Photographs of Ardvreck Castle Scotland - Twenty five miles north of Ullapool Ardvreck Castle stands on the shores of Loch Assynt Sutherland and is dwarfed in this photograph by Spidean Coinich , Quinag. Ardvreck Castle was the home of MacLeod of Assynt and believed to have been built around the 1590's .

The Marquis of Montrose was held here after the battle of Carbisdale near Lairg, in 1650 where his armies were defeated. Montrose had retreated up Strathoykel but was captured by MacLeod He was held at Ardvreck. then taken to Edinburgh where he had been tried in his absence and was hanged, his body ` headed and quartered '

To many, Montrose was a principled, single minded martyr to the monarchy. Yet to others he was a turncoat who betrayed his oath to the Covenant by supporting Charles 1.

The drive from Ullapool takes you north through some wild country. Turn off the main road and you will soon arrive at the wonderfully named Achiltibuie where you can see across the waters to the Summer Isles.

Head north for Lochinver through the Inverpolly Nature Reserve and enjoy the view to Suilven one of many interesting hills in this part of Sutherland.

The area offers many delightful side roads to explore try going from Lochinver on the B869 to Unapool, sensational .