06:00 on a nice sunny dawn on Friday 16 August 2013 saw us up bright and early. This was the final day of our Highland adventure. This was the day I would tick off my bucket list, three places, Dunnet Head, John o’Groats and Duncansby Head. At Susan’s suggestion we would do the trip to John o’Groats the long way. Up the A9 to the Cromarty Firth Bridge 
Then onto the B9176 at Alness – a single track road- crossing Easter Ross wilderness stopping at the Dornoch Firth viewpoint and the Struie Hill viewpoint to get a picture of the Dornoch Firth and across the Dornoch Firth 
before we joined the A836 just before Bonar Bridge. At this stage I was enjoying the drive even although the B7196 was a single track road. Yes the A836 would turn into a single track road after Lairg, where we stopped for tea and cake, or was it bacon rolls, ah yes it was bacon rolls 
. Mind you I came across the slower pace of life at Lairg. We had spotted a nice big sign that stated Tourist Facilities, tea, meals etc. and directed us to the Highland Hotel. The signs on the bar door and restaurant showed Open. Next door, and I think part of the complex, was a Country Store also shown as open. The lights were on but no-one was there, this apparently is not that uncommon in this part of the country. Susan saw a couple walking along the street and they directed us to a nice little place “The Pier Café“. After our elevenses we recommenced our journey toward Tongue. We would continue up the single track A836 through Altnaharra travelling though wilderness 
to Loch Loyal where we stopped to get some nice photographs of Ben Loyal, which Susan had climbed in her more adventurous pre-retirement life. 
From Ben Loyal we wound our way up to the Kyle of Tongue as the A836 twisted its way to the very top of Scotland. 
Unfortunately I missed the turn and we headed past the village on the higher road. I turned back but Susan felt we should continue. ‘Twas here I sort of lost my temper. No not with Susan, but with a very ignorant Mercedes sports driver, who travelling at speed came right up to the back of my car. He was using aggressive tactics on a single track road through a village. He had to wait until I came to a place where he could pass me safely. As we set off an alert popped up on the panel. I had no idea what the alert meant and had to pull over to read the hand book. To me it looked as if it was a warning about brakes, but thankfully the book showed it was a bulb failure, a local advised we might get a replacement at Thurso. As we made our way on the A836 we came to Bettyhill. Susan was surprised at the changes that had taken place, from a one house location to a small community with a housing estate laid out awaiting completion. We stopped to have a spot of lunch before we set off to Thurso. 
As we drove into Thurso I spotted a Vauxhall travelling dealership van, drawing in I sought the dealer’s advice as I was concerned as it was the right hand dipped headlight bulb that had blown, and I had no idea how to replace it. Here I came across that wonderful Highland Hospitality. Not only did he know that only a garage could change the bulb, he contacted the garage and arranged for me to take my car there where a nice elderly gent proceeded to educate me on how to change a headlight bulb on a 2010 Octavia saloon. When he had replaced the bulb and re-assembled the light cluster etc., his tip to me was, ”Get Halfords to do it”. After a payment of modest amount we once again set off on our journey across the top of Scotland and mainland UK to Dunnet Head along the wonderful A836 amid some spectacular scenery alongside Dunnet Bay arriving at Dunnet Head we took the obligatory tourist shots.
At last we were on the final stage to John o’Groats. We left Dunnet Head to re-join the A836 travelling along the coast toward John o’Groats. Sound the trumpets, ring the bells – hooray says you (if you have read this far) they have made it at last, or is it just AT LAST! Either way we had arrived and here is our photo to prove it. That’s it folks… Oh wait no its not! We have to make our way back to North Kessock and the caravan. We once again set off but a quick diversion lead us to Duncansby Head
John o’Groats from Duncansby Head
From Duncansby Head we joined the A99 and headed south through Wick to Latheron where we would join the A9. As twilight approached I began to feel tired and in need of a long break from the car. We pulled into Helmsdale, parked up and made our way to the Bannockburn Inn/Tartan lounge and ordered a meal. Little did we know it would take 1 hour 45 minutes for the meal to be served. Ah well I wanted a long break . 
That’s it, from Helmsdale we made our way straight to the caravan arriving there at 1 am. We did not bother to unpack the car – a quick wash and to bed. Saturday we would head home to be in time for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
If you have read this far and stuck with the tale, well done and my thanks. Would I do this again – Of course I would – if these blogs have given you a taste to visit – great as it has been said - Scotland is beautiful regardless of the weather.
