Graeme’s guidebook
Places to visit
Beautiful views across to Ornkey and a spectacular cliff walk. Look out for puffins nesting in the stacks and cliffs. Duncansby Head is the most northeasterly part of both the Scottish and British mainlands, slightly northeast of John o' Groats. It lies approximately 20 km east-southeast of Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of both the Scottish and British mainlands.
15 recommandé par les habitants
Duncansby Head
Beautiful views across to Ornkey and a spectacular cliff walk. Look out for puffins nesting in the stacks and cliffs. Duncansby Head is the most northeasterly part of both the Scottish and British mainlands, slightly northeast of John o' Groats. It lies approximately 20 km east-southeast of Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of both the Scottish and British mainlands.
Emily's favourite beach. Long expanse of golden sands with the stunning Dunnet Head at the end. Climb the fantastic sand dunes and look out for seals. If you are lucky you may get the place to yourself!
12 recommandé par les habitants
Dunnet Beach
Emily's favourite beach. Long expanse of golden sands with the stunning Dunnet Head at the end. Climb the fantastic sand dunes and look out for seals. If you are lucky you may get the place to yourself!
If you like wild coasts and cliffs this attraction is for you!
Path is easy, but you should wear waterproof shoes because there is some muddy terrain. If you just walk you can do it in 90 minutes. But, of course, you don't want to miss the views!
Don't even bother to take photos at the cliffs before the second gate, they seems to be huge and spectacular. Just wait to climb on top and you'll understand! Main attraction is a massive stack.
Holborn Head
If you like wild coasts and cliffs this attraction is for you!
Path is easy, but you should wear waterproof shoes because there is some muddy terrain. If you just walk you can do it in 90 minutes. But, of course, you don't want to miss the views!
Don't even bother to take photos at the cliffs before the second gate, they seems to be huge and spectacular. Just wait to climb on top and you'll understand! Main attraction is a massive stack.
Forsinard Flows is part of a vast expanse of blanket bog, sheltered straths and mountains known as the Flow Country. The Flow Country is one of Scotland's most important natural treasures and the RSPB looks after more than 21,000 hectares of it. The RSPB has been working to protect the landscape here for more than 20 years.
11 recommandé par les habitants
Forsinard Flows
Forsinard Flows is part of a vast expanse of blanket bog, sheltered straths and mountains known as the Flow Country. The Flow Country is one of Scotland's most important natural treasures and the RSPB looks after more than 21,000 hectares of it. The RSPB has been working to protect the landscape here for more than 20 years.
Melvich beach is the most attractive beach at the mouth of the River Halladale. Bounded to the east by the River Halladale and to the west by rocky outcrops, this beautiful expanse of golden sands can be reached in a short 100 m walk through the dunes.
Melvich
Melvich beach is the most attractive beach at the mouth of the River Halladale. Bounded to the east by the River Halladale and to the west by rocky outcrops, this beautiful expanse of golden sands can be reached in a short 100 m walk through the dunes.
Murkle beach: East of Thurso. It's an attractive sheltered beach with views over dunnet bay onto dunnet head, the most northerly point on the mainland. You can usually see seals and very occasionally orcas.
Murkle Bay, Thurso, Royaume-Uni
Murkle beach: East of Thurso. It's an attractive sheltered beach with views over dunnet bay onto dunnet head, the most northerly point on the mainland. You can usually see seals and very occasionally orcas.
Dunnet Beach: a long stretch of unspoilt beach and dunes...it is spectacular. Start at either end or from the car park and through the dunes in the middle.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Dunnet Beach
Dunnet Beach: a long stretch of unspoilt beach and dunes...it is spectacular. Start at either end or from the car park and through the dunes in the middle.
at the east end of the beach, turn off to the right before passing the caravan site or getting to Dunnet village. Its a nice walk anytime but particularly if it is windy, wet or both as the trees offer shelter that you will find in few other places in Caithness. It's not particularly big but there are signed paths that take you thru and round the forest keeping you occupied for 30 mins to 1.5hrs. Look up the DCF website for more info.
Dunnet Forest Paths
at the east end of the beach, turn off to the right before passing the caravan site or getting to Dunnet village. Its a nice walk anytime but particularly if it is windy, wet or both as the trees offer shelter that you will find in few other places in Caithness. It's not particularly big but there are signed paths that take you thru and round the forest keeping you occupied for 30 mins to 1.5hrs. Look up the DCF website for more info.
Hard to find but once there amazing. Nestled in the cliffs below the house of the Northern Gate (big white house above the cliffs overlooking Dunnet Bay), on the south side of Dunnet Head, facing into the prevailing wind you will find a small but perfectly formed small, sandy beach. You will hav to choose an appropriate time to go as the beach is covered at high tide but that only adds to it's allure, imho. Only a short walk of 10 mins from the car.
Peedie Sands
Hard to find but once there amazing. Nestled in the cliffs below the house of the Northern Gate (big white house above the cliffs overlooking Dunnet Bay), on the south side of Dunnet Head, facing into the prevailing wind you will find a small but perfectly formed small, sandy beach. You will hav to choose an appropriate time to go as the beach is covered at high tide but that only adds to it's allure, imho. Only a short walk of 10 mins from the car.
Northernmost point on Scottish mainland. Great views (on a clear day) along the north coast from east to west, out over the Pentland Firth to Orkney and due to it's increased elevation over the rest of the modest undulations of Caithness it gives you a good view over the county to the south. Park at the lighthouse right at the end of the road and don't miss the view from the cliffs or the viewpoint up the hill from the car park.
Dunnet Head, Thurso KW14 8XS, Royaume-Uni
Northernmost point on Scottish mainland. Great views (on a clear day) along the north coast from east to west, out over the Pentland Firth to Orkney and due to it's increased elevation over the rest of the modest undulations of Caithness it gives you a good view over the county to the south. Park at the lighthouse right at the end of the road and don't miss the view from the cliffs or the viewpoint up the hill from the car park.
A place to visit, the view from the harbour out over the Pentland Firth to Orkney is great all day but particularly towards sunset.
John o' Groats
A place to visit, the view from the harbour out over the Pentland Firth to Orkney is great all day but particularly towards sunset.
A couple of miles to the East of JoG, this is worth a visit to look at the Stacks of Duncansby. Remarkable diagonal shards of rock caused by thousands of years of wind, rain and sea battering the cliffs just to the south of the head.
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Duncansby Stacks
A couple of miles to the East of JoG, this is worth a visit to look at the Stacks of Duncansby. Remarkable diagonal shards of rock caused by thousands of years of wind, rain and sea battering the cliffs just to the south of the head.
Head out of JoG towards Wick and before you get there you will pass Sinclairs Bay edged by Riess Sands. Another dune system edging the sea for miles with a slender beach before stopping beneath the cliffs north of Wick.
Along these cliffs running east you will find first Ackergill Tower and then Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle with a couple of miles between them. Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle is a photogenic structure and well worth a visit...particularly if you like your castles strikingly located, cinematically brooding and comprehensively ruined.
Sinclair's Bay
Head out of JoG towards Wick and before you get there you will pass Sinclairs Bay edged by Riess Sands. Another dune system edging the sea for miles with a slender beach before stopping beneath the cliffs north of Wick.
Along these cliffs running east you will find first Ackergill Tower and then Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle with a couple of miles between them. Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle is a photogenic structure and well worth a visit...particularly if you like your castles strikingly located, cinematically brooding and comprehensively ruined.
Try to make time to see the steps and go down them to the bottom. The hard work folk (women, mainly) had to do in the old days, sheesh!
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Whaligoe Steps
Try to make time to see the steps and go down them to the bottom. The hard work folk (women, mainly) had to do in the old days, sheesh!
Food scene
We recommend going to the Park Hotel for some traditional Scottish pub grub. Our boys love the steak pie and scampi and chips.
The Park Hotel - Hotel Thurso
Oldfield CourtWe recommend going to the Park Hotel for some traditional Scottish pub grub. Our boys love the steak pie and scampi and chips.
We enjoy the food and atmosphere at the Y Not Bar & Grill. This is an easy stroll from the house. Great burgers and large portions.
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Y Not Bar & Grill
Meadow LaneWe enjoy the food and atmosphere at the Y Not Bar & Grill. This is an easy stroll from the house. Great burgers and large portions.
Uniquely situated at the foot of Holborn Head Cliffs, The Restaurant nestles spectacularly into the cliff face and commands unparalleled views over Thurso Bay and Scrabster Harbour. A truly magnificent location for this truly superb restaurant. A great place for steaks!
'The Upper Deck' restaurant
Uniquely situated at the foot of Holborn Head Cliffs, The Restaurant nestles spectacularly into the cliff face and commands unparalleled views over Thurso Bay and Scrabster Harbour. A truly magnificent location for this truly superb restaurant. A great place for steaks!
Coffee shop
The heart of the town.
A place you can feel at home.
A place of trust and comfort and most importantly the place with AMAZING coffee.
Olive
1-3 Brabster StCoffee shop
The heart of the town.
A place you can feel at home.
A place of trust and comfort and most importantly the place with AMAZING coffee.
shops
J.A. Mackay
4 Traill StA good grocers and particularly great whisky shop.
Bews Butchers
We recommend this fantastic butchers.
We recommend this amazing fish mongers - always very interesting selection.
JPL Fishmonger & Fine Foods
We recommend this amazing fish mongers - always very interesting selection.
golf
A twenty minute drive takes you Reay Golf Course. It is the most northerly James Braid designed golf course on the British isles.
Reay Golf Course
A twenty minute drive takes you Reay Golf Course. It is the most northerly James Braid designed golf course on the British isles.
Thurso is an enjoyable parkland course at the tip of the Highlands with inspiring views of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Isles. If you like playing in a strong wind then this 18 holer is right up your street.
Most holes feature out-of-bounds and almost all have narrow fairways. And if that wasn't enough you must also overcome patches of gorse and heather - hence the rewards going to straight hitters. The thirteenth is a classic with rough to the right, heather to the left and a bunker guarding the green. Recent course improvements have made it a real favourite with visitors.
Thurso Golf Club
Thurso is an enjoyable parkland course at the tip of the Highlands with inspiring views of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Isles. If you like playing in a strong wind then this 18 holer is right up your street.
Most holes feature out-of-bounds and almost all have narrow fairways. And if that wasn't enough you must also overcome patches of gorse and heather - hence the rewards going to straight hitters. The thirteenth is a classic with rough to the right, heather to the left and a bunker guarding the green. Recent course improvements have made it a real favourite with visitors.
water sports
Most Northernly Surf Lessons In Scotland!
North Coast Watersports provides award winning cold water surfing experiences amongst the best waves in the UK, where you will see this breathtaking coast from a new perspective. Anyone of any age can grab a board and come out and enjoy the beautiful waters and by the end you will be warmed to the heart with stoke and a love for riding waves- our wetsuits are also super cosy.
7 recommandé par les habitants
North Coast Watersports
WestsideMost Northernly Surf Lessons In Scotland!
North Coast Watersports provides award winning cold water surfing experiences amongst the best waves in the UK, where you will see this breathtaking coast from a new perspective. Anyone of any age can grab a board and come out and enjoy the beautiful waters and by the end you will be warmed to the heart with stoke and a love for riding waves- our wetsuits are also super cosy.