Following the previous evenings exceptional meal, and this mornings hearty breakfast, we would have liked to stop longer at Dalmunzie Castle. Long standing reservations in Dornoch meant a prompt(ish) departure in the rain.

Our itinerary had changed. We had intended to ride through the Black Isle to Cromarty, crossing on the small ferry. Unfortunately Thursday 30 September (yesterday) had been its last crossings of the season.

We had also hoped to see the dolphins at Chanonry Point, but the tide times were totally incompatible with our route plans.

A little re-organisation and we were on our way.

We rode through Glenshee towards Braemar, then riding through the glens of the rivers Dee, Gairn and Don, through the blustery tops of The Lecht before some respite with a hot chocolate in Tomintoul.

On resuming our journey the rain had stopped, but the wind was still blustery. There were even some sunny spells. 

We rode to Grantown-on-Spey, Lochindorb, then some tiny back roads towards Culloden. That's where we got hit by a short shower of sleet, that turned into 45 minutes of rain.

The Kessock bridge at Inverness was fun in the wind, similarly the bridge over the Cromarty Firth was blustery. Rather than continue on the busy A9 we cut across country on some minor roads, arriving in good time for our accommodation in Dornoch, Albatross B&B.

We finished the day off with an evening meal in The Courtroom gastro pub, a conversion of the Dornoch Court House. I can highly recommend this establishment.

The hastily modified route from Dalmunzie Castle to Dornoch.

The intended route from Dalmunzie Castle to Dornoch

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