I left Ullapool with a slightly lighter rucksack as some of my kit was taken by car to where I was staying that night (thank goodness). It turned out to be a pretty challenging day. I was following the coast using the old ‘Postman’s Path’ which had been used to deliver the post to Achiltibuie as long ago as 1807. I hope the recipients of the mail were grateful to the postman who delivered it in those days, as it would have been bloody hard work! The path took me along the edge of very high and steep cliffs which had slid into the sea in places. At one point the path disappeared into a gulley and I had to slide down it in sections, tearing my trousers in the process! Throughout all this the midges cheered me on! Many hours, miles and soaked feet later I staggered into the ‘Summer Isles Hotel’ and realised what heaven could be like. They looked after me and refused to charge me for my dinner, bed and breakfast. Thank you.
I had to delay the return to my walking due to a death in the family. Peter Dale-Thomas was very much in my thoughts as I returned to Ullapool today. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s with Lewys bodies (a form of Parkinson’s) for many years. I returned to the ‘Royal Hotel’ in Ullapool where I had reached in May. I went back to see Eddie and Wendy Hughes at ‘Braemore Square Country House’ B&B. As promised, Eddie very kindly lent me his rod and I spent a couple of hours fishing his beautiful stretch of the River Broom. I couldn’t believe my luck when I hooked a lovely salmon and watched her circle the pool in which she was hooked before shaking herself off the end of my line! What a pleasure and a privilege! I also had a feisty sea trout on my line and it returned to the river to grow wider, longer and wiser. Later on in the day I returned to the 'Corrieshalloch Gorge' for another dose of vertigo before heading back to the hotel for the evening. |
Archives 2012 |