When a week isn't enough

Last year we trialled a ten day trip. Would we be bored? Would it be too much? 

Not a chance!

We spent day 7, 8 and 9 revelling in how lucky we were to have three more days. So it was only right that we did the same again this year. 

Day 7 should be our travelling home day. Instead, we've had the most tremendous road trip heading north. 

The weather has been glorious; mostly sunny and still, it's felt like multiple seasons in a day. We headed up to Kylesku Bridge, the location of my most northerly point in Scotland a couple of years ago on a van trip with Rich & Little Dog. The weather that day was atrocious with curtains of rain driving through. Today could not have been more different. We've enjoyed dramatic snow-capped mountains and wild blue skies as we headed up to Durness. 

Near the turning for Cape Wrath, driving alongside a loch, an otter caught our eye switching between laying on its back and cruising along. 

We've been amazed at every single turn of the road. We stopped a few times to stare and jump out but ventured out properly at Sango Sands for an explore of the stunning beach on the north coast. Little Dog enjoyed a good old romp off lead too, enjoying hide and seek behind the rocks.

James had told me about Smoo Cave which was another delight. With the place to ourselves, you could feel the history. Hundreds of years ago, people lived and had workshops in there which is quite extraordinary and the force of the waterfall cascading through was incredible. (Spotted a dipper too!)

We then meandered around the picturesque northern coastline to Tongue before heading south for 70 miles on almost all single track roads. We had no idea of the frozen landscape we'd be entering. 

We'd already said how remote the glen was that we'd travelled up through. How it could be any moreso just round the corner was extraordinary. 

The land was transformed into a white tundra. Vast snow ladened mountains enclosed us. The sun was lowering in the sky and the light was just incredible. We drove for miles and miles in jaw dropping scenery. We'd already seen plenty of deer, including stags but here they stood in the snow, right next to the car, even when we stopped.

What a feeling!

The talons of mist creeping through the hills as the the sun set just finished off the day perfectly. 

We both knew it would be a memorable journey but would now adjust that to say, utterly unforgettable.