Day 87: Inverness to North Kessock

It’s the beginning of the end, as I head along the John O’Groats Trail all the way to John O’Groats. Today was a very short day however, due to the lack of accommodation along this stretch. 

• Date: 15 June 2024
• Start: Inverness
• End: North Kessock
• Miles: 5.6
• Total miles: 1,139.7
• Accommodation: Kessock Caravan Park

I didn’t leave the hostel this morning until I had to at 10:30, even then it was too early to leave, so I went to the Wetherspoons around the corner for breakfast and eventually left just before 12. 

I headed to the Co Op to grab lunch and then walked along the canal to the back end of Inverness which is just one massive industrial estate. 

The Kessock bridge was in my sight for quite some time until I had to then cross it. It wasn’t that long and there was barely any wind, so it was a relatively pleasant experience. 

I reached the Black Isle, a peninsula just north of Inverness, where I immediately crossed the busy road, and onto a very overgrown forest path. There was a lovely viewpoint half way up so I sat there for a while and admired the view. 

The path joined a wider forest track which I followed until it joined a road towards the campsite. 

I arrived at camp and popped my tent up, then went to remove a tick I’d found earlier on the back of my knee. I’ve never had one before and it was harder to remove than I thought it would be, but it’s out now thankfully. 

Before settling down for the evening, I walked into North Kessock to the corner shop, which was pretty dire. I wish I’d bought my dinner in Inverness and carried it. They had lots of disposable BBQs on sale, but no meat, other than bacon. I had to make do with a tin of curry and some chickpeas, which I cooked when I got back. 

Tomorrow, the distance is back to the normal average, as I head across another bridge and off the Black Isle.