508a Forss to Scrabster

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Saturday 20th May, 2023]

I cycle back to the crossroads in Forss (may the Force be with you) and dodge the noisy birds in the rookery. Make sure I leave my bike where it won’t get pooped upon.

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507b Forss to Crosskirk

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Friday the 19th May, 2023]

Forss turns out to be an oasis of trees – a welcome change after the tree-less agricultural land I’ve just walked through. It even has a pretty river.

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507a Reay to Forss

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Friday the 19th May, 2023]

Here I am in Reay, back at the Bridge of Isauld, and I am surprised to note there really is a bridge here. Somehow, I missed seeing it yesterday – although I must have crossed it.

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406b Sandside Bay

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Thursday the 18th May, 2023]

The sides of the cliffs are covered in flowers – thrift, daisies, tiny violets – flowers everywhere. I spend a long time on Sandside Head, taking photographs of the view, including this photo of the beautiful (and empty) beach at Sandside Bay.

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506a Reay and Sandside Head

Posted on May 6, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Thursday 18th May, 2023]

I cycle back to the parking layby overlooking the old Dounreay power station. It’s an uphill battle and a wearying ride, even though my Scooty bike is electric. You still have to pedal on an ebike, and I’m battling against both the slope and the wind!

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505b Melvich to nearly Reay

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 17th May, 2023]

I could walk back to the A836, and then walk along the main road towards Reay. But, my map indicates a path leading off to my left, which runs parallel with the road for some distance, before joining it. Here is the start.

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505a Melvich via Portskerra

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Wednesday 17th May, 2023]

I wasn’t expecting much today, just lots of road walking again. But it turned into a fabulous day of adventures.

After chaining up my bike behind the public toilets opposite the Melvich Hotel, I walk down the little road towards a place called Portskerra.

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504b Strathy Bay to Melvich

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 16th May, 2023]

Strathy Bay beach is beautiful. It doesn’t look very large on the map, but the feeling of space and light is almost overwhelming. I walk down the sand towards the waves, feeling the coldness of the sea as the wind carries spray towards me.

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504a Strathy Point to Strathy Bay

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 16th May 2023]

I’m on my way to Strathy Point and the lighthouse. It’s a deceptively sunny day, because the landscape is raked by a freezing wind.

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503b Armadale Bay to Strathy

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on Monday, the 15th May 2023]

I’m back at the car park above Armadale Bay, locking up my bike, pulling on my rucksack, and about to set off for the second part of today’s walk. First, I stop to breathe in the delicious scent of gorse, and to look at the view. Beautiful.

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