North Coast 500

This guidebook describes a 528-mile cycling route in northern Scotland. Starting and finishing in the highland capital Inverness, the circular route passes through the ancient counties and districts of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross and the Black Isle and is suitable for mountain, touring and road bikes.

Enjoy the local color and majestic scenery of the Scottish Highlands with this essential road trip guide along the scenic North Coast 500. Known as Scotland’s Route 66, the North Coast 500 takes travelers on a winding journey across northern Scotland’s breathtaking coastline. Acclaimed Scottish travel writer Brigid Benson guides you on a journey that begins in the charming city of Inverness, then weaves westward to the historic village of Applecross and up the Atlantic coast to the most northerly points in Britain before heading back to Inverness along the North Sea. In addition to stunning mountains, moors, lochs and beaches, the route also features exquisite towns and villages, castles, distilleries and breweries. Benson divides the route into manageable daily itineraries, suggesting where to discover history, observe wildlife, meet great local characters, shop at quirky stores, taste outstanding food, drink in friendly bars and cafes, and stand in awe of amazing sights. She also recommends campsites, inns and other places to stay, along with places to picnic, swim, surf, walk and stargaze. “For Scottish travel it doesn’t get better than North Coast Journey, an eco-friendly, common sensical, well-researched foray around the locale of the North Coast 500 and beyond.” —The Scotsman, UK

In Winter Solstice Rosamunde Pilcher brings her readers into the lives of five very different people.... Elfrida Phipps, once of London's stage, moved to the English village of Dibton in hopes of making a new life for herself. Gradually she settled into the comfortable familiarity of village life -- shopkeepers knowing her tastes, neighbors calling her by name -- still she finds herself lonely. Oscar Blundell gave up his life as a musician in order to marry Gloria. They have a beautiful daughter, Francesca, and it is only because of their little girl that Oscar views his sacrificed career as worthwhile. Carrie returns from Austria at the end of an ill-fated affair with a married man to find her mother and aunt sharing a home and squabbling endlessly. With Christmas approaching, Carrie agrees to look after her aunt's awkward and quiet teenage daughter, Lucy, so that her mother might enjoy a romantic fling in America. Sam Howard is trying to pull his life back together after his wife has left him for another. He is without home and without roots, all he has is his job. Business takes him to northern Scotland, where he falls in love with the lush, craggy landscape and set his sights on a house. It is the strange rippling effects of a tragedy that will bring these five characters together in a large, neglected estate house near the Scottish fishing town of Creagan. It is in this house, on the shortest day of the year, that the lives of five people will come together and be forever changed. Rosamunde Pilcher's long-awaited return to the page will warm the hearts of readers both old and new. Winter Solstice is a novel of love, loyalty and rebirth.

A lively and entertaining road trip around Scotland's North Coast 500 Route, exploring the history and cultural heritage of the area with plenty of exciting diversions and anecdotes along the way. Journeying around the Northern Highlands of Scotland, the author visits many towns and villages as well as sometimes going off the beaten track.

Handy little full colour map of the Northern Scotland. Detailed mapping and tourist information ideal for any road trip.Main features of this map include: - Clear mapping- Tourist attractions located and described- Ideal for touring with sights, places to stay, cafe/restaurant, things to do all on the map- Index to places of interest and place namesEssential for those planning a trip around Northern Scotland.

This guidebook describes a 528-mile cycling route in northern Scotland. Starting and finishing in the highland capital Inverness, the circular route passes through the ancient counties and districts of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross and the Black Isle and is suitable for all types of bike: the going is entirely on asphalt-surfaced roads, though many are quiet with little traffic. The circuit can be comfortably completed in a fortnight. Featuring clear and concise route description, together with 1:150,000 mapping, gradient profiles, suggested schedules and invaluable practical information - including complete lists of all hostel/bunkhouse accommodation, official campsites and services for cyclists and advice on other accommodation and refreshment opportunities, this guidebook provides all the information needed to plan and execute a terrific cycle tour. Alternative routes are provided in case you should wish to avoid the steep ascent of Bealach na Bà or the undulating Assynt peninsula, or to include the busier A9 east coast road. The route boasts stunning scenery and rich historical interest and cyclists will be treated to mile upon mile of unspoilt wilderness. The journey takes in varied landscapes of craggy mountains, verdant glens, rolling peat moorland dotted with lochs and wild rugged coastlines - and if the scenery isn't enough, there are many distilleries and micro-breweries on or near the route guaranteed to entice. With notes on history, geology, wildlife and local points of interest, the guide offers a perfect way to get to know Scotland's captivating far north.