Monday 25th July 2016
Awoke to fewer midges, discovered that using roll-on [midge repellent] on the tent helps to dispel them. Started with walk down to Kinbrace – boggy again. Passed Network Rail vehicles on road – a nod of the head to one driver was the most interaction I had all day. After passing station, I stopped in a graveyard for shelter to cook lunch.
Crossing the railway line here felt like my first milestone on the walk. I had stopped at Kinbrace station on the train north to Thurso. I felt a bit closer to civilisation – if necessary I could have been in Inverness within a few hours. However, Kinbrace still felt incredibly remote – although there had apparently been a Post Office once, that seemed to have shut now.
Many of the same surnames were on graves – real locals? “Died at Post Office”, “Died at station” – did they go there to die [or just happened to be there]? Feeling re-energised, I ignored guidebook and took road. This turned into an estate access road, so long that “the post office is not obliged to deliver daily”. Finished with lovely walk along Loch Choire and found pleasant bothy.
Distance: 23.5 miles [view on map]
Spending: £0
Mood: 😐 -> 🙂
The hills around the estate road were fantastic. They still had something of the Flow Country about them, but my feet were quite enjoying the dry access road. Loch Choire was a real gem – one side of the Loch being typically boggy Flow Country, and the other rockier with trees – more typical of the highlands.
I arrived at the bothy after 10pm. I had never stayed in a bothy before. I had read about this one in my guidebook but was not entirely sure it would still be there and be open, but luckily it was so I didn’t have to pitch a tent. It was a cosy little hut equipped with benches to sleep on and a wood burner which I was able to cook on.
