28 May 2013: 27km. Started 08:30. Arrived 15:30.
The full cooked breakfast made a change after four mornings of breakfast prepared by me either camping or at a hostel. The weather was dry and sunny with a lot of blue sky. Although it was windy, the wind was less cold. I was warned that there would be a lot of long straight roads. Initially it was ok walking into the village, past the pub and past the end of the huge loch.
Soon I was indeed on a narrow long and straight unclassified road. I could see a bungalow ahead for a long time, then it disappeared into a dip before becoming visible again. The point where I arrived at the bungalow was the point where I could see the Pentland Firth – the sea at the north end of UK – this was an amazing feeling. There were many crofts and bungalows. A lot of bungalows were for sale and so were plots of land for building dwellings. At Canisbay the rundown looking old SYHA building was for sale.
I had decided that although I could get to John O’Groats that day (the campsite was only 2km from John O’Groats) I would go there the next day and approach it from the more scenic Duncansby Head footpath rather than walk up the road.
The campsite at Huna turned out to be at the far end of the hamlet. There was no answer at the door but the owner answered the phone. He had to open the washroom (free showers with a timer) using a screwdriver but it all seemed nice and clean and was only £5 to camp. There was no-one else staying and he said to camp anywhere so I chose a secluded site next to a run down children’s play area. When he came back to see where I’d put my tent, he explained that he’d only owned the site for ten years and not got round to sorting that section yet.
The weather forecast looked good – dry and sunny. There was a beautiful sunset over the sea. I decided to ask about staying there for a second night and leaving my tent up, while I go to John O’Groats.
Where's Kathryn? 