The journey started with picking up the van from Wicked Campers in Edinburgh. It was a Japanese Toyota with a simple conversion inside. Unfortunately, it had no heating and the cold in some overnight locations was quite noticeable.
The route continued north towards Inverness, which is the starting point for the famous North Coast 500 (NC500).
Great food everywhere, if you are into gastronomy in general. From meat pies, fish and chips, and burgers, always accompanied by cold beer.
The first stop was at the distillery Tomatin. There, a tour of the facility with the traditional wooden casks took place, along with a tasting of Highlands single malt whiskies, such as the Tomatin 12-year-old, the Legacy, and the Cù Bòcan.
The journey continued towards the historic Culloden battlefield. On the lush green battlefield, the traditional stone house with the thatched roof (Leanach Cottage) stands out, remaining the same since 1746. For those of you who have watched the series Outlander, it is based on this story.
The road went deeper into the Highlands among great mountains. There was also the first encounter with the Highland cows, τις χαρακτηριστικές τριχωτές αγελάδες της Σκωτίας με τα μεγάλα κέρατα.
Following the eastern side of the NC500, the route reached the ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. The medieval castle is built right on top of steep cliffs beaten by the sea.
The journey continued north up to John o’ Groats. The place has colorful houses and the classic white sign showing the distances to various parts of the world. The day ended with a sunset over the meadows with the sheep.
After John o’ Groats, the route went to Duncansby Head. There, the landscape has green meadows, sheep, and the impressive stone towers (Duncansby Stacks) in the sea.
The journey continued to Dunnet Head, which is the actual northernmost point of the mainland. The place has massive vertical cliffs, a lot of wind, and stone walls.
Turning west, the countryside road began to wind between lakes. A stop was made at the viewpoint of Kyle of Tongue, where the mountains were mirrored in the calm waters.
As the temperature dropped, the small lakes by the roadside began to freeze. Afterwards, a visit was made to Smoo Cave, a very large cave inside the rocks, where a waterfall drops into its interior.
The route turned south towards the western side of the NC500, where the scenery was snowy. A stop was made at various snowy lakes.
At this point, looking at the lake and the snowy mountains, the decision to get a van was made. This moment was captured with some outdoor cooking, bacon steaming in the pan, two eggs, an “Old Hoppy Hen” beer, and the camera ready by the side. This is what I want to relive every time I go for a ride with my van or my motorcycle.
The route continued towards the peninsula of Applecross, with the Highlands cows now walking on the road. The van drove up the Bealach na Bà, a very steep mountain road with tight switchbacks. At the viewpoint at 2,053 feet, the metal plaque was covered in snow and the fog had hidden the valley.
The journey moved on to Isle of Skye. First stop was the old stone bridge Sligachan with the three arches, against the backdrop of the snowy Cuillin mountains.
Next, a hike followed at the Old Man of Storr. The climb took place in the snow, with the large black volcanic rocks towering amidst the white landscape.
Next, a stop was made at Kilt Rock, where the Mealt Falls waterfall drops from a height of 55 meters directly into the sea. Afterward, the route went to Fairy Glen, a unique valley with small conical hills and stone circles on the ground.
The journey concluded with the return to Edinburg. The city had the classic sound of bagpipes in the streets, and the final image was captured from the walls of Edinburg Castle, overlooking the city at sunset.
