The NC500 in a VW T3 Campervan – Part 2 – The East coast to Brora.

Day 3 – Loch Ness to Brora, via Cromarty. 102 miles (164.15 km)

After 2 days of motorways and A-roads, It was time to slow down the pace as we started the NC500 properly. The first stop would be Inverness to fill Bellamy with Fuel and Food, after a couple of photos of Bellamy on the shores of Loch Ness.

Accompanying us around the NC500 was a great iPhone App – The Local Guide. An interactive guide around the NC500, full of interesting facts of the towns and villages you will drive through and also give you idea’s for places to visit off the NC500 route.
http://www.the-local-guide.co.uk

Our first stop was actually off the NC500 route, the beautiful village of Cromarty on the Black Isle. As we headed towards Cromarty, the Local Guide app asked if we were interested in visiting a Clootie Well. Intrigued, we followed the directions found a place to park and left Bellamy for a wander….

The Clootie Well is a rather weird remnant of an ancient tradition once commonly found in Scotland and Ireland, of holy wells to which pilgrims would come and make offerings, usually in the hope of having an illness cured. The tradition dates far back into pre-Christian times, to the practice of leaving votive offerings to the local spirits or gods in wells and springs.

It was a fascinating and bizarre place to explore, so many people had left an offering it created a magical atmosphere.

Soon we had made it to Cromarty and explored the village including buying some outstanding cheese and condiments to help us around the NC500.

We had another shortstop as we headed to Brora, a Homeware store in a converted barn for a browse, soup and a cheese scone. https://www.anta.co.uk

Finally, we arrived at the Brora Campsite with enough daylight to explore the empty beach after avoiding the golf balls as we strode across the fairway. Then back to Bellamy for a warm supper, some of that outstanding Cromarty cheese and a peaceful nights sleep.