Day 90: Tain to Dornoch

A nice half day walking today. It’s a short one as I’ve reached the large village of Dornoch, which is good place to spend the night. 

• Date: 18 June 2024
• Start: Tain
• End: Dornoch
• Miles: 6.7
• Total miles: 1,180.9
• Accommodation: Dornoch Caravan Park

The day started by crossing another long bridge alongside the A9. It was as daunting as the last couple of bridges, with high sided vehicles speeding past. 

I then had to climb over a barrier and walk down a grass verge to get to another grassy path running along the shore. 

The trail then followed a road and into a forest, where I walked along forest paths until I reached apparently what is a sight in the area, a standing stone in a field. 

I reached Dornoch, where I’d be spending the night in a campsite just out of town.

On the way to the campsite, I passed a sign which basically converts to 100 miles to go until John O’Groats!

I spent the extended afternoon doing laundry and wandering around the town. I have in fact been here before, even staying at the same campsite, when I drove the North Coast 500 two years ago. I popped into a pub with the wrong flag on the ceiling. 

I spent the rest of the evening figuring out what to do for the next few days. There are no campsites for the next two nights, so the choice was to either wild camp (which I can’t be bothered doing at this point in the walk), or stay in a hotel at the end points of each day. 

Accommodation is expensive in those towns, so I’ve decided to base myself in Helmsdale further up the coast, where I’ll be having a rest day on Saturday. I’ll get the train there tomorrow after walking and then commute in and out for the next couple of days.