We are an Anglo-Swiss couple in our 70s who have done a lot of mountain walking (though no mountain climbing) in Switzerland, where we live. Our hillwalking in England was mostly confined to Exmoor and Dartmoor with our children, when visiting Peter’s parents 1978-1995.

Our first major climb in the UK was Cader Idris near Barmouth, Wales, (893 m) way back in 1977. In the “noughties” we spent hiking holidays in the Peaks, North York Moors, Dales, and, in 2004 the Lake District, where we hiked a fair number of Wainwrights, including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Helvellyn.

In May 2016 we spent four weeks in Scotland, visiting the Orkneys and the Western Isles. Our first hill climb was to the Tap o’ Noth Hillfort near Huntly. The weather was sunny, and despite being battered by near gale-force winds, we made it to the top – and spent the afternoon in Balmoral Castle.

Sandwood Bay had been on my radar for many years, but due to a fairly tight schedule, we had only the one day (May 12th 2016) reserved for the hike.

Note: All times are given in BST, in accordance with data from my digital camera.

We stayed at the Old School in Kinlochbervie – where else?



The weather the following morning could not have been better



We left Blairmore at around 9.40 a.m. There were a number of cars in the car park, but surprisingly few people actually hiking. We did not keep count of our fellow hikers, but I doubt whether we saw more than a dozen during the whole day. Eager to get on, we left most of our photography for the way back.













Despite strong, cold winds, we picnicked in the dunes





By now the wind had dropped and the hike back was pleasantly warm.







After a coffee at the car park kiosk, it was off to Ullapool where we were booked on the morning ferry to Stornoway.



This hike was by no means the longest or most arduous we ever undertook. Our most memorable hike was the first major one we made together in August 1973. The track up to the Lai da Rims (2395 m above msl) involved a climb of just over 1000m from Santa Maria im Münstertal, Switzerland..



We did it one afternoon after being told the weather the next day would take a turn for the worse. The ascent took around two hours, the return somewhat less. But we were younger then!