North Of Bonar Bridge

Bonar Bridge is the gateway to a relatively undiscovered interior in this part of the Highlands. Following the A836 north, Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel at Invershin is a particularly well-appointed convenience for back-packers exploring this part of the country where accents from most parts of Europe mingle in such an imposing castle. Nearby are the Falls of Shin, a well known tourist stop with a large coach park, gift shop and restaurant often with a young lady piper who appears as soon as a well-laden coach pulls in. The falls, reached by a series of stairways, are a major obstacle for migrating salmon that recklessly hurl themselves at the torrent to reach their spawning grounds.

Five miles (8km) on, either following the minor road or back-tracking to the slightly better A836, is the village of Lairg. While this is no metropolis, it is a welcome outpost of civilisation for those that have just taken the A836 south from Tongue or the A838 along Loch Shin from Laxford Bridge and the north-west. They step out of their cars looking like they have just come off a roller-coaster. The railway line north stops here at Lairg. It is a popular holiday retreat with fishing, boating and walking in the hills behind the town. From Lairg it is a pleasant drive back to the coast at Loch Fleet where you pick up the A9 north or turn south to explore Dornoch.