Log No 61. Sat 8th Jun 2013 - West of Hope to Durness, 20 miles (1036 miles walked)

I awoke to a very still day, there was no wind to rustle the tent, it was overcast and still there were no midges.

The tent came down bone dry and I got away by 07.50, I only had a mile or so to go along the side of the hill before I got to the 'almost an island' Ard Neackie and joined the main road.

The end of walking through heather and braken for a while, I've lost count of the number of ticks I've removed. I had one where I've never had one before!!

I decided I would stay on the road round the loch and eat up some miles, it's not like it's a coastline.

Three hours after setting off I was at the head of Loch Eriboll. At this rate I would be in Durness in good time.

Coming up the other side I was passing through Laid, a string of cottages along the road, when I came to a sign 'Tearoom'. It was 12 o' clock, good timing, so I stopped for a Tea and Scone. The owner of the Tearoom was from Pontefract, Yorkshire, the same place as the couple Mick & I met on the beach at Dunnet.

The sun had finally broken through and it was another fine day.

Half an hour after leaving the Tearoom I had the option of taking a track to the loch shore or continuing on the road.

I did give it serious thought but stuck to the road.

The road met the coast at the road junction to Rispond and never went far from it again.

Just as you come into Durness you come to big geo which has an impressive cave system, there are short boat trips with a guided tour of the caves.

Fifteen minutes later I saw the phone mast, right in the village, at last I had a phone signal.

Durness has a big campsite and it seemed very busy. I couldn't complain about the price as it was only £6.75 and there was a pub and restaurant right next to it.

20 easy miles today.

I got yesterday's log uploaded then went out for a meal.

It's 30 miles to Cape Wrath and then I turn the corner again and start heading south.

After today I may go 2 or 3 days without a phone signal.