Run Britain Day 140: From Kinlochbervie to Durness

A special one. 

A day to put aside all of my worries and frustrations and anger from the last week and simply enjoy this amazing adventure. 

The weather decided it would help me on this quest and I set off from the parking spot in Kinlochbervie into the beautiful blue skies. 

At this time of year it is almost impossible to get all the way to Cape Wrath at the western-most tip of Britain. The ferry only runs from May to September, so unless you’re willing to do an out and back hike on an unmarked trail, it’s a no-go. But as this corner of Britain was Uncle Tom’s favourite, I thought I would give it a go, rather than sticking to the well-trodden roads which I have been following in Scotland. 

I’m so glad I went off piste. The beach at Sandhaven is the most magical place I have ever been. The sea colour varies from deep blue to pale turquoise, and is crystal clear. The spray off the surf is dazzlingly white. And the beach itself, with its green dunes and yellow sand, hardly seems real. The kind of beach drawn by people who hope this is what beaches look like. 

I spent some time today listening to Tom’s book. Only the bit where he talks about this corner, because I find it hard hearing him narrate his own words and sad to think how much he’d have wanted to be involved in what I am doing. 

The rest of the day was spent in Lottie’s company and I was so grateful for it. It’s been so much fun exploring this wonderful corner of Britain, almost all on our own. Except for Tisi, who was interested in what I am doing and, by complete coincidence, once lived in Aldeburgh. 

The beaches at Durness (the destination for the day) were almost as spectacular as Sandhaven. It feels incredibly momentous to have made it to the north coast, after exactly 100 days on the west.