Day 120 The Penultimate Day

Today was a relatively short day made even shorter by my decision to skip a headland. The trouble with my two unscheduled rest days is that I now just want to finish and am losing interest in scenic routes.

I was determined not to set out too early. Fortunately this is quite easy in Wick as nothing opens particularly early. I was staying in an Airbnb so there was no breakfast. I decided to go back to Wickers World where I had lunch yesterday. Even with dawdling over my very nice and extremely filling cooked breakfast I was on the road at 9.40.

Despite trying to slow down I was making good time along the road past the airport. I was heading for Ackergill, cutting off the headland with Noss Head and Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. I know, they’re unmissable, but I’ve seen a lot of ruined castles over the last few months.

I turned down a long straight road to Ackergill and joined the trail. The path ran alongside Ackergill Tower which was originally fifteenth century.

It is now owned by an American philanthropist who clearly believes in keeping the grounds nice

The path led down to the beach and, as the tide was on its way out I walked along the sand for the next few miles. The weather was stunning-blue skies, warm, but with a slight breeze.

My main problem today was how to kill time. Tim had blotted his copybook with the B and B (I am staying in the same one) by arriving too early and I didn’t want to make the same mistake. First though I needed to cross, and I quote from the guidebook “ the most formidable obstacle of the entire Trail: the River of Wester”. As I looked down the beach I could see a small stream running across it. I took my shoes and socks off and paddled across. The tops of my feet were barely wet.

After crossing the formidable obstacle I stopped for a while on a flat topped bollard. I had some lunch, I read my book, I watched the children playing on the beach (the schools are closed for teacher In service training). After an hour or so, I put away my book and followed the path to the harbour

My B and B is a mile out of Keiss. I made my way to the main road, noting the mobile post office, and chatting to one of the people in the queue-she wished me good luck for tomorrow. I spent half an hour in the pub with a Coke, writing up the blog until, at last, it was time to make for the B and B.

The road was scenic and quiet, and there was another ruined castle…

This evening I have a dehydrated camping meal for dinner, the pub was too far away. Tomorrow I reach John O’Groats.