Ben Wyvis

Looking west from near the summit, Ben Wyvis views.

This is a spectacular place!














Of course getting there isn't a lot of fun!

It starts with an easy amble through a forest but you just know it's going to get unpleasant.

Another gorgeous day?

This is the sun setting in the west. Was this another gorgeous day? To be honest I can't remember. Summer only happened this year in April, which isn't typical.

The rest of the summer - May, June, July and August - has been horrible. Low grey skies, wind and rain. We keep hoping for an Indian Summer but there's no sign of it yet.

The Hills of Sutherland

There really isn't anything quite like walking the hills of Sutherland. It's not the height, it's the light. It's the quiet and the isolation.

This picture is just one of the views, looking north west from Ben Klibreck. They almost make the walk worthwhile.

Don't listen to the guys who suggest this is a stroll. Don't follow the route suggested by them. Start at the Crask Inn and be prepared to turn round at any time.

Is Dornoch Paradise?

Lots of people think so. One of the finest, and fun, golf courses in the world sits between the town and 5 miles of golden sand beach. There's no pollution, no crime and virtually no traffic. The Gulf Stream keeps the climate moderate. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking. The sky is bigger than you can imagine. The people are relaxed, warm and friendly - mostly.

The center of town is dominated by the cathedral, the origins of which date back to the 13th century. This is the church Madonna chose for her baby's christening. Opposite is the Bishops Palace, the old jail (now a place for tourists to spend their money) and the Courthouse where local miscreants are called to account for their wrong doings.

Dornoch sits on the edge of Sutherland, recognised as the largest wilderness in Europe, and infamous as the land taken from the people by an Englishman in the Highland Clearances. Walking in the hills of Sutherland is an experience everybody should sample.