Today was hot, very hot. We set out from Plockton with our water bottles brimming and loaded up with fruit and snacks. However, as the road began to undulate and the day got warmer and warmer we realised the water wasn't going to last. I'd gone through two whole bottles in just 10 miles. It was that hot!
Fortunately when we reached Strathcarron we found a hotel with a bar that was quite happy to top them up, complete with ice, which went down very well.
The recurrent theme of the day was climbing up a hill from near sea level, only to descend back down again shortly afterward. Climbing in the heat of the day was definitely a struggle, but breeze during the descent more than made up for it.
Today also felt like our first real taste of wilderness. As we headed north the road narrowed to single track with barely any traffic. No trees, no houses, just bracken and tall mountains to either side.
Torridon was beautiful; a tiny village nestled under a huge mountain. The staff at the youth hostel were very friendly, they gave us a 5 bed dorm all to ourselves and directed us to the nearest place to eat, which was a pub 2 miles away.
We decided to walk, wondering if this was a good idea given the way in which the hostel windows all had midge screens fitted. In the end we need not have worried because the evening was too warm, but that didn't stop us feeling incredibly itchy anyway.
Once again the food was brilliant. Cycle touring is great; you can eat sweets all day, gorge yourself in the evenings on delicious local food, and still lose weight!
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