Friday
Gruinard Bay was not in our original itinerary, but after Nikki ‘drove the road’ via google maps street view (bit like a motorhome simulator) she decided it was ok for the ‘beast’. In fact, and in many respects, the road was as good if not better than many we had been on in the last couple of days.
Our plan today is that on the way to Gruinard, we will stop at the Wailing Widow Falls, or its proper name, Allt Chranaidh.
Before that we planned a stop at Scourie to get some provisions as the next two nights (Gruinard Bay & Morvich) are quite remote so we will need to ‘eat in’. Once stocked up on essentials (cheesy bread, milk, scones & Steak & Mince pies – Steve declined the 4 scallops at £12). Then we were off.
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Kylesku Bridge
En route to the falls, and after spotting, we think, a red deer (yay) we stopped at a Viewpoint to get a photo of the Kylesku Bridge, and discovered the 12th Submarine Flotilla Roll of Honour.
See photos, and zoom in, what a fascinating story.
We loved the bit about the locals ‘they saw much and said nothing’. We had never even heard of a ‘manned torpedo’ before this !
Allt Chranaidh
We drive on to Allt Chranaidh, the Wailing Widow Falls.
According to legend, a deer hunter plunged to his death there, and his mother wracked by grief over her son’s untimely death, threw herself over the very next day. Then again, and according to google (so it must be true) this ‘story’ was made up by a tour guide, which is possibly correct, as surely his ‘mother’ could not have been the widow.
There is a lower and upper car park at Allt Chranaidh. We couldn’t fit in the lower one, so drove to the upper one. To get in a space, Nikki had to walk up the road to see what was coming around the bend as to reverse in Steve had to manoeuvre across the road ….. on return to the van Nikki found the bikes literally hanging off the cliff. As Michael Caine famously said “hang on, I’ve got an idea”!
Anywho, off we set to the bottom car park as we wanted to view the waterfall from the bottom. Nikki, prepared as always, set off in her walking boots, sensible trousers and a trusty walking pole. Steve chose trainers and shorts.
It was quite a tricky path to the waterfall, but well worth it (see photo), although about half way there we had realised we had forgotten to ‘smidge up’. Still, it wasn’t so bad, but a lesson learned as we are now entering ‘midge’ territory.
On the way back from the waterfall Steve decided to take the shortcut, practically vertical, Nikki not, and by the time she got back to the van Steve had texted to say he had gone to the ‘top’ of the waterfall to get the view the other way. Nikki put the kettle on. Shortly afterwards a text from Steve “Are there any snakes in Scotland” hee hee.
Gruinard Bay
After that we pushed on through to Gruinard Bay, the drive again breathtaking, with a new phrase, what goes up has to come down, referring to the many hills, with steep climbs and descents, hair pin bends and magnificent views.
Gruinard Bay is an independent site, and it was fantastic. We were right on the Beach, as those that know us from Facebook will be aware, and we had a lovely evening in watching the incoming tide and listening to the local birds, including Oystercatchers, Willow Warblers, Skylarks, Siskin’s, Ringed Plovers, Dunnocks and Dunlins. The sun is setting so late, it was still more or less light at 11pm, where we also spied a Grey Heron (we had to phone a friend to identify that one – thanks Dick).
