East Daviot to Inverness

The campsite I used to frequent in Inverness was run by the council at Bught Park and did not show up in my quick searches for campsites in and around Inverness this week. I learned at the East Daviot campsite yesterday that some cyclists had intended to use Bught Park but decided they had the energy to go further south. The site is running, under private ownership, and charges a reasonable £12 per night for a backpacker/cycle tourer in a small tent. For a change, I am now based at Bught Park until my tourer is mended by Highland Bikes.

Picnic breakfast at the Inshes park was followed by a coffee at the Fairways Cafe, which was recommended to me more than once. The menu for a full meal on another occasion looked tempting. Several sporting venues are nearby and the indoor bowling building had an open back door. The building looked large and I asked to see the bowling green from the inside. It is the same size as outdoor greens, taking six games at a time. At this time of year, I was told, it opens only twice a week for those who do not play outside.
You’ll know my relative, let’s call him Jim (because he does not want his name online) then.
This is him arriving!
We had a chat in the cold about the bike situation, campsites and the first ferries as we were getting over the coincidence.

Earlier in the week I had bought merino leggings from Go Outdoors but thought it was too early in the year to buy Sealskin gloves and overshoes. Hearing about recent snow on the ground at Ullapool I changed my mind and am pleased with purchases and the help received today.

Lunch from The Jammy Piece, sitting outside in front of the canal, and afternoon coffee in a cafe above the indoor climbing walls were following suggestions and did not disappoint.

Returning to this campsite most of the way by a towpath was preferable to taking the General Booth Road and the King Brude Road.

This camping field is next to the running track which earlier today was hosting a major event for primary schools, to much noise and excitement. My days of camping here partly in order to do track sessions were over a long long time ago!