Day 10 - Ullapool to Clashnessie

Thursday 9^th June

The curry was good, but there were some after effects! We left Ullapool and continued on our route but took a diversion to visit Achiltibuie and the Summer Isles. The road was a delight. We passed Loch Lurghainn below Stac Pollaidh, a mountain that has always fascinated me. The road continued on past more lochs eventually arriving at Badentarbet Bay and Achiltibuie. We stopped for a sandwich and a cuppa with a view across to the Summer Isles.

Stac Pollaidh

A lonely post box on the way to Achiltibuie

Morag and the Summer Isles

Rather than follow the road back to the NC500 route, we took another diversion along a narrow winding moorland road towards Inverkirkraig and Lochinver. More super views of the Summer Isles and some quite difficult driving.

Stac Pollaidh from another angle

Summer Isles view

Yet another view of Stac Pollaidh

At Lochinver we rejoined the official route which once again stayed near the coast. We stopped at a viewpoint near Achmelvich with superb views over the glen and the mountains. It would have made a great overnight stop but before we could set up we were invaded by Germans!

The view from our hoped for camp pitch before the Germans arrived!

We continued on to Clashnessie and stopped at the layby I was hoping to use for an overnight stop. However there was a “No Overnight Parking” sign so we moved on a little way to a lay-by beside Loch Eilleanach. We started setting up to prepare our evening meal but decided it would be nicer to have a barbecue by the beach back at Clashnessie. The barbecue was unsuccessful (the disposable BBQ just didn't get hot enough) so we had to cook our lamb leg steaks under te grill in Morag.

We returned to the lay-by beside the loch for the night. Foe the first time during the trip the midges were a real problem. They made sleeping quite difficult.

Clashnessie Beach