Day 38: Year Of The Burning

July 22, 2015

In 1814 the landlords, big wigs, and mucky-mucks of Strathnaver realized that sheep were more valuable than people and proceeded to kick most of the people of the land in a most despicable way. They sent in thugs to kill and remove the peasants, burning their houses in the night.

"The conflagration lasted 6 days, till the whole of the dwellings were reduced to ashes," wrote someone at the time.

As if life wasn't hard enough in those times, they had to contend with losing their homes and, in some cases their loved ones.

It was known as the "Year of The Burning".

Today there was no sign of ashes, though we did see some ruins. The valley was beautiful, with narrow lanes, green fields and a river running through it all.

In fact today was one of the best days of my whole trip. It only rained a few times, and not for long, and the sun came out for long stretches.

Before Strathnaver valley we rode through desolate mountains that look like what I imagine Alaska to be, though on a MUCH smaller scale, area wise. We stopped in quaint towns and a remote pub. We saw rivers where salmon run. We drank tea. We ate scones.

We also saw the sea. The NORTH sea and the town of Bettyhill.

We made it! As far north as you can go on the mainland of Scotland. Well almost anyway.

Tomorrow we ride a little further east and then a ferry to the Orkneys.