Tag: NC500

• October 17, 2021

  Stories and Solastalgia – The Aftermath of Writing About The North Coast 500, Park-Ups, Potholes and Poo

  This summer, I wrote a piece about living on the popular ‘North Coast 500’ route through the lens of my own experience as a resident of Caithness. Entitled ‘Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route,’ the article was probably more even-handed than the alliterated headline might suggest.…
• August 12, 2021

  Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders Are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route

  Last year, I wrote an article on the ‘summer of discontent’ on Scotland’s ‘North Coast 500’ road trip. As a resident on the route here in Caithness, I spent a lot of time writing about responsible travel and repeating the phrase ‘let’s hope things improve.’ A summer of littering, outdoor toileting and inconsiderate ‘wild camping’…
• April 22, 2021

  Tread Lightly, Travel Politely

  As travel restrictions ease across Scotland, many people in the North Highlands are feeling nervous about the resumption of tourism. 2020 was a challenging year here in the far north, and memories of irresponsible camping, inconsiderate motorhome parking, and the litter and human waste left by a minority of visitors will be difficult to erase.…
• March 21, 2021

  No Wilderness: Reshaping The Way We Talk About Far North Places

  Exactly a year ago, on the Sunday before the UK entered lockdown, I was out walking with my son here in Caithness when a man pulled over in his car and rolled down the driver’s side window. He asked us where he could find a place to eat and have a cup of coffee. The…
• August 14, 2020

  The North Coast 500 and the Summer of Discontent

  Since its inception in 2015, The North Coast 500 – the re-branding of an existing 516-mile loop around the North Highlands – has attracted visitors from all over the world, keen to experience the untamed beauty of this area of Scotland. Originally the brainchild of North Highland Initiative – a non-profit organisation set up by…
• February 7, 2019

  Snow Days, Post Pals and Lots of Writing – Little Loves

  It seems like forever since I wrote a Little Loves post (to be honest it has been a while as I don’t join in with Little Loves in December). Whereas most people join up with the linky on the last Friday of every month, I just do it when I can manage (which usually ends up being about a week after…
• August 16, 2018

  Sea Views, Roses and Highland Cathedral: A Day to Remember at Dunbeath Castle Gardens

  Last weekend we visited Dunbeath Castle Gardens for their annual summer open day. Staying at home more than normal over the holidays has encouraged us to check out some of the attractions on offer on our own doorstep (or at least within a 30 minute radius of our house 😉 ). And what attractions they are – Caithness has…
• May 24, 2018

  Life Within Four Corners – Spring 2018

  Welcome back to Life Within Four Corners, where I share some of my favourite photos, and the stories that went along with them each season. I used to do this on a monthly basis but to be honest, so many weekly and monthly commitments were getting too much for me to keep up with on…