After a final night in a B & B and Scottish breakfast we were ready to set off on the last leg of the walk.
A cloudy day throughout.
We set off along the A99 to seek out a path down to the coast to save a mile of backtracking to Keiss. We soon found a suitable field with a gate leading to the coast path.
Soon after joining the path we passed the Mervin Tower, a commemorative memorial at Nybster Brock, an Iron Age settlement. The memorial was dismantled and relocated from inside to outside the settlement in 1987 as part of a job creation scheme! Oyster Catchers had been constant and noisy companions along the Caithness coastline. They had found a use for the monument.
We passed other memorials and monuments as we progressed along the coast.
We passed the remains of Bucholly Castle perched precariously on a stack, before reaching Freswick Bay and its castle which is now a family home.
The path briefly departs from the coast after the bay, due to an unsafe cliff edge, leaving the beach we pass the remnants of some tank traps from World War II.
We rejoined the coast at Skirza Harbour and passed many more geos and stacks on the way to Duncansby Head and it’s lighthouse. By now we could see John O’ Groats in the distance.
At Duncansby head the path becomes busy with day trippers, out for a stroll or bird watching.
The path from here onwards levelled out and passed around a couple of sandy cove’s before reaching our final destination.
After the obligatory photo stop, we lunched at The Northern Point, while waiting for our bus to Thurso and the Premier Inn.
We always have mixed feelings at the end of a long walk. A sense of achievement at completing the challenge and sadness that the adventure is over….for now.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our blog and looking at the photos. Thank you for your comments, they really do help to keep us motivated. Hopefully it may have inspired others to try something similar.
Until next time.
Steve and Lynn
8 June 2022
steveandlynnwalkdotcom 
Absolutely brilliant and my favourite pic is the last one! Now for a well earned beer and bed to sleep in! See you soon. Love xxx
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What, no more blogs!
I have really enjoyed watching your progress, adventures and fantastic photos. Many congratulations, to have done this both ways must make you both quite a rarity.
Best wishes 👍
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Wow guys – you’ve made it! Congratulations on an amazing feat. We’ve been following your progress all along the way. What an achievement, and great photos. Thanks for the running commentary, and the amusing out-takes! We know how you feel on completing – we felt the same after every LDP we’ve done. Now your most pressing question is – what next?! The SWCP is rather nice, but why stop there – you’ve got the whole country’s coast path before you where you now stand……….
All our best wishes,
Andy & Chris (of Great Glen Way encounter)
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What an achievement, as someone contemplating the same journey I tip my hat and salute you both. amazing. Well done!
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Congratulations on achieving your goal, once wasn’t enough, to have completed this challenge in both directions is awesome. Time for reflection and a rest whilst you think about your next challenge. Looking forward to catching up with you in person soon.
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Pleased you are now on your way back . Look forward to seeing you both on Friday.
Sent from my iPad
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Margaret and I have followed your progress with great interest and enjoyed the blog.
A fine achievement – we wonder what will be next?
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Congratulations on your achievement, not many people have done that once let alone twice. I’m sure you’ll now enjoy some rest and time to think about the next challenge. Thanks for putting your trip into a blog, I’ve (and clearly many others) had great fun reading your exploits and enjoying the photos.
All the best and hope to see you both soon
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