Scotland’s North Coast 500 was opened in 2015 and this 516 mile route has become a popular travel destination. This, Part 2, of our tour will take us from Dornoch to Wick on the east coast of northern Scotland. You will cross Loch Fleet and see an old Thomas Telford bridge (early 1800s) which has an incredible sluice gate system to allow the river to exit but stops the sea water from entering the river Fleet. You will visit the attractive seaside town of Golspie and, as lovely as it is, the Golspie Inn was witness to the iniquities of the Highland Clearances. Soon after Golspie you will see the ‘Mannie’, a monument to the 1st Duke of Sutherland and why some would like to see it knocked down. The Mannie stands on a hill overlooking the fabulous caste Dunrobin which we will visit on our travels.

We will pass through Brora with its wonderful sandy beach and links golf course before going on to see a 2000 year old Broch at Ousdale. Soon afterwards we will visit Dunbeath which holds the secrets of King George VI’s younger brother, the Duke of Kent, who died in mysterious circumstances when his plane crashed into a hill some 3 miles from the town. Of course, George VI was the king who replaced Edward VII when he abdicated to marry Wallace Simpson. We’ll retire for the evening in the Wick area and enjoy a sumptuous dinner in an exquisite Victorian Villa. So exciting…..