Last day out in the country with the car, so its best to make the most of it. The intention is to get round Nizwa again, Al Hamra, Wadi Ghul, Jebel Shams and Bahla.

Nizwa is alive and buzzing, being the old capital and its location. Many people travel in from the villages and neighbouring towns for its services.

With a very detailed itinerary planned I am going back into the western Hajar mountains and this time stopping off overnight outside Nizwa. The aim is to visit the old fortified villages up through the Sumail Pass and then onto Bahla after attempting to get up onto Jebel Shams. Pack a jumper its going to get cooler certainly up high at the top of the highest point in Oman.

What a quiet peaceful day with little planned – leisurely day out in Old Muscat or Muttrah.

The Grand Mosque lies down by the main highway. A huge dome and towering minaret are part of the complex. White marble has been used throughout the site and in the main Mosque building is one of the largest carpets ever made, weighing 21 tons.

Prepared with my picnic I “head west, always feels like west. Down to the Grand Mosque roundabout and then out towards Seeb. The highway peels off to Nizeva while rest continues to Sohar. This must be the nearest part of the highway complex as it heads towards and into the mountains. The sun is still awakening and the colours are still bright at this time.

The intention is to complete the Rustaq loop as its known, take in the forts and just have a leisurely drive today.

Muscat is located in the lee of the mountains and apart from tracks the main highway always exits towards Seeb. Even if you want to go in the opposite direction its this way out of town.

The road out of Muscat to the north west is clear and moving and taking the main highway to Nizwa I discover it to be in excellent condition – almost Autobahn like, except for the speed cameras every kilometre. Initially I was expecting Oman to be an arid desert full of oil pumps; but it’s rich with some amazing sights.

That’s going to be cold then? Africa, that’s a change! Where exactly is that? Caribbean! So Muscat could be cold, near Moscow, Africa or even that Caribbean Island mistakenly made for Mustique.

Surprisingly very few people had any knowledge of Muscat’s location and that it’s within Oman.