When I woke at about Six o'clock I could hear that the wind had risen but as yet the rain that was forecast had not yet arrived, but it was not long in coming We were on the move early but by the time we were packed and on the way the rain had arrived with a vengeance carried from the west on a strong wind that was rapidly increasing in strength. Our route followed close to the shore of the Loch the wind was whipping up the surface causing waves to sweep up onto the shingle, spray was blowing up onto the road at times.

We must have looked a sorry sight as about a mile beyond Loch Loyal lodge a Volvo being driven cautiously from the direction of Tongue pulled up beside us. The driver, an american, asked if he could help in any way? I assured him that we were ok. and we set off up and over the hills that separated us from the Kyle of Tongue. As we gained height and lost the shelter of the hillside the wind seemed to reach a full gale. This together with the driving rain which luckily for us was coming from behind made It a very rough walk over the top, there were times when It was difficult to stay upright, we had to be on our guard against the sudden gusts that sent us staggering off course.

Eventually we managed to drop out of the wind as we caught our first glimpse of the Kyle through the curtains of cloud and rain.

 
As we dropped down to the village the rain abated, we were quite sheltered from the wind. The village was very quiet, we were hoping there would be a cafe where we could rest for a while before walking the last half mile to the little pier that we had earmarked as the end of our trek. We were out of luck, there was a pub, but being only 11. 30 and Sunday it was shut. We sat for a while In the bus shelter and got out of our wet gear, we had a snack, tidied our packs, disposed or our rubbish then set of again this time Into some pleasant weather . Our pick up was arranged for 2.0 o'clock so there was no haste as we wandered along the lane to the pier jutting into the Kyle.

                

   

From the pier the sea was hidden by the little islands that guarded the entrance, but here with water all around seemed a fitting place to end this walk which over a period of about 35 days had taken us northward from Keld In the Yorkshire dales to here at the Kyle of Tongue on. the Pentland Firth.