Day 73 Kildary to Dornoch

I woke up convinced that I would not be able to walk today, but worried about how on earth I would fill in any missing bit. Breakfast was continental in a bag - which was fine, but why provide croissant, butter and jam without a knife of any kind?

Having looked at the map, I decided to risk walking to Tain - 6 miles - on the basis that if I had to stop, then Tain would be better for public transport both today and whenever I came back to fill the gap. The main challenge walking in this area is avoiding walking on the A9 - and the walk to Tain was a lovely quiet road - meanwhile the continued superb weather was making me feel on top of thigs again.

At Tain I was feeling better than when I started so I decided to complete the day. The next section was unavoidably on the A9, including the bridge over the Dornoch Firth, and then the last 4 miles on another lovely back-road.

In Dornoch - which is a very attractive place - I had a coffee and looked in the cathedral before heading off in completely the wrong direction for my hotel - impressive for someone using both google maps and ordnance survey!

Approaching Dornoch

This throat infection deserves some kind of award - I had the first symptoms 13 days ago; it has mover from dry throat, to painful throat, to tickly cough, to chesty cough, to everything in my head hurts to (and only now) full blown head-cold and blocked up nose. Although yesterday was not great, I am very grateful that I have not (yet?) been stopped in my tracks.

6 more days walking. Simon Moore (who walked with me for a few days last Easter, and who, after cousin Hugh will be my most frequent walking companion) is meeting me tomorrow at Golspie - and tomorrow's walk is a relatively short day.

Stats: today 16.51, this trip 153.91, since Land's End 1135.6.