LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

The Bonar Bridge Hotel Landlord gave me a lift or ride at top speed, in his Jaguar from Bonar Bridge to Strath Rory Car Park on the B9176. He was hurrying on his way to Inverness Hospital to visit his wife. After the car crossed the bridge over the Strath Rory River and disappeared around the bent, all went quiet except for the constant pitter patter of the incessant rain. I was well kitted out for the rain, including my highly visual jacked (high vis), to help the motorist see me through the torrential rain. I turned left from the car park and walked north up Struie Road, on the side of the valley, passing over a cattle grid, to a small car park at the start of the local cycle trail. I enjoyed the view the best I could, and then continued up the steady climb towards Bonar Bridge with coniferous trees on both sides of the road. I heard a Cuckoo from the trees and immediately thought my Cousin was behind me, as he is excellent at mimicking the cuckoo. Obviously he wasn't there, just a knee jerk reaction. The going was miserable but I eventually reached the Allt Dearg valley where the views opened up after leaving the woods behind. I crossed another cattle grid then the bridge over the river before another steady climb out of the valley, passing the hill of Cnoc nan Gaimhne, on the right. From this point at Aultnamain, the scenery opened up with views of the flat area before Mudh-a-Blair and the Allt Muigh-bhiaraidh stream. After the stream I came to a road junction with the road sign pointing to Edderton & Tain. I kept to my original plan and continued straight ahead along the good road towards Bonar Bridge. When I reached the High Viewpoint of Durnoch Firth the visibility was too bad to see anything of note. I trudged on, with the road slowly becoming steeper and weaving down the valley towards the A836, Ardgay road, where I came across the lower viewpoint of Durnoch Firth at Cadha Mor. This time much closer to the actual Firth, so therefore the visibility was better but not good. In my hurry to get to Bonar Bridge and get out of the heavy rain, at this Lower Viewpoint, I totally forgot to take any photographs. This was and is very unusual for me, which shows I am human. However when I reached Easter Fearn Burn Roadbridge, my normality returned, so I took plenty of photos. In other words I was impressed with the view and scenery. Again the Struie Road descended steeply to reach the main road A836, at a very shallow 'Y' junction, making it very difficult to motorists to see the traffic approaching from the right. At this junction was a very well preserved 'AA Sentry Box', very unusual and rare. I continued almost straight ahead on the A836, but this time with far more caution because the traffic was mich more frequent and included large lorries. After I crossed the Wester Fearn Burn Bridge and reached Kincardine, this is where I spotted a Sheep Dog Sculpture of good quality. It was a very nice surprise. I soon reached the village of Ardgay where I enjoyed the War Memorial and the Clah Eteag Stone. Many centuries ago, when travel was very difficult, the stone was taken from village to village as the Market Day moved between villages. When I moved from Ardgay I soon reached Bonar Bridge Village and the Bonar Bridge crossing the Kyle of Sutherland Waterway, after passing the Stonehenge Picnic Area, in recognition of the Ancient Stones found in the immediate area. I turned left on the A836 Lairg Road towards the car, passing the very wet War Memorial. The end of the walk.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: at Strathory River .
Finish: at Dunroamin Hotel