Hullo. How are you? I hope you are having a good day. I’m Mark and I’m walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats…
First port of call today was the supermarket in Wick. Tonight’s accommodation is remote and there are no shops or restaurants along the way, so I stocked up my rucksack with ingredients for an evening meal and some odds and ends to get me through tomorrow, which meant a heavier pack than usual, but I knew the walk ahead was relatively easy.
After a bit of road walking, I crossed some fields to skirt around the romantic Ackergill Tower, which sits right on the edge of the sea.
I then followed the John O’Groats trail for the short distance to Wick Golf Club. Here, the trail continues along the dunes, but I wanted to spend the day on the beach, so dropped down onto the sand.
The walk along Sinclair’s Bay was magnificent, with the clear blue waters bouncing the bright sunshine around.
Half way along the beach, I stopped to sit in the dunes for a while and appreciate my surroundings. The wind brought clouds from across the sea and it was time to dig out my hardshell for some warmth.
I waded through the River Wester, which runs through the beach to the sea and continued along the bay.
At Keiss, I joined the track in the dunes and onto the paths in front of the beach houses.
Passing through the village takes the hiker along the pretty little harbour and onto a cliff top path.
I passed a couple of brochs and several pill boxes, showing this coastline has a lineage of defensive buildings protecting the country.
And the strategic importance of this stretch of coast is further highlighted by the now derelict Keiss Castle, which sits precariously on the cliffs.
Beyond the castle, I continued along the cliffs for a short while before climbing an awkward fence into a field and up the hill to cross the road.
Then onto a minor lane to walk another 10 minutes to the isolated B&B, which I checked into and was struck by the reality that tomorrow is the final walk.
The Day 69 Vlog
Fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support
As I walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I am hoping to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support, who do such a wonderful job of supporting families through the most difficult times. If you are able to spare any amount and would like to donate to MacMillan, please do so through my Just Giving Page.
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