Saturday’s Mileage: 92
Total Mileage: 2055
On the Car Stereo:
Live Radio: BBC Radio Scotland: Shereen Nanjiani
BBC Sounds: BBC Proms – Beethoven’s Eroica (BBC Radio 3)
Kirkwall to Lairg
Back to the Highlands of Scotland yesterday to start my journey South, which will take a few days.
After the ferry arrived in Scrabster at lunch time I opted for the scenic route to Lairg; I drove part of the North Coast 500 then took an inland route, which meant 40 miles of single track road, with frequent passing places.
There was very little traffic – more sheep and cyclists than anything else – and a fair few stopping points for photo opportunities.
Why Lairg as an overnight stop? This area of Scotland was made famous not only because of the NC500 driving route – but also because of The Grand Tour; Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May drove the A836 which goes from Glenmorangie up to Laxford Bridge.
This was their version of the NC500. Their route was named the “Piloting Extremely Nicely In Scotland….287 – which shortens to the PENIS287. So when I get on the road this morning I’ll be driving a small section of the PENIS287.
After that I’ll hit the A9 which I’ll stay on until I get to Perth; at the the top end of the UK’s most Northern motorway (the M90). But it is only 1 junction of the M90 before I’m back on A roads and in to Fife, where I’ll be stopping on the coast for my last night in Scotland.
Photos below.
FH.
