LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

No bus information in the hotel, which was surprising considering the bus shelter was alongside the hotel. More surprises, there was no bus information in the bus shelter either. I eventually caught the Bus 62 from the hotel on Main Street Lairg, to the Post Office at Bonar Bridge. Upon arrival I immediately started walking along the A836 road from the Post Office near the Bonar Bridge Suspension Bridge, which carries the traffic over the Kyle of Sutherland Waterway. I hurried along the road, passing the War Memorial, a makeshift car park on the left, and the Dunroamin Hotel on the right, (bad memories). I was soon out into the countryside, enjoying the sounds and smells of the Scottish Highlands. Here I immediately passed Maikle Wood, Balblair Estate with its Majestic Mansion, and fields of buttercups. Taking care with the speedy traffic, rushing to work, I soon reached the Invershin Hotel and on the opposite side of the valley, the village of Culrain, with its dark looking Carbisdale Castle (House), just after the railway bridge. I noticed the footpath from the A836 road to the railway station and decided to investigate the opposite direction over the bridge. It was very interesting to see the big sturdy bridge up close. Recommended. When I reached the outskirts of Invershin Village, the road split into two main roads. The A836 continuing north but on the east side of the railway track and the A837 towards Invercassley and Durness, on the west side of the railway. I opted to take the A837 road to the left so that I would then reach the small quieter road on the west side of the River Shin, the B864 Road. Before this road junction I crossed the new Shin Bridge over the River Shin with the old Shin Bridge alongside. Notice the 'Dangerous Structure Keep Off' signs by the old bridge. I immediately turned right from the A837 to the quieter single track B864 road along Achany Glen. This road was very twisty and narrow, with dense flora on both sides of the road. Not many opportunities for photographs until the Falls of Shin, apart from the odd glimpse of the river. There were good paths with steps down to the observation platforms of the Falls of Shin, which I found to be extremely captivating after a few minutes watching carefully. The salmon were jumping up the falls, so lots of patience was required to capture the moment the fish left the water. I could see that the task for the fish, to get to the top of the falls almost impossible, but obviously the fish's instinct meant the task had to be completed. I found more forests on both sides of the Glen until I reached the river tributary of Grudie Burn, where the landscape opened up to good views all around. Eventually I reached the footpath to the railway station with a good view of the suspension bridge over the River Shin. I couldn't resist a visit to the bridge for more photos. Forever onwards, I passed many fields and a few dwellings to reach the main A839 road at a roundabout. Here I found the Little Loch Shin southerly River Control Dam very intriguing, however there were limited views of the establishment due to security. I continued ahead to the road bridge over Little Loch Shin, where I turned left at the A836 road from Bonar Bridge, to walk into the village to find the accommodation. Just before the road junction with the A839, I noticed a very impressive 'Duck House' near the middle of Little Loch Shin. This reminded me of the recent Members of Parliament Expense Scandal, where one Member of Parliament claimed the cost of a Duck House in his own back garden. At the A839 road junction I turned right into Main Street to see the village Free Church on the left and soon after the Hotel and bus stop on the right. This was another wonderful walk in the varied and green British Countryside. It's anyone's guess what the walker will find around the next corner. The end of the walk.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: at Dunroamin Hotel A836
Finish: at Lairg Highland Hotel A839