A grey February Sunday in Scotland. No plan, heavy wind, tired winter mood. One hour later we stand above wild cliffs and remember why going anyway always helps.

It is Saturday, cold and dark outside. I get up at five in the morning to sit in silence, write, drink coffee, and slowly start the day — before the house wakes up.

A visual diary from our winter journey along the NC500.

Snow, wind, short days, and quiet moments captured in photos from the Scottish Highlands.

We set off to drive the NC500 in winter without really knowing what to expect. Storms, snow, short days, quiet nights in a campervan — and a few moments that made it all worth remembering.

We rented our first room in England before we even arrived.

It lasted two weeks and taught us more than we expected.

We left with one suitcase each and a simple plan. It was Sunday, 24 September 2006. We did not know then that this was the beginning of twenty years in the UK.