What a glorious day! There was blue sky and sunshine from the moment we got out of bed and the forecast promised more of the same with cloudy periods. Armed with that knowledge we made plans to get out and about while the weather held as by all accounts Lochinver has had little enough fine weather over the summer. Perhaps we have been lucky (or perhaps we bring the sun with us!). With several options available we decided to take a trip into Ullapool as Alex was ...

After two days of fairly strenuous hiking we decided to have a rest day with no plans to don either backpacks or hiking boots. The day started out overcast with light rain falling but as the morning progressed it brightened to patchy cloud and blue skies. Finally stirring ourselves around mid-morning we took a short trip out to Inverkirkaig to visit the bookstore and coffee shop there. Following another narrow and twisting single-track road, this time heading so...

This morning I saw a deer outside my bedroom window; not a small one as I once saw in the garden at Aberfeldy but a big deer with impressive antlers moving with a quiet grace into the thicket at the side of the house. For a moment I was spellbound, surprised at seeing the unexpected within a few feet of where I stood watching, and amazed that a wild animal would approach so close to town. Intrigued, I went outside and followed the path it had taken but the deer h...

It was a simple goal really. Complete the River Inver Loop, a short hike of 6km circling the village of Lochinver. We saw the signpost pointing up the road towards Glencanisp Lodge and set out for a pleasant afternoon hike. The road to the Lodge was clear to follow and we happily strode along hilly stretches alternating with flat admiring the views of Suilven and Canisp ahead. We soon reached the lodge passing signs of "Walkers welcome" and we followed a woode...

Today we departed Lower Towie Steading just outside of Drummuir to cross to the west coast and our next destination of Lochinver in Sutherland. With rain threatening we headed for Inverness to pick up supplies for the coming week and fill up with fuel as there are no major centres close to Lochinver. As we didn't need to be at our next self-catering rental until 4pm there was no rush so we spent a leisurely time looking around the giant Tesco Extra at the Invern...