Brrrrrrr.....

One of the benefits of staying two nights at each stop has been the ability to spend the middle day walking and exploring the area. I've tried to ensure that I'm not just sat in the motorhome staring into space and 'wasting' the days! After morning prayer and a coffee, I've either wandered out or gone somewhere on my bike.

Whilst at Clachtoll, this wonderful campsite close to the beach, I wandered without any real sense where I might end up. There weren't any recognisable footpaths in the area so I wandered up the 'main' road. It was, at times, a little slow as I stepped onto the verge to allow cars pass by. I listened out for vehicles as the road was only wide enough for one and certainly not wide enough for me and a car. I took a footpath at one stage that came to a rather abrupt halt - and I didn't fancy just wandering across a field. As I wandered, there was a signpost to a mill. As this seemed to be a little more 'official' I took the pathway off the road to see what I could find.

After a few hundred yards and crossing the water, I came across a 'Corn mill of Assynt'. Reading the helpful blurb told me that this wasn't an uncommon sight - a small mill in the heart of the hills from the 1600s - 1800s, known as 'clack mills' from the sound they made. It is a remarkable place as I wondered how on earth the corn as well as the materials to build the mill in the first place, found their way into this place, located above the inlet to the sea but next to running water but still a good distance from anything that resembled an easy passageway. I've learnt a lot over the course of my time in Scotland about how landowners treated their tenants and the history of the Highland Clearances - something I knew very little of until now.

The day was turning out to be a very nice one weather wise. The sun was shining through breaks in the clouds and the wind dying down a bit. I thought that I should god for a dip in the sea - at least so I could say that I had been. It was cold, to say the least! I'm told the sea temperature was around 10 degrees. I wasn't in for long - but long enough to say that I had swum! It was 'bracing'! I felt I'd earnt my G&T when I got back to the motorhome.

In all of this, and as my time away continues, I'm finding it easier to have a clear mind! My time is taken up focusing on the beauty of the countryside around me - the like of which I've not encountered before. I'm sure that I'll have lots of photos that look remarkably similar but at the time were taken because of the 'wow' factor. There have been lots of those 'wow factor' moments and I'm sure there will continue to be. In my cleared head, I've been able to focus on more prayer, thought and reflection time for which I'm so so grateful

As always, to conclude with some photos.