Spending the night in the car has its advantages. The main one is that there is no wet tent o pack away. I was on my way by 6am and drove via the A87 to the Kyle of Lochalsh then over the Skye Bridge. It’s been so long since I was on Skye the bridge hadn’t been built the last time I was here. I didn’t stay long then returned to the mainland and on the A890 to Lochcarron.

Loch Cluanie

Eilean Donan Castle

The Skye Bridge

Strathcarron Railway Station

I stopped briefly in the village to call at the shop. The tin opener on my penknife wasn’t very good so I bought another. It’s the same shop I called in a couple of weeks ago on my bike ride. This time nobody tried to sell me any raffle tickets.

Lochcarron Old Burial Ground

I drove over the high pass to Applecross and well before the summit I was in cloud. Down in Applecross I drove along the coast to a small shop where I bought some bread rolls. I returned to Applecross and then along the coast road via Fearnmore.

across Loch Kishorn

Russel Burn and Sgurr Chaorachain

Skye from Applecross

across Loch Shieldaig

Probably the most striking thing about the roads is how many camper vans and motorbikes there are. I can understand people wanting to be independent by using a camper van as there is a distinct lack of cafes and shops and when there is one it is nearly always shut. The weather was still mostly overcast and driving through Glen Torridon the rain returned. After the previous miles of single track road at Kinlochewe I turned left on to the A832 with its 2 lanes. The views across Loch Maree were just visible and I continued through Poolewe and on to the A835 where I turned left to Ullapool.

from the summir of Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh

I had a brief drive through the town before continuing to the car park above the shore of Loch Lurgainn and below Stac Pollaidh. At15:00 I set off to climb the mountain. It was still overcast and now it was raining slightly. There was a well made footpath up towards the mountain and the main obvious route was up to the right. It was a steady climb round the back of the mountain then diagonally up its north face. The summit was in cloud but I got some nice views of some of Scotland’s magnificent summits to the NE before reaching it.

view north from Stac Pollaidh

There was an easy peak to the left but then I set off to the right to find the peaks lost in the mist. The path was steep and intricate. I got as high as I could in the cloud and rain then returned to descend by another path that followed round the mountain to return me by a circular route. As I got lower the sun began to reach the mountain and soon it was all bathed in sunshine. I returned to the car in the dry.

Loch Lurgainne on the descent of Stac Pollaidh