Day 18

From Inverness the path leads northwards into increasingly remote areas. It’s a bit of a snaky route around the firths so not too much northwards progress but a fair distance overall.

Tonight I stay near Bonar Bridge.

Leaving Inverness this morning was interesting. The way north out of Inverness is over the Kessock Bridge and when I arrived there I was informed by way of a locked construction gate that the cycle path over the bridge was closed. The “diversion” offered was a 25 mile detour around the Beauly Firth. I didn’t take up that offer and took my chances instead on the road. Occupying the slow lane on a busy A road with no shoulder (no chance of stopping for a picture) in high winds and driving rain was fun.

I was glad to get over the bridge unscathed and even gladder when the rain eased fairly soon after.

This is the first thing of beauty I encountered after the bridge:

Cromarty Bridge in the distance crossing Cromarty Firth.

Very sad. Looks like mum and baby Badger hit by a car.

The beautiful remote Highlands.

There are miles and miles of conifer plantations as far as the eye can see in all directions. In the distance you can see a patch that’s been harvested.