LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I drove from the accommodation to Reay Village and parked opposite the Village Shop. I was followed by the landlady who very kindly offered to shadow me to the end of the walk, and then give me a lift from my car to Strathy Village Hall, the start of my day's walking. As it was a Sunday there were no buses running, so the landlady's actions were invaluable. I couldn't thank her enough. The weather was good, so another good day's walking in prospect with no rain. Yippee. I waved bye as her car disappeared up the hill, then proceeded to walk over the River Strathy Road Bridge towards my destination of Reay Village along the A836 trunk road. I walked up the hill to Strathy Village, passing an old scruffy pleasure boat sat on a pedestal, just waiting for a caring boat person to take it off the owner's hands. Near the high point of the surrounding countryside i began to see 'Cotton Grass' or Eriophorum augustifolium more and more until there were vast areas of the grass in places. The basic moorland was dull and dreary but the grass gave a cheerful note to the passerby. I was surprised and delighted to see the grass, and kept looking for a dense patch to take a better photograph to illustrate the contrast to the usual countryside in this part of Northern Scotland. I passed two huge signs, one each side of the road, advertising a Power Companies intention to develop the area into a wind turbine farm. The company SSE, called the project Strathy North Wind Farm. I wondered how the area would look in a few years time, and whether the beautiful cotton grass would still exist in the area. When I reached the stream or burn of Alltan Domhaich I noticed the old road bridge just south of the A836 main road, a welcome sight from the endless barren moors either side of the road. From the old bridge I soon reached the 'Welcome to Melvich' sign, where the residential houses of Melvich Village became more and more visible as the road slowly descended into the valley of Strath Halladale. I passed the War Memorial, Melvich Hotel, Police Station, Halladale Inn, North Coast Touring Park, Loch Beag, Melvich Gravel Pit, the Halladale River Road Bridge & the road junction of A897 to Helmsdale. I continued on the North Coastal Road of the A836 towards Reay Village. There was a rusty old bicycle which was once of good quality and someone's pride and joy, chained to the road junction sign post. It looked as if it had been there for quite some time. As I steadily climbed out of the valley of the Halladale River, I passed Highland Cattle and a lone Belted Galloway Cow. It was a good leg stretcher walking across Drumhollistan Moss before reaching the County Border Sign between Caithness and Sutherland. I had more sightings of the Orkney Isles and areas of 'Cotton Grass' before the surprise sighting of the 'Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment' at Lower Dounreay. A place I had heard about many times over the years on the news, but actually seeing for real, although only in the far distance, was an eye opener. From this point the countryside slowly became more green as the low lands were more suitable for agriculture. When I reached the Village sign for Reay near Sandside House, the road passed through a deciduous wood. As I walked on I wondered when I last saw such a wood. I didn't know, it would have been only a guess. As I walked on I knew my objective would soon be upon me. My car would be in sight. Again I had that hot and cold feeling, pleased to have nearly accomplished my objective but at the same time sorry that I would have to wait another day to enjoy more of the Scottish Scenery. I passed the Reay Parish Church and the Reay Cross Slab in the churchyard (which I should have visited), The primary school, the Police Station (which I was pleased not to visit) and Victoria Hall, all near the Reay Shop. I drove from the shop back towards Bettyhill to stay at the Bed and Breakfast for another night. I stopped at the Halladale Inn for my evening meal before continuing again to the accommodation. Another great day's walking in Scotland. This is another walk that I recommend. There is only one way to complete all these recommendations. That is, to follow all my footsteps from Land's End, England, to John 'o Groats, Scotland. Have fun, I have, in abundance!

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk,
Start: at KW14 7SB - River Strathy Bridge, North Coast, Highlands
Finish: at KW14 7RQ - Reay Village Shop