Day 25 – Lybster to Invergordon

Today we will drive 107 miles on our journey along the North Sea down to the Dornoch and Cromarty Firths.  Probably one of our shorter journeys, but still we have a lot to see, so let’s hit the road!

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Dunrobin Castle, Dalmation, Waiting, Sitting in Car
A patient chauffeur, waiting at Dunrobin Castle.

 

Lybster Harbour

Coastal Road Trip, Lybster, Harbour, Lighthouse
The sun rising in the sky over the cosy Lybster Harbour.

 

Dunbeath Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Latheron, Views South, Dunbeath Bay
Views south from Latheron along the rugged coast to Dunbeath Bay.

 

Laidhay Croft Museum

Coastal Road Trip, Laidhay croft museum, Jarno
We stopped by the Laidhay Croft Museum (keys from the coffee shop next door).  Absolutely packed with antiques and household goods from the crofting era.

 

Badbea

Coastal Road Trip, Badbea Clearance Village
All that remains from this tiny clearance village at Badbea.
Coastal Road Trip, Badbea Clearance Village, View to North Sea
The unspoiled views over the cliffs out to the North Sea.  Fine on a calm day like today, but must have been rough living at the top of these cliffs on a stormy day.

 

Helmsdale

Coastal Road Trip, Helmsdale, Church Tower
The church tower peeping through the tree tops in Helmsdale.

 

Brora

Coastal Road Trip, Brora, Golf Club, Golf Course
The Scottish coast was littered with Golf courses, all with stunning views.

 

Carn Liath

 

Coastal Road Trip, Carn Liath, Iron Age Broch, Settlement, A9
An amazingly well preserved Iron Age broch at Carn Liath (a round house), just a couple of minutes north of Dunrobin Castle.

 

Dunrobin Castle

Coastal Road Trip, Dunrobin Castle
The extravagant Dunrobin Castle, the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland and the Clan Sutherland.
Coastal Road Trip, Dunrobin Castle, Garden
The impressive French influenced gardens viewed from the castle.
Coastal Road Trip, Dunrobin Castle, Falconry Display
We stopped by a fun falconry display in the garden.
Coastal Road Trip, Dunrobin Castle, Dalmation, Waiting, Sitting in Car
Patiently waiting for Cruella De Vil in the castle car park.

 

Dornoch

Coastal Road Trip, Dornoch, Beach, 2 minute beach clean, Jarno
What a great idea at Dornoch Beach, encouraging visitors to a 2 minute beach litter clean.  Dornoch itself was a beautiful village.   Clearly the locals were looking after the area.

 

Tarbat Ness

Coastal Road Trip, Tarbat Ness
After all the yellow and white lighthouses we’d seen along our coastal road trip, it was refreshing to find a lovely red and white stripey one at Tarbat Ness! 😉

 

Baltintore

Coastal Road Trip, Balintore, Mermaid of the North, Seaboard Villages
Driving along the coast of the Seaboard villages we arrived at the Mermaid of the North atop ‘Clach Dubh’ (black rock) at Balintore.

 

Arabella

Coastal Road Trip, Arabella, Eastern Ross-shire, Wind Turbine, Sun, Clouds, Fields
On our way to Invergordon for the evening, hazy evening views across the countryside near Arabella.  Wind turbines became a really familiar sight whether on land or off shore along our journey.

 

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