We left Dornoch just after 9am bathed in sunlight, beneath blue skies with nere a cloud in sight. We rode the old single track coastal road that skirts the south shore of Loch Fleet. The shoreline had an abundant display of birdlife. We saw more herons per mile, feeding on the shoreline, than anywhere we could remember.

We rejoined the A9, riding north through the coastal villages of Brora, Helmsdale, Berriedale, Dunbeath, Latheron, Thrumster taking a short break in Wick. 

We continued north on the A99 to the village of John O Groats, detouring east to Duncansby Head, the most north-easterly point of Scotland.

The views north across the Pentland Firth towards the Orkney Islands, and south towards the Duncansby Stacks were impressive.

We then visited John O Groats tourist trap, getting some pictures at the world famous signpost, and rummaging through the souvenir shops.

We rode west towards Dunnet Head, hoping for more dramatic sea views but the weather had other ideas. The wind became blustery and was accompanied by rain of increasing intensity.

On reaching Dunnet Head the rain had reduced visibility to less than 100m, so no sea view pictures from this location.

We rode a short distance to our accommodation for the night in Dunnet, the Northern Sands Hotel.

The route from Dornoch to Dunnet