Misty mornings can be wonderful, especially when The Stacks of Duncansby are nearby. The Stacks are some of the most impressive in the British Isles. The Great Stack is over 60 m high and rises above the summit of the adjacent cliff. 

This was our goodbye to John O’Groats, but not before some of our cars were placed at the famous John O’Groats road sign.

The first part to Thurso brought us nice driving but no special scenery, except for the most northernly spot on the UK mainland: Dunnet Head.

To learn about the history of the land we’re cruising through is a must, to understand the hardship people had to go through. A visit to the Strathnaver Museum is interesting. Its main theme is the tragic story of the Highland Clearances, it has a room dedicated to the Clan Mackay and also tells the story of crofting life. The ancient Pictish Farr Stone – over a thousand years old – is situated nearby.

Lunch at the Ben Loyal Hotel in Tongue was great and the view at the back side of the hotel just stunning, with the Ben Loyal sitting in the back. An even better view was waiting for us a few miles down the road.

In the meantime, the roads were getting narrower and the scenery more spectacular around every corner. The Highlands can be described the best as the perfect mixture between alpine views and English scenery and country roads. It’s completely balanced, no mistakes were made when this piece of art was created.

Photo’s wouldn’t do justice to it, one has to see it with its own eyes. Preferrably from behind the steering wheel of a British born nimble sportscar. That feeling can’t be explained in words.

Driving the single track roads with 8 cars was going well. Driving safely fast, anticipating on oncoming traffic. Which couldn’t be said of the drivers of camper vans who didn’t use their mirrors or were just not feeling like letting us pass by, although passing places were available every few hunderd meters. Annoying, yes. On the plus side, it gave the chance to our drivers to enjoy the landscape better.

Before arriving at the Rhiconich Hotel, we paid a visit to Smoo Cave. Walking down the steps is worthwhile climbing up the steps again.

A marvelous day, again. A landscape as beautiful as this, with its curvy roads, is drivers paradise. No doubt about that.