Log No 71. Tue 18th Jun 2013 - Lochinver to Rubha na Coigeach (headland), 20 miles (1183 miles walked)

There were no midges about this morning which was unusual as there was no wind so I was able to pack up in peace. No sun but still warm.

It was eerily silent as I set off walking along the road at 08.00, there was no traffic, no sound or any activity at any of the houses I passed, even the birds were quiet.

At Inverkirkaig I decided against walking the coast and continued on the road to the next bay.

There was a footpath shown on the map to get to Inverpolly Lodge but there was no signpost and I couldn't identify the start. As it was steep and tree covered I made no attempt to find it.

So it was a few miles of road walking but with hardly any traffic it was just like being on a footpath. The scenery is certainly attractive.

My next opportunity to get back on the coast was just before Achnahaird but when I saw the deer fences and new forestry plantation on the east side of the headland I didn't bother.

When I got to see the west side it looked okay so I maybe could have got round without too much hassle.

I walked through Achnahaird and took the road, it was more like a track, to the car park at the coast.

There were no trees so I was going round this headland, it was too big not to.

It was 13.30 and it came on rain, it had been threatening to for the last hour.

There was no path shown on the map but there was a trail and occasional boot prints under the sheep prints so the going was quite easy.

The rain stopped after an hour and another hour after that, when I was at the top of the headland, I decided to stop.

I know it was early but I had covered 20 miles and I was a long way off the next campsite.

I pitched next to a water source, one of the many lochans on this headland, so if I had to, Andrew, I could easily submerse my roll mat to identify the leak but it is holding air okay at the moment.

The pitch is exposed with plenty of wind so I don't expect to be bothered with midges.