Scotland, September 2014, Achmelvich Day 11

A change in the weather today with low cloud and mist, wind and rain.  This gave us an excuse for a lazy morning before heading to the flesh pots of Ullapool.  The highlight for me here was the outdoor shop which doubled as a cafe and photography gallery with  work by a couple of excellent landscape photographers on display.  The journey home was broken by a visit to a local art gallery which was very interesting.  Once back it was beer o’clock and then I set to to produce venison casserole with local venison bought at the butchers in Ullapool.

We have enjoyed a wonderful stay in the far north west of Scotland but sadly we need to move on so tomorrow it’s back across the country to the east at Rosemarkie on the Moray Firth.  Hopefully there will be dolphin photography at Chanonry Point.  We also want to explore the east coast and the weather forecast looks better.

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Ardvrek Castle and Loch Assynt

Ardvrek Castle and Loch Assynt

Ullapool Harbour

Ullapool Harbour

Ullapool Harbour

Ardmair Bay

Rough seas back at the site

The beach at Shore Camping and Caravan Site

Scotland, September 2014, Achmelvich Day 9

Another catching up with ourselves today and we spent all morning around the site.  It was dry and bright at this time but degenerated in to heavy rain later.  After lunch we called into Lochinver before driving a short way along the ‘Wee Mad Road’ to Inverkirkaig where we parked up and set off to walk up to the Kirkaig Falls.  A trip of just over two miles each way in the buy now steady rain but it was worth it.  Both the river, and particularly the falls, were spectacular.  The river flows through a steep sided gorge at this point with Suilven looming in the distance.  The river suddenly plunges over a 20m drop to cascade spectacularly into a deep, dark pool.  A ‘dry fisherman’ complained to us of the lack of water in the river but there seemed to be plenty rushing over the falls and I saw a fair sized salmon leap out of the water; majestic!  We have booked to eat at Peet’s Seafood Restaurant this evening and Langoustine is on the menu, so that’s me sorted.  Tomorrow seems to be set fair again so, hopefully, I shall get up Suilven.

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River Kirkaig

River Kirkaig

River Kirkaig

Kirkaig Falls

Kirkaig Falls

Kirkaig Falls

Kirkaig Falls

River Kirkaig

Sunset back at the site.

Scotland, September 2014, Achmelvich Day 7

A lazy day today to catch up.  We enjoyed relaxing and pottering around the site, taking a few photographs and doing some beachcombing, along with reading and taking things easy.  Later on we drove to Lochinver for a bit of shopping and then drove along Loch Assynt to Ardvrek Castle.  It was amazingly hazy and, although they were clear of cloud, the hills were just shadowy outlines.  There were some fabulous reflections in the loch though.

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Scotland, September 2014. Achmelvic, Day 5

Our first poor day for weather.  We woke to low cloud and mist with a little drizzly rain for a time.  Suilven has remained stubbornly out of sight all day.  We had a rare catching up morning before popping into Lochinver for coffee, cake and wifi at the Lochinver Larder and a visit to the post office before heading back to the van for a late lunch of soup and roll.  Not ones to sit on our backsides for long we then went for a local walk along the cliffs to the ruined water mill at Allt an Abradhan.  The views of beaches, coastal scenery and out to the Western Isles were superb as was the rare mainland example of machair that backs the beaches at this spot.  We also enjoyed watching a common seal in the bay.  What a stunning location this is.

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