Strathy to RSPB reserve Forsinard

It was raining when I got up, the haar was so thick I couldn't even see the cliffs just a few miles away, so we had a very lazy morning in the cottage, waiting for the weather to clear which it was supposed to by midday.

We packed our sandwiches and coffee and set off. It was only about 18 miles to the RSPB reserve, but it was mostly on a single track road with passing places, not uncommon up here. The RSPB visitor centre was in the old railway station, and they had a decent display and a coffee machine with a good selection of tea and coffee, there is also a toilet. The website says that it was a one mile walk to the observation point but I think that must be there and back.

The walk is on boarding so you don't have to walk through the bog! and the observation building gives a terrific view of the wetlands. It was quite breezy but a very pleasant walk nonetheless. Barbara had taken her binoculars hoping to see some of the wildlife, but to be honest apart from a few birds and a couple of deer, there wasn't much to see. The thing that did stand out was the quiet stillness of the place, and I was reminded again of Wendell Berry's line about the peace of wild things.

We went back via Thurso as we were getting low on petrol, so, drivers should be aware that there are very few petrol stations up here, just in Thurso, Bettyhill, and Durness. If you travel south from Durness, some of the etrol stations on the way are also closed on Sundays.Read more