OSGB GRID REF. ND380727. HERE AT LAST!

WICK STATION. HEART OF A THROBBING NORTHERN SCOTTISH METROPOLIS

DUNCANSBY LIGHTHOUSE. A BEACON OF HOPE?

LIKE NOSFERATU'S TEETH; DUNCANSBY STACKS

How do I manage it? Monday 13 finally arrives but, even given 6 months to plan this venture, I still end up with a last minute panic. With just an hour to get to Southampton Parkway to catch the 19.22 train to Scotland, I haven't packed and my lift is suffering from mechanical troubles.

Fortunately, Cotswold's Ben 'the Boot' Jones came to the rescue with a working car, but I still boarded the train with my rucksack only half full and the rest of my kit thrown into 3 plastic bags.

I spent the first hour of the journey checking the kit against my list as I loaded it into the rucksack. Fortunately nothing of significance had been forgotten. 

The rail journey took nearly 20 hours and required changes at Stafford, Crewe and Inverness. The 'end of the line' was Wick, which I reached at 14.55 Tuesday. After a quick look around the town, I caught the bus to complete the final 17 mile stretch to John o'Groats. After an evening stroll to Duncansby Head and back, I settled into the hospitable embrace of the Caberfeidh B&B (now called the Seaview Hotel) to write this and to enjoy my last night between sheets for a while.