Day 8.5

After such an exciting week that had been so tough yet satisfying today was always going to be a sad one given it was our last. Equally sadly we had rain forecast and as we cycled out of town with waterproofs on we were thinking that we were going to be arriving in Inverness in the same conditions we had left the town 8 days previous and hoping it wouldnt bring the same consequences ie a slide down the road!

We decided to take the scenic route back and not just head in on the A9, so set off across country planning to take the Nigg to Cromarty ferry, but not really sure what it entailed although we did know it was tiny, taking just 2 cars, plus we hoped a couple of bikes.

The views across the fields were fantastic as we rolled through relatively quiet roads and unspoilt countryside. This area between Tain and Nigg has some beautiful views, houses, roads and lots of space. We eventually arrived at the ferry terminal. Fantastic!

The ferry was only restarted a couple of years ago, the old jetty from when the ferry was clearly a much bigger affair still very much in evidence.

The fery runs every 30 mins, so having arrived 20 mins early we decided to opt for a rest in the open air rather than use the enclosed bus shelter on offer for adverse conditions and take in the views.

It was with huge excitement we watched the ferry approach, no chain just skillful manoeuvring to dock at the embarkation ramp. The driver of the single car on-board managed to reverse off, (which seems to be the only qay once you have driven on), up the ramp, do a Uturn and drive away past the various oil and energy plants located along the shoreline and serving the multiple oil platforms located in Cromarty Firth.

The best thing about this ferry is the views of the oil platforms as you make the crossing. The whole experience is massively unique and it is a real privilege to vist somewhere that is part of the shipping forecast first hand!

Having made the crossing on the “Renfrew Rose” (which has clearly seen some action), and its humour filled crew of 2 who are great fun, we had a quick coffee in the new coffee shack that has sprung up in the last 2 months at the Cromarty ferry port whilst for amusement, watching a german minibus negotiate its way on and thinking, “they have no idea what they are going to have to do to get off”. We then headed out of town, again opting for rural roads where possible and leaving the A9 till the last possible moment, which if you follow the number one cycle path is about 3 miles before the hugely impressive Kessock bridge, linking North Kessock to Inverness. Being slightly sensible and not wishing to be part of 4 lanes of thundering traffic, we took the pedestrian walkway with its protective barrier, arriving on the Inverness side just by the picturesque Caledonian Thistle ground, another picture opportunity!

From there it was a relatively simple cycle into town, where we did what anyone who had completed the 500 would do, ie scrubbed up and headed to the bar where our great friends Jo and Mike who live relatively close by, were able to join us for what was a very fine, if slightly excessive evening.

It was only after we were home and reviewed the entire 8.5 days we realised what an epic and wonderful trip thw North Coaat 500 is and was. The countryside is truly inspirational and we met some wonderful people along the way, plus you get to think about nothing else. A real break from the day to day…..