Lollipop trees

We could take the A road to Dingwall that everyone else does, potholes, tradesmen's vans and all. No, there's a very, very minor road along the spine of the isle. It's slow and winding, but there are fewer potholes and the view is fabulous.

Apart from being able to see into the mountains of Wester Ross, the special thing is the way the landscape moves as you do. There are several ridges between this road and the Cromarty Firth, so as you drive along the perspective means that each ridge slides at a different pace. Spellbinding it is.

And instead of the massed conifers we get so used to looking at, individual trees reminding you of nothing so much as distant lollipops painted by children.

To underline how impressive is the view, take a look at the panorama in the extra. Something the tradesmen in their vans never see.