A
full minibus of walkers set off on a damp morning from Wick.
On the way west the rain was heavier and there were foggy patches.
By the time we reached our starting point at the head of the River
Hope seven miles past Tongue it was clearer and drier. We followed
the track in on the edge of Loch Hope and stopped at Arnaboll
cottage for a cup of tea and something to eat. The sun had
come out and it was lovely and warm. There was a cemetery on the
hill behind the cottage dating back to the 17th century
We
carried on along the shores of Loch Hope. Low cloud on Ben Hope
stopped us from seeing the top but the mountain (the most
northerly Munro) still looked majestic. We stopped for a wee
bit of lunch or a big lunch if you had plenty sandwiches. Some of
us scrambled up the side of Loch Hope and took a higher walk back
to the starting point. Others went back along the shore. We
had a heavy shower of rain but did not get too wet. Some of the
group saw a Golden Eagle. We also saw deer in the woods and heard
the cuckoo singing.
As
it is 10 years since the Caithness Waybaggers walking group has
been formed we decided to go for our tea. We had a lovely meal at
the Craggan Hotel in Melness. Robert the Secretary of the
group cut a cake to celebrate some good walking times in the last
10 years.
