Loch an Iasaich, Attadale

This was a weekend of extreme exercise for us. After yesterday's events at the park run followed by Dunglass Island, we decided to make the most of the beautiful weather and go for another mid-length walk. This time we ventured West to Attadale by Strathcarron.

The 7 mile walk was mainly an out-and-back (never my first choice to be honest) but there was a looped section towards the end of the route which helped to keep things interesting.

Beginning at the walker's car park inside the Attadale Estate, we followed first a road then a track up into the hills. It was mostly forested with some open hill views now and then. The looped part took in the peaceful setting of Loch an Iasaich, where we stopped for tea and a banana.

Continuing on, we soon rejoined our original path and headed back to the car. On the way down Lynne saved a slow worm by tickling it off the road; it was just about to be squashed by the farmer coming down behind us in his truck!

Afterwards we headed over to Kishorn and treated ourselves to lunch in the wonderful fish restaurant. Lynne had "a taste of salmon" while I had a mackerel salad.

Dunglass Island

After both setting new PBs at the Inverness Park Run on the morning of Saturday 19th May, we headed to Conon Bridge and Maryburgh in search of an island!

Our walk for the day was a circuit starting in Maryburgh, via Dunglass Island (a stretch of farmland separated by the mighty River Conan) and the Brahan Estate.

Winding our way through houses we eventually found our path alongside the railway and riverside and before long we had reached the bridge over to Dunglass Island.

As the weather was dry and bright, everything looked very pleasant, especially the well-maintained fishing spots round the "coast" of the island. We stopped and had cheese and pickle sandwiches and tea next to a weir.

Eventually looping back to the bridge, we rejoined our original riverside path and continued West. There was lots of lovely old oak trees along this section of the walk. We eventually climbed up towards the Brahan Estate and into a lovely tree-lined avenue which lead us back to Maryburgh.

Approximately 8 miles.

Strathpeffer Circuit

A local walk for us this weekend: a 9 mile route with almost 1700 feet of climbing.

We started at Catherine's, the Museum cafe, knowing that when we finished, we could stagger in and regain our spent energy with lovely home made soup and scones.

The walk started steeply, heading up the hill directly behind the old railway station, to the Stone Maze. From there we headed East, in an anti-clockwise direction, to the tiny top of Knockfarrel before descending the fields below back to the main road and over to the hamlet of Achterneed.

Picking up the forest path above the Cromartie sawmill we followed a line through the recent deforestation for the full length of the village. This led us to the beautiful Loch Kinellan, where we looped round and back to the main road again.

The last stretch of the walk took us into Blackmuir Woods and back to the Stone Maze, where we returned to our starting point, exhausted.