We’d been hoping to climb Suilven today but the curse of the misty mornings was still with us. So we pressed on with the cycling, returning the four miles to Lochinver and then the scenic coastal route through Inverpolly National Nature Reserve – not that we saw much of the view. We glimpsed the waters of Loch Lurgainn before joining the A835 for the run in to Ullapool. The two big climbs at the end were unwelcome as we were tired and in need of a rest. After scoffing our sandwiches we relaxed in the Ceilidh Place over salad, coffee and cakes before shopping and hitting the road again.
We met a couple of cyclists nearing the end of their southeast to northwest ride from Dungeness to Cape Wrath, having done the Lands End to John O’Groats the previous year. Everyone knows that John O’Groats is the most northerly point on the British mainland but Cape Wrath doesn’t get much attention despite being a more challenging destination. The southeasterly extremity gets even less publicity and this pair had to work it out for themselves. After a long chat by the roadside we continued to the junction via Corrieshalloch Gorge where we paused to view the falls.
The mist had briefly risen at Ullapool but was intent on descent now so we saw very little as we slogged it out to the Sail Mhor Croft Hostel at Dundonnell along an open and breezy road, getting quite wet in the process. We were surprised to see Jill from the Kylescu hostel again – like our three week New Zealand holiday, unexpectedly meeting people again was a recurring theme.