Road Trip: Day Two
One of the key's to planning the road trip was figuring out how to combine our desire to thoroughly explore the Highlands with getting to Orkney -- a group of islands off the northeast coast of Scotland.  To get there, you have travel not only into the most northern reaches of Scotland, but over a lot of very narrow, secondary type roads.
The Ring at the Festival The plan is to get the last ferry of the day from Gill's Bay to St. Margaret's Hope.  We could take several routes to get to Gill's Bay, but in keeping with the principle tenet of roadtrips, we have planned another circuitous route.
Road Trip Itinerary
Edinburgh Accommodation
Among the sights en route:
* The Cape Wrath Lighthouse built in 1827 stands more than 523 feet above sea level on staggering cliffs facing the stormy Atlantic Ocean. 
*  Sandwood Bay is described as the most magnificent beach in the UK.
*  Smoo Cave - the largest limestone sea cave in Britain.  Recent excavations show that the cave was in use 6000 years ago by settlers.
Highlands Accommodation
Orkney Accommodation
What We're Reading
Mileage:

Cannich to Gill's Bay
:
189.4 miles (304.7 km)

Total estimated time:
4 hours and 51 min
Hopefully we'll make it to the ferry.

Also, before we get there, it is important to note that the Orkney Islands, a collection of approximately 70 islands (only 18 inhabited) is always called Orkney, never the Orkneys.  The people who were born there are know as Orcadians.
Day One Days Three and Four Days Five and Six Day Seven
Where we're staying:

Miller's House