HOW I LOVE TO WALK THE WALK

Like many who grew up in a major city, the charms and attractions of coastal and rural life surfaced much later for me. But having become a fairly frequent visitor over the past 17 years to what was my wife’s family croft in Tubeg, near Skerray in Sutherland, one particular walk has emerged as a personal favourite.

The walk from the hillside croft, Caberfeidh, to Skerray Harbour is barely two miles and certainly more attractive in the downward direction than grappling with the steep incline on the return leg.

I’ve made the trip by bike and on foot in all types of weather, and find being accompanied is key to enjoying the journey. I am usually joined by my 11-year-old son Cole and our German Shepherd dog Crowley (pictured right at our croft), and often by various birds, sheep and cattle, which make for wonderful, if usually temporary, travel companions.

Clean air, whin bushes, farm fields, cattle grids and a small water outlet give way to a flat road at the foot of two sizeable hills that mark the final stretch towards the harbour area and stony beach.

The surrounding area is blessed with some of the finest sandy beaches imaginable at Torrisdale Sands, Coldbackie and Farr beaches, but the rugged nature of the harbour area – and the views across to the islands of Roan and Neave – adds to the appeal of this singularly pleasant walk.

Perhaps the most compelling feature of this walk is the assault on the senses, be that the silence contrasting with the sound of the waves and wildlife; the biting winds contrasting with the stillness or the smell of the sea. A spectacular and satisfying walk towards the coastline of Scotland.