Cycling on the open roads of Caithness

Today in contrast to yesterday was a lovely fine day in the eastern part of Caithness, although towards the west there were persistent stormy showers. Definitely time to get out of the bike. I did a very enjoyable 60-mile circuit from John O'Groats along largely deserted roads – many of them very straight.  

My route from John O'Groats took me via Canisbay to Lyth onto Watten then Westerdale onto the railway station at Scotscalder to northward to Thurso and the final 20 miles back to John O'Groats via Castletown.  

Caithness' open country on the way to Lyth

Straight and deserted roads 

– heading to Lyth

Loch Watten

Bright sunshine in the east but stormy showers in the west

Water mill by the River Thurso

@Westerdale

Contend SL by the River Thurso

 Looking north: headed to Thurso in bright sunshine

Taken at same time above – very different outlook!

The road away from Thurso

Scottish jaunt 2013: Dunnet Head

From Dunnet Head towards the Island of Hoy, Orkney 

with the Old Man of Hoy (looks like a tower)

Although John O'Groats tends to get a lot of the attention it isn't the most northerly point of the Scottish mainland. This prize goes to Dunnet Head with its lighthouse, which 2.35 miles further north than John O'G, which is really more accurately described as the end of the road, especially if you have started from Lands End in Cornwall. 

After our visit to Duncansby Head we headed westwards to Dunnet Head and again we were lucky that the threatening cloud held off and we had great views. The lighthouse was built in 1832 by Robert Stevenson, the first of the famous family of lighthouse engineers who between them built many of the lighthouses around the coast of Scotland.   

The cliffs of Hoy

Lighthouse@Dunnet Head (above and below)

Town of Thurso to west of Dunnet Head

View eastwards from Dunnet Head

Abandoned military buildings on Dunnet Head (above and below)

Most northerly point

 Small cove at the base of Dunnet Head (above and below)