We’ve been away. Scotland, a long way north.

We’ve done a long way north before, of course, a good long time ago. Oddly enough, diesel had gone up in price a lot that time we drove hundreds of miles too, though 2008 prices would seem cheap now.

This time, we were heading west, eventually, but highland roads meant that Mr Google directed us up the A9 Road of Death just past Inverness, then west. But wait! I’m getting ahead of myself, we’ve got a long way to go yet!

We left at a sociable 09:30, and got on the M6T and M6. A quick stop at Tebay, and onwards on the M6, M74, M73, M80, M9 and A9. No serious traffic until we reach Perth, and even then, only a few minutes, and we reach Stanley and our overnight stop.

5:24 driving time, 335 miles, 52.8 mpg.

We went for a hobble down to Stanley Mills before tea, a place we’d been completely unaware of, had an evening meal and settled in to our room for the evening.

The next day: breakfast and back on the road. A brief stop for fuel, then onwards on the A9. The “Road of Death” is much tamed now: there’s much more dual carriageway, fewer hazardous junctions, and average speed cameras. We pass Inverness, and before too long turn off.

The roads get smaller, and at one point we have a over 40 mile stretch of thankfully quiet single-track road. We’re lucky though: there’s not much NC500 on our route.

We reach Kinlochbervie and our holiday let after another long drive: 4:20, 201 miles, 58.2 mpg, no hold-ups.

The place is beautiful and peaceful: just the sound of flowing water, sheep, and birdsong. There’s a big fishing harbour, but that’s out of sight.

Apart from said harbour, there’s a hotel, a hardware shop/filling station (with one petrol/diesel pump), 2 cafes, and a Spar shop. That’s about your lot, facitities-wise. As it was, the hotel was OK for a bar meal, the one cafe we tried was excellent, and the Spar was well-stocked, which is a good thing.

The cottage itself was warm (it might have been May, but it’s a good bit cooler up there), a decent size, comfortable, and unexpectedly had a decent Internet connection, and it proved to be a great base.