where the last witch in Scotland was rolled in tar, placed in a barrel and burnt alive!
After dinner we went on a town trail which highlighted other points of interest and a walk in the woods.
This is almost the end of this epic road journey which has been superb.
Keiss to Dornoch
Route
A grey morning with a chilly breeze gave an autumnal feel but the overnight rain had stopped.
Our first stop was an accidental find. A deserted cliff top parking spot at Sarclet, where a grassy path led down to a natural pebble beach and a safe haven for the herring boats. A rusty winch a reminder of the past.
Our intended stop was a few miles further down the coast at the Whaligoe Steps. Here 365 stone steps wind their way down to the beach and a man made platform called the bink where the women gutted and smoked herring so that it could be collected by schooner.
We spent a good while bird watching here, Razorbills and cormorants being the main stars today with a few puffins on the far cliff.
Lybster was our next stop, still a working harbour but not as busy as it's heyday when it was the third biggest fishing port on the East coast of Scotland.
The waterlines visitor centre had some very interesting displays and also did an excellent crab roll.
In contrast we were disappointed with the harbour at Helmsdale so we didn't linger.
We finally made it to a whisky distillery at Clynelish and after a tasting of their signature single malt decided to buy a bottle.
Dornoch Castle Hotel is our final stop on the NC 500, we check in before exploring the town and the fine stained glass windows in the cathedral.
We walked to the beach and shuddered at the spot where the last witch in Scotland was rolled in tar, placed in a barrel and burnt alive!
After dinner we went on a town trail which highlighted other points of interest and a walk in the woods.
This is almost the end of this epic road journey which has been superb.
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