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| We depart Inverness and cross the Black Isle before turning
towards Dingwall, county town of Ross & Cromarty. A brief stop in Strathpeffer
for passengers joining there before we continue west, soon entering wild
open moorland. We cross the watershed and stop at Corrieshalloch
Gorge, one of the most spectacular canyons in the Highlands. Time for
a hot drink before we continue south to Dundonnell and follow the Atlantic
Coast past Gruinard
Island of sinister memory before coming to Inverewe
Gardens . 
 We have two-and-a-half hours at these world-famous gardens - this is also our lunch stop.
Loch Ewe was a major naval base in WW II and those with an interest in the naval history of that conflict may make an optional trip up the west side of the sea-loch where they can view the old gun emplacements and two memorials - the first to the USS William H Welsh sunk in Loch Ewe in a storm, the other to the Murmansk Convoys which left Loch Ewe on the grim Arctic run. This can be combined with a shorter visit to the gardens. 
 Click above for larger pictures of the memorials to the Arctic convoys Loch Ewe is not as famous as some other WWII British naval bases - Portsmouth, Scapa Flow - but was vitally important after the latter had been attacked by U-47. The next link gives more information on the Murmansk convoys, including the ill-fated PQ17 - keep going through this link, you'll find Loch Ewe mentioned eventually!
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