[This walk was completed on Thursday 15th May, 2025]

I was really looked forward to walking over Kessock Bridge. I’d driven over it several times on my way back and forth to the north Highlands, and I’d cycled over this morning. So, walking the bridge – taking my time and looking at the views – was going to be a treat.

But, the reality turns out to be deeply disappointing.

The sun shines bright in my eyes. I am tired and grumpy after road-walking, and the traffic is even noisier than normal. The roar of engines seems to bounce off the metal structures of the bridge. My feet were already hurting… now my ears are hurting too.

The railings are very high. In fact, I must stand on tiptoes to see over the top bar and take photographs of the view. Here is the view from the beginning of the bridge, after I’d walked up the flyover and over a football stadium.

Further along the bridge, I stop and stand on tiptoes again to take a photo over the Moray Firth. Alturlie Point and the mysterious Fort George are in the distance.

But, for most of the walk, this is my view. With the sun shining into my eyes – and into the camera -my photographs are poor quality.

I have the impression I am continually going uphill. This might be an optical illusion, or the northern end of the bridge might be higher than the southern end. I don’t know.

As I near the end of the bridge, I stop to take a photo of the shore looking towards Kilmuir. That is where I walked yesterday with the tide high.

On the other side of the bridge is the view over Inverness. I would like to cross over, but there are barriers and the traffic is too dangerous. I take a photograph – snapped during a rare gap in the traffic. Not the best side of Inverness, I’m sure.

There is a Samaritan’s sign pinned to the railings. “TALK TO US if things are getting to you.”

I guess one of the reasons the railings are inconveniently high might be to deter jumpers. How sad that people want to end their lives. Despite all the drama that has happened to me in the past few years – my marriage ending, my cancer diagnosis, the discovery that my beloved youngest daughter has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer – I have never once wanted to end my life prematurely.

Finally, I reach the end of the bridge. The afternoon sun in my eyes is bright and dazzling.

According to my map, there is a footpath down to the shore on my left. But, in fact, it is closed and there is a diversion that takes me off to the right instead. Luckily, I knew this diversion was here – because I cycled this way this morning – so I am expecting it.

I walk down a quiet lane. The view is lovely, and it is good to get away from the traffic. But I really resent the extra distance the diversion adds to my walk. I’m really tired today!

Is my tiredness the hay fever tablet I took last night, or the effects of my increasing age, or the lingering effects of the awful chemotherapy that I endured a couple of years ago? I don’t know. But gone are the days when I could easily walk 12-14 miles without thinking about it.

The road swings down under the bridge. Actually, I prefer this view of the bridge!

Down on the shore, a fisherman is standing thigh-deep in the water. I stop to take a photograph and – just at that moment – he casts his line. So, quite by accident, I capture a great shot of the line spinning out as a pale thread against the blue water.

From here, I take another photo looking back at the bridge. Ah, this is its BEST side. A beautiful bridge really, even if I didn’t enjoy walking across it.

Two minutes later, and I am back in my van. Tomorrow is my last day of walking for this trip – and, although I have had a wonderful time, I am beginning to look forward to going home.

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Miles walked today = 7.5 miles

Total around coast = 5,258.5 miles

Route today (previous post’s route in black, this post in red)

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