{"id":14742,"date":"2025-05-04T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=14742"},"modified":"2025-05-03T23:17:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T22:17:55","slug":"john-ogroats-trail-continues-to-flourish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2025\/05\/04\/john-ogroats-trail-continues-to-flourish\/","title":{"rendered":"John O\u2019Groats Trail continues to flourish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A new bridge over the Loth Burn in Sutherland was unveiled recently. I went along to hear from those behind the long-distance walking route between Inverness and Caithness.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fragrant yellow gorse frames many views in the Highlands at this time of year, and possibly no more so than around the Helmsdale area in east Sutherland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seven years ago, I joined Jay Wilson and a number of volunteers who had spent at least the previous two years bashing back bracken and adding simple stiles and plank bridges to create a more passable route along the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The John O\u2019Groats Trail was borne out of this determination \u2013 led by Jay \u2013 to create something new, and to share it with more people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OGyRWTUZKD0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On our walk in 2018 we went north from Helmsdale, into Caithness to visit the broch at Ousdale and pass through the Clearance village of Badbea, situated on the precipitous edge of the cliffs, to the reach the lovely cafe at bonnie Berriedale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a wonderful day out and really showed what the east coast has to offer in terms of scenery as well as historical attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-attachment-id=\"14744\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1500,1000\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1527432012&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"jogt-2018\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?resize=960%2C640&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/jogt-2018.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passing Badbae village on the walk in 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In April this year, the biggest investment to date in the JOGT was unveiled \u2013 a magnificent new footbridge across the Loth Burn between Brora and Helmsdale. The gorse was out once again, a stunning backdrop to this pristine crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The burn was no more than a calm trickle on the day, but in spate it crashes through here below the far north rail line, making it a serious barrier to walkers tackling the route. A story was told of wading waist-deep through the powerful river to the safety of the far bank \u2013 not something every walker wants to be attempting.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions__supports-newline wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/?post_type=post&#038;p=14742\" style=\"font-size: 16px;padding: 15px 23px 15px 23px;margin: 0; margin-left: 10px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 1px; background-color: #113AF5; color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-left: 0\">Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a couple of years of fundraising and hard work behind the scenes from trail managers Ken McElroy and Laura Gray, a total of around \u00a390,000 has been spent on putting this new bridge in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It shows just how far the trail has come, from a small group of people with a shared vision willing to work together for the greater good, to this professional charity pulling various funding sources together to make the route much more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-attachment-id=\"14745\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;John Davidson www.johndavidsonoutdoors.com&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 700D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1745513784&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;COPYRIGHT All rights reserved&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;23&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_1031\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=960%2C640&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_1031-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Landowner John Billett and former chairman of the North of Scotland group of the Long Distance Walkers Association Graham Smith cut the ribbon to open the bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day was uplifting and inspiring, as many of those who have been involved over the years gathered at the bridge for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, alongside local MP Jamie Stone, Helen and Paul Webster from Walk Highlands and many others including trustees and supporters of the Friends of the John O\u2019Groats Trail group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It felt like a lot had changed since that walk to Berriedale, and it had. This was one big step forward for the John O\u2019Groats Trail, and a reminder of some of that hidden scenery on the east coast of Sutherland and, further north, into Caithness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact that the view to the Loth hills from the new bridge is perfectly framed by the railway bridge just a few yards beyond is an added bonus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019d recommend a walk on the trail, and the further north you go, the better it seems to get!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk\/news\/i-could-never-have-imagined-it-loth-burn-footbridge-open-380513\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018I could never have imagined it\u2019 \u2013 Loth Burn footbridge opens up John O\u2019Groats Trail to more walkers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk\/news\/new-north-coast-trail-section-through-caithness-ready-to-wa-380511\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New North Coast Trail section through Caithness \u2018ready to walk\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions__supports-newline wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/?post_type=post&#038;p=14742\" style=\"font-size: 16px;padding: 15px 23px 15px 23px;margin: 0; margin-left: 10px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 1px; background-color: #113AF5; color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-left: 0\">Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new bridge over the Loth Burn in Sutherland was unveiled recently. John Davidson went along to hear from those behind the long-distance walking route between Inverness and Caithness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[146,4,3],"tags":[11,18],"class_list":["post-14742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-active-outdoors","category-blog","category-news","tag-highlands","tag-walk"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/dji_fly_20250424_154916_349_1745520846962_photo_optimized-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5M0xs-3PM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3702,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2018\/06\/10\/make-way-for-walkers-on-the-john-ogroats-trail\/","url_meta":{"origin":14742,"position":0},"title":"Make way for walkers on the John O&#8217;Groats Trail","author":"John Davidson","date":"June 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Striking coastal scenery, beautiful hills and cleared villages \u2013 something that has made parts of the Highlands hugely popular with visitors. It seems, however, that this fondness doesn\u2019t always stretch to the east coast of Caithness and Sutherland, which is too often overlooked as people blast up and down the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Active Outdoors&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Active Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/active-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/JOGT-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/JOGT-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/JOGT-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/JOGT-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/JOGT-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1792,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2014\/05\/11\/land-of-contrasts-biking-in-the-highlands\/","url_meta":{"origin":14742,"position":1},"title":"Land of contrasts &#8211; biking in the Highlands","author":"John Davidson","date":"May 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Having taken part in the inaugural Etape Loch Ness - a 67-mile closed-road cycle sportive around the loch - recently, my latest outing on the bike was a little different. From traffic-free roads where I was pushing along at a pace, this mountain bike circuit took us into remote glens\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;John's blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"John's blog","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Achanshellach-MTB-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Achanshellach-MTB-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Achanshellach-MTB-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Achanshellach-MTB-7.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3012,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2017\/07\/12\/a-bikepacking-adventure-across-the-highlands\/","url_meta":{"origin":14742,"position":2},"title":"A bikepacking adventure across the Highlands","author":"John Davidson","date":"July 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I had been working on this route in my head for a couple of years, linking together bits of off-road I had done to create a flowing route through the Highlands from Inverness on the east coast to Ullapool on the west. Having contemplated and backed out of a one-day\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;John's blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"John's blog","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSCN9180.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSCN9180.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSCN9180.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSCN9180.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSCN9180.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2226,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2015\/06\/18\/go-explore-with-sustrans-family-bike-ride\/","url_meta":{"origin":14742,"position":3},"title":"Go Explore with Sustrans family bike ride","author":"John Davidson","date":"June 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release: What \u2013 get the kids out cycling on a family-friendly led bike ride Where \u2013 along the Caledonian Canal in Inverness. Meet at the rugby pitch car park When \u2013 10am on Saturday 27th June Who \u2013 the ride is led by Sustrans volunteers, including organiser John Davidson\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;John's blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"John's blog","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Families enjoy a cycle ride along the Caledonian Canal at Dochgarroch. Picture: John Davidson","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Supermums-canal-Inverness-28-web-450x338.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14763,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2025\/05\/11\/cycling-lands-end-to-john-ogroats-10-years-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":14742,"position":4},"title":"Cycling Land&#8217;s End to John O&#8217;Groats &#8211; 10 years on","author":"John Davidson","date":"May 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"As the editor of the John O\u2019Groat Journal, I hear about all sorts of different end-to-end challenges \u2013 some quirkier than others \u2013 but each person who completes the long journey from Land\u2019s End (or the other way around) under their own steam deserves recognition in my book. I remember\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;John's blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"John's blog","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lejog-May-2015-395-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lejog-May-2015-395-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lejog-May-2015-395-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lejog-May-2015-395-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lejog-May-2015-395-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8176,"url":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/2022\/05\/08\/melvich-base-for-flow-country-cycling-trip\/","url_meta":{"origin":14742,"position":5},"title":"Melvich base for Flow Country cycling trip","author":"John Davidson","date":"May 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"My visits to the far north coast tend to be dominated by cycling, from day trips to Dunnet Head to touring routes including Land\u2019s End to John O\u2019Groats and the North Coast 500. It was not so different last week, when I spent a couple of days on a cycling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Active Outdoors&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Active Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/content\/active-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IMG_0911-smaller.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IMG_0911-smaller.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IMG_0911-smaller.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IMG_0911-smaller.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IMG_0911-smaller.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14742"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14750,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14742\/revisions\/14750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bl6.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}