NC500 2017 - Day 3 - Inverness to Gairloch

Monday 3rd July 2017

Inverness to Gairloch

Route

An early start today, we are driving from the East coast to the West coast across the infamous Bealach Na Ba which rises to a height of 2053ft.

Our first stop was at Rogie Falls where we had a very pleasant woodland stroll to the waterfall.


We had good driving conditions, the roads were mostly dry with good visibility. The car coped admirably with the 1:5 gradient and by midday we were on the top of the pass, where we stopped for a very blowy photo opportunity.


It seemed easier going down the other side and we were soon in Applecross where we had excellent fish and chips and ice cream for lunch.


Our next stop was 5 km  further round the peninsula at Sand Bay, we decided against a paddle due to the amount of Jellyfish stranded on the beach waiting for the tide to come back in.


Our hotel the Shieldaig Lodge is a renovated shooting lodge situated on the shore of Gairloch.


We decided to make the most of the fair weather and go for a local walk to the crash site of a World War II Liberator plane which crashed on it's homeward journey to the USA killing all on board in June 1945. It was very poignant seeing the shards of the aluminium fuselage strewn in the boggy ground and a propeller blade protruding from the surface of the still Fairie Loch.



Back to the hotel for a quick change before dinner.

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