Lakes, Lochs,Reservoirs,Tarns, Ponds

Today was to be an exciting one with a walk along this Loch to Duncraig Castle and then on to the village of Plockton and beyond. As per usual, the weather started poor but we had high hopes for better to come. Our path goes along the top of the small wall on our right here and the village will come into view on our left shortly. The peak is ‘Carn a Bhealaich Mhoir’ at 343metres. Best full screen Enjoy the day.

As we continue toward Duncraig Castle the Loch opens up for us here. The beautiful village of Plockton is just beyond the headland on the left. In the distance we see the mountains of Applecross. The PiP shows us the way to the castle and back to the village. Best full screen Enjoy the day.

Take a seat and enjoy this view over Loch Carron towards the village of Plockton from near the Duncraig Railway halt and its castle (PiP). The pier and indeed the nearby tree-topped Island (Sgeir Bhuidhe) are actually part of the castle estate HBM, enjoy the week.

Between Fort William and Loch Ness there are two other Lochs: Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. This is the larger of the two, Loch Lochy with its most splendid reflections to the North West in this case. The two photo panorama was taken at the popular viewpoint stop at Letter Finlay. "Loch Lochy is a large freshwater loch in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It is 15km (9 miles) long with an average width of 1km and a mean depth of 70 m (230ft), it is the third-deepest loch of Scotland." WiKi Essential full screen.

Shieldaig on the edge of the Applecross peninsular is about 10 miles NE of Applecross village as the crow flies but almost 20 miles by road. Situated on Loch Torridon. Described as one of the most picturesque villages in the Highlands . We are going north from here via the A832 towards the village of Torridon and then via Kinlochewe and Gairloch to Ullapool our next port of call. A 1993 slide. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Gairloch 1989. A slide. Gairloch is one of the principal villages on the North coast 500 route. This view taken over Loch Gairloch looking south. This is the view from the Gairloch beach looking over to Charlestown and much further to the mountains of Skye taken with my Canon long lens. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

1989 and we have arrived at Loch Broom, the big sea loch on which its famous small town of Ullapool sits, an important stop-off point for this North Coast 500 tour. We are at the eastern end here with Ullapool the white line in the far distance. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems. I am doing this virtual road trip clockwise as our Ipernity friend Roger does it anti-clockwise. We are hoping to meet up in Durness.

Another from Ullapool looking up Loch Broom. As I am doing this virtual tour clockwise (whilst Roger does it anti-clockwise) from here we travel north to and through Assynt. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Our virtual journey up the NC500 continues north along Loch Assynt. A view of the ruined Castle of Ardvreck here. Ardvreck is famous as the place where the royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was handed over in 1650 to the Covenanter forces by MacLeod, Laird of Assynt after the Battle of Carbisdale. Clan Mackenzie attacked and captured Ardvreck Castle in 1672, and then took control of the Assynt lands. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Loch Assynt can be a broody place and it is difficult to think that a whole community lived in the Castle of Ardvreck here just behind me. (PiP) . This spot must have been a safe mooring place for the fishing boats that would have been a necessity here. Loch Assynt is a freshwater loch in Sutherland, Scotland, 8 kilometres east of Lochinver. The famous North Coast 500 road is across the water where you can see the white vehicle. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Another view of Port-an-Eorna in North West Scotland. The small row-boat is our centre of interest here, maybe a spot of fishing or just a photo shoot for otters is in order. PiP Enjoy full screen.

Loch Leitir Easaidh (Little Assynt) After a visit to Ardvreck Castle we decide to take a walk in an area called Little Assynt, located just a few km north of the castle. A wonderful stroll past beautiful lochans full of small islands that looked inviting even in our worsening weather. This is a relatively small loch at only 2km at its maximum length and 4 metres deep. The hut to the right is a natural WC and the hut on the left just a seated shelter. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Lets face it, there are not many seats with an outlook like this has. To slowly watch the flow and ebb of the tide here and listen to the small plops and splashes in the water is the thing that dreams are made off. I at first thought the blue rope was to stop somebody taking the seat away and then realised that the sea must sometimes get to the bench and might wash it away and hence the need for a tie-down. The far mountains would be the Cuillins of the Isle of Skye. The PiP show the view from here too. Enjoy full screen. HBM, enjoy the week.

Detouring of the main Northern NC500 road ( A838) we head up to the beautiful Oldshoremore area and its wonderful Sandwood Bay, passing through the village of Kinlochbervie. Described as a crofting community, with a huge fish-processing plant with a modern concrete harbour shown here (without the bad bits :) ) Of course the reflections did it for me here. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Rolling across the top of Scotland our route crosses the Kyle of Tongue via a combined bridge and causeway. Looking south down the Kyle from the end of the crossing we see the majestic outline of Ben Loyal described as an isolated mountain of 764 m in Sutherland. For us, I could have wished for better weather for my take but I was just happy that I could see it anyway. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Another view of ben Loyal with now a section of the Kyle causeway crossing is seen too. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Looking down the Kyle of Tongue as we head for the hamlet of Talmine. We see another view of the Ben Loyal on the left with a little of Ben Hope on the right side. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Back to our Spring Scottish holiday we see here another rendition from this lovely bay. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the day! Best full screen