Thursday 16 May

Another bright but cool day in Inverness saw me at the bus station at 7.30, in order not to miss my bus to Ullapool. A dozen folks piled on board the bus, which left on time at 8.10. Crossed the Kessock Bridge, and headed northwest to Ullapool. The gentle sloping fields of the Black Isles gave way to the enclosed valleys west of Contin, until we left the railway at Garve, and ascended onto the moors near Aultguish Inn. The mountain tops were still crowned in snow, like the Cairngorms yesterday. Got into Ullapool at 9.30, an hour before the ferry was due to depart. Had an amble about the village, and bought another book by Tom Devine about Scottish history. Ferry came at 9.45, and departed for Stornoway at 10.25. Had a late breakfast, then sat back to enjoy the scenery of Loch Broom. Once out in the open sea, the vista widened to Rubha Reidh to the south and Suilven to the north. A band of rain in the Minch announced the approach to Stornoway, but it was sunny when we docked there at 1.15pm.