Southern loop

Yet another rainy dull day with a maximum of 10 degrees forecast so we settled on another drive with potential short walks. This time we did a loop to the south of Lochinver

First stop was the 16th century Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt

A little further on and the rain was fairly light so we headed out on the 2 hr Bone Cave walk. It followed a briskly running stream up a valley then headed up a steep slope to 4 caves which when excavated had bones from a wide range of animals including a Scottish polar bear

There were native purple orchids..

..and of course emerging Scottish thistles...

..and ferns

Next stop was lunch at Elfin, just beyond Ledmore

Then it was back on the Wee Mad Road of Sutherland at Drumrunie with magnificent, if somewhat hazy, views

Along Loch Lurgainn and Loch Bad à Gaill under the invisible iconic Stac

Pollaidh, which plenty of people were doing despite it being totally in cloud, and supposedly looks like this!

Including seals

Finally Inverkirkaig beach