Visit Inverewe gardens first thing. It’s Scottish NT so it’s free which we love. Unusually we visited the garden at the best time and it’s a riot of colour. Known for its rhododendrons, they were ablaze and of every size and shape. The walled kitchen garden was huge and just being planted up with flowers and veg but still interesting. Wandered around most of it in a hour and it was lovely.

Onto Gairloch next but really we didn’t stop. Big seaside resort with a lovely beach.

Stopped at Lake Maree for a little snack but managed to miss the best view point….oops.

This marks the end of our journey on the NC500. We are not completing the loop back to Inverness. It’s been a fab journey of outstanding experiences, locations and scenery! Do it if you can.

Onto the Kyle of Lochalsh, the gateway bridge to Skye where we stopped for a couple of photos.

It’s now around 2pm so we decide to take the road to Elgol from Broadford where we are staying later. According to the guidebook it’s worth the 14 miles each way to see the amazing Cuillin mountains from Elgol harbour. It takes us 60 rather than 30 mins to get there, parts of the single track road are hair raising, steep and winding and utterly stressful. What’s worse we have to return the way we came! Took pictures of the easy bits only……

The view of the mountains was incredible so we take a break and enjoy the view. Skye is gorgeous and scenic and the Cuillin mountains are spectacular.

Return journey not too bad except for the beginning trying to get up the very steep road out of the harbour. We pick up a American hitchhiker from Chicago, our age, who was planning to walk back….long walk. Lots of lambs around, not many fenced in.

Our campsite in Broadford backs up to one of the Cuillin mountains looking menacing in the twilight. We wander into Broadford and enjoy good food in the Harbour Restaurant before an episode of GOT.