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- 28. jul. 2022 13.45
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Højde: 11 m
SkotlandHighlandCulkeinCluas Deas58°14’23” N 5°24’12” W
Small Roads and a Lighthouse
28. juli 2022, Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Continuing my journey northwards to Durness, where I have no idea what's there but it seems a handy kind of place to head for, I thought I'd show you the kinds of roads I'm driving. Apologies if you've been to the Highlands and know exactly what they're like, but if you haven't then photo 1 of this footprint is a pretty good example.
As you can see, the road is not much more than the width of a car so there's no overtaking and two vehicles travelling in opposing directions cannot pass. To allow for this there are frequent passing places which are marked very clearly by a white sign on a pole with the words PASSING PLACE on it. Logical or what? Well, you would think so but every now and then there are drivers that do not know how to drive these sorts of roads. The trick is to keep an eye out for traffic coming towards you and much like in Iceland, the first person to the stretch of roads claims it. So, if you are approaching a passing place and the car coming towards you has passed theirs then you stop and wait. Also, if someone comes up behind you that can travel faster than you, then you use a passing place to let them overtake. Simples!
Generally this works well and you very quickly adapt to the tradition that as you pass at a passing place and no matter which of you gives way, then you politely wave at each other. I'm pretty certain originally it was the driver given priority that waved in thanks but nowadays everyone waves at everyone and this does make the drive feel very sociable, even though it clearly can't be because deep down you hope you're not the one that needs to stop. Even if you don't see the point in waving, in the end you give in and conform to the herd and suddenly find yourself mortally offended if a driver gives way and doesn't wave when you do. The French have never been known to say thank you for anything and yet here they wave politely and even raise a smile occasionally and yes, even the Germans, who know nothing of smiling, achtung (sorry, I meant actually) wave too.
There were a few times when this all didn't work however. Occasionally you get a driver who is clearly not thinking and doesn't notice that you passed your passing place ages ago, then blindly carries on and you end up with a Mexican standoff. There's no way you can reverse because the passing place is too far away and yet the driver whose nose is against yours, so to speak, cannot work out that the solution is to reverse not much more than two or three car lengths. You just stand your ground and wait for the penny to drop, or you have to attempt to squeeze by and not be the car that ends up in a ditch.
The worst standoff I encountered was with some motorcyclists. I was easily most of the way to the passing place where they could stop but they simply continued on and stopped in front of my van expecting me to reverse quite a distance. I stood my ground and this did not even phase them as they started to try to squeeze by, but there really wasn't any room due to the size of my door mirrors. The lead biker simply tried to grab my mirror and retract it so our exchange of words was not exactly friendly. I then retracted my mirrors (they are electric) and they passed by saying thank you with a 'V' sign. There's no need for this and it is about time some motorcyclists realised the world doesn't have to revolve around them. Generally the bikers are very polite, as are the drivers, but one of the problems with bikers is they tends to move in packs so they create a convoy, which doesn't really work on these small roads with just car sized passing places. In one convoy I counted nine motorbikes which is the equivalent of a very long bus. This is a recognised problem on the NC500 so it's not just me having a rant. Okay, it is.
As I was driving along I noticed a sign to the Stoer lighthouse and yes, that is the same Stoer and the Old Man of Stoer, the famous sea stack popular with climbers and which is actually nowhere near the lighthouse. In fact, if you want to see the Old Man you have to park up and undertake quite a walk to get to it because no road leads to it. Yes, I did know this before you comment!
On the way to the lighthouse I saw the bird in photo 2 which is so clear and of such a quality that you will recognise it instantly. It could have been a Sea Eagle, but the again it might not have been. It was definitely a bird that caught prey though and I'd like to think it was an eagle, but then I like to think I see humpback whales too.
Eventually, after a longer drive than I expected, I reached the lighthouse where there is nothing there except a lighthouse. I enjoyed the view and was pleased I made the journey but it didn't really compare to the Butt of Lewis. That was much more spectacular.
Moving on, the last photo shows the view to the west where you can just make out some land with clouds over it and that is the Isle of Lewis. I wonder if it has a nice butt.Læs mere
Rejsende I looked at the images before I read your account and just thought it all looked magnificent and very much off the beaten track (although the road looks in very good condition) and isolated. Very impressive and the sort of place I would love to visit. Then I read you account. It put a different perspective on the whole area. What a shame that a few inconsiderate drivers can spoil it all for everyone else. They must be quite miserable people and completely selfish. What a shame for them! At least your very last comment was a little humorous and lightened the mood!
Rejsende To be fair, most of the time it is absolutely fine. just two encounters of unthinking behaviour isn't much to actually worry about.