In the far corner of Allendale village square there is a handsome lychgate which leads to St Cuthbert’s Church. On the south aisle wall near the tower hangs a sundial inscribed with latitude 54° 50’ in support of the 19th Century claim that Allendale is at the very centre of Britain. The methods for establishing this centre point are many and varied leading to widely differing claims and counter-claims. I will ignore this; for the purposes of this journey I am starting at the centre of Britain and heading for its top left corner, Cape Wrath. This book is as much about the journey as the golf courses in between. So, dear reader, pack the golf clubs in the most exciting car you can lay your hands on, head for Allendale and enjoy the ride.
The road trip north – 727 inspiring miles (approximately):
Allendale – Selkirk: 77 miles
Selkirk – Innerleithen: 15 miles
Innerleithen – Bishopshire: 74 miles
Bishopshire – Strathtay: 48 miles
Strathtay – Killin: 28 miles
Killin – Rest & Be Thankful – Inveraray: 54 miles
Inveraray – Oban – Craignure (ferry) – Tobermory: 70 miles
Tobermory – Kilchoan (ferry) – Sanna – Traigh: 66 miles
Traigh – Mallaig – Armadale (ferry) – Ord – Plockton – Lochcarron: 68 miles
Lochcarron – Applecross – Gairloch: 79 miles
Gairloch – Ullapool: 56 miles
Ullapool – Inverpolly – Sandwood Bay – Durness: 92 miles
The road trip south – 648 inspiring miles (approximately):
Durness – Reay: 61 miles
Reay – Reiss Links, Wick: 41 miles
Reiss Links, Wick – Lybster: 24 miles
Lybster – Bonar Bridge: 60 miles
Bonar Bridge – Portmahomack: 25 miles
Portmahomack – Fortrose: 42 miles (about half this if the Nigg – Cromarty ferry is operating)
Fortrose – Covesea: 51 miles
Covesea – Cullen: 28 miles
Cullen – Carrbridge: 56 miles
Carrbridge – Blair Atholl: 56 miles
Blair Atholl – Lauder: 108 miles
Lauder – Melrose: 11 miles
Melrose – Newcastleton: 39 miles
Newcastleton – Allendale: 46 miles