Log No 49. Sun 26th May 2013 - Golspie to Helmsdale, 19 miles (837 miles walked)

There was not much sun forecast today but it was to be dry and we set off from Golspie at 09.00 taking the track along the shore to Dunrobin Castle.

The weather this year has delayed the growing season but at last the Bluebells were out and provided a colourful carpet to walk through as we continued through the woods at the castle to get onto the beach.

We had been told to look out for the seals by Spoutie Burn and sure enough there they were.

These seals were in no hurry to dash back into the water and we were able to get within 20 metres of them.

We came off the sand just before we got to Brora as it became more stony and took to the grassy path getting to the picnic site in time for our 2 hourly break.

I had started off in shorts but with no sun the wind was just a bit too cool and so I put the legs back on,

There was no coastal path shown on the map north of Brora but the land was for the most low lying so hopefully it wouldn't be a problem.

It was a good sandy beach to start with and we passed a colony of noisy terns. The tide was high so there wasn't much beach and after a while the sand was covered with stones and then it was rock.

Not wanting to aggravate Mick's knee we walked alongside the railway line for a bit before crossing it to get onto the A9, it is not a busy line as only one train runs on a Sunday.

We didn't stay long on the road preferring to walk through the empty fields, with the ground sloping down towards the railway line we were soon forced back across the line into a field of cows. They paid us no attention and we followed a grassy track until we came up against the River Loth.

It was probably not too deep to wade through it nearer the sea but I decided it was easier to climb back up onto the railway track and use the bridge to get over.

There was no problem and we found another grassy track over Lothbeg Point, we were surprised to see so many caravans scattered all over, a lot of them were semi permanent being tied down against the wind.

Coming down off the Point we were soon able to get back onto the sand but only for a mile before it was back to stones and rock. Most of the outcropping rocks around here looked to be very jagged but when we got closer realised it was Cormorants sat on the rock.

The railway line was very close to the shore and there was a reasonable grass path which saw us to Portgower.

Crossing the railway for the final time we walked into Helmsdale along the road, arriving at 16.00.

Lawrence came to pick us up for our last night at their house, that will be the end of real food as it is back to basics for the next week - noodles or rice with a tin of some kind of meat.

We have been well looked after for these last 2 days and can't thank Jane & Lawrence enough for their hospitality.