Another glorious day, with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky, very warm.

Today, we leave the Gairloch Highland Lodge, which provided last-minute accommodation after our booking at the Old Curing Station on Dry Island Badachro fell through. While the hotel was basic, it was clean and offered a nice shower and breakfast. But what truly set our stay apart was the staff—exceptionally friendly and helpful, they went above and beyond to enhance our customer experience.

After leaving Gairloch, we headed to the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve, which boasts stunning views of Loch Maree. We took a delightful one-hour walk through ancient woodlands, enjoying every moment.

Next, we ventured to Shieldaig, a picturesque village overlooking Loch Torridon. Opposite the village lies Shieldaig Island, a bird sanctuary managed by the National Trust for Scotland, where Sea Eagles have nested in recent years.

Historically, Shieldaig was established in the early 1800s to encourage local villagers to fish for herring and thus cultivate a stock of trained seamen for the Royal Navy.

Today, the local economy thrives on fishing and tourism. There are salmon farms in the area, along with a smokehouse in the village. We observed creels on the pier, used to catch what locals refer to as “prawns,” which are actually nephrops, resembling mini-lobsters. Crabs and scallops are also plentiful here.

We had lunch at Nanny’s, a charming cafe on the seafront that served delicious homemade food.

Next, our journey took us on a long (84-mile) drive across country to Fort Augustus. While this should have been an easy drive, there were long stretches of single-track roads and narrow two-lane roads that demanded full concentration and were thus very tiring. However, the phenomenal views and breathtaking scenery made every moment worthwhile.

We’re staying at Rose Cottage Bed and Breakfast in Fort Augustus, where owners Jan and Michael extended a warm and very friendly welcome. Jan eagerly showed us around the house, while Michael kindly took our luggage to our room. The house is superb and elegantly appointed, and our bedroom (Room 2) is spacious, featuring a super king bed.

Tomorrow, Saturday, marks our final day touring the Highlands. Time has flown by, but we have thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of this incredible journey.