NC500 With Morag Martin

ESCAPE

NORTH COAST 500 With Morag Martin - Ceamara Photography

The North Coast 500 – a route to be ticked off the bucket list in a hurry or something that has to be travelled at leisure in order to be savoured to the max? It’s your choice. But whichever option you choose there is no doubt that this route covers some of the most jawdropping scenery in Scotland. If it’s an escape from the hum-drum of life, a chance to breathe in gloriously smog-free air and to connect with nature at its grandest, then this is for you.

So much is lost by driving by and not stopping to explore all the sites that pepper this route, some of which are steeped in history, others in Celtic legend. Bottom line – it is an unforgettable experience and one which professional photographer Morag Martin, Ceamara Photography will not forget for a very long time, if ever.

Morag and her partner meticulously planned their trip, which was to span seven days and to take them right off the beaten track. With the current situation it is not advisable to head off on 4 a whim and accommodation has to be booked in advance, somewhat taking the spontaneity out of things but, sadly, this is the way of the world at the moment.

Carefully planning their route, the sights they wished to see and their chosen accommodation – both bed and breakfast and campsite – they came up with a schedule that was to net them some indelible memories. Seven days, a total of 784 miles, petrol costs of £90 and accommodation costs of £236 resulted in a wonderful holiday.

FYRISH MONUMENT - ALNESS, ROSS-SHIRE

To detail all of the places that they visited would cover many pages so space restricts us to mentioning just a few – but if these whet your appetite, start planning your own North Coast 500 now! Just remember that, if you wish to do some of the walks that are available, do take along stout walking boots and sensible clothing.

Leaving from Inverness, they travelled anticlockwise to the Black Isle where, amongst many wonderful destinations, is Rosemarkie Fairy Glen – a lovely wooded walk that takes in two Lifestyle MAG

EILEAN DONAN CASTLE

SMOO CAVE RIGHT - CLASHNESSIE FALLS

WHALIGOE STEPS WALK

waterfalls. Then on to the Mermaid of the North, an 11ft high sculpture and a ‘cousin’ of the lady outside Copenhagen. The following day to the delightfully named Whaligoe Steps, an almost sheer drop from headland to beach that is not for the faint-hearted. In a way this is the foot soldier’s equivalent of the Pass of the Cattle at Applecross, where the road simply disappears from sight as you round what seem to be interminable bends in the road.

On day three a welcome stop at the Dunnet Bay Distillery and then on to Smoo Cave on day four and the Drumbeg viewpoint on day five. Time to rest and gaze out over the water and lose yourself in your thoughts.

The penultimate day they visited the Victoria Falls (not to be confused with the falls of the same name on the Zambezi River in central Africa). Although undeniably smaller the falls are equally beautiful. Home beckons on day seven and what better way to round off a memorable trip than by heading for Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm, either to pick your own fruit or to browse in their well-stocked shop and stock up on the freshest of produce.

Seven days of pure escapism, filled with visits to places that some of us probably have not heard of. What more could anyone possibly ask for?

MERMAID OF THE NORTH

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