Guided Tours
There are plenty of private wildlife and scenic tours that take place around Thurso, Caithness and Sutherland. So if you’re looking for a guide to take you to all the best locations to spot puffins, seals and other local wildlife or dramatic coastal scenery, book ahead to avoid dissapointment.
Castle of Mey
Purchased in 1952 as Barrogill Castle by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the castle and it’s gardens were lovingly restored and it was returned to it’s original name, The Castle of Mey. The castle has a long and interesting history as the most northerly inhabited castle in Scotland. As well as this historic castle, you can also visit the animal centre, visitor centre and gardens.
Camster Cairns
Stand among two of the oldest stone monuments in Scotland – a pair of Neolithic tombs originally built more than 5,000 years ago. The cairns are hauntingly sited on a windswept moor, in the middle of the famous Caithness ‘Flow Country’. Although they have been reconstructed in modern times, the Grey Cairns of Camster provide a fascinating insight into Neolithic funerary practices.
Latheronwheel
Latheronwheel is a small village built in 1835. Originally a fishing village, the small scenic harbour was used by boats fishing for herring. Today the harbour is used by a few local people to keep boats for lobster and crab fishing, or for leisure fishing off the Caithness coastline. There is a small free car parking area with picnic benches ideally located for birdwatching, sketching and taking in the views.
John O’Groats
Best know for it’s iconic location, this popular surfing spot has a number of things to do and see. With a local distillery, brewery, Bumble Bee project, many stunning coastal walks and trips to the Orkney Isles as well as lovely gallery showcasing work by talented local artists.
Dunnet Head
Visit the Scottish mainland’s most northernly point and the focal point of the North Highland Way, Dunnet Head.
On a clear day Dunnet Head commands some of the most extensive views you are likely to find anywhere in northern Scotland. These include the Orkney Islands to the north, and the length of the north coast of Scotland from Duncansby Head, to Cape Wrath, to the west.
To the south of Dunnet village is nearly two miles of beautiful sandy beach backed by magnificent dunes. The Seadrift Visitor Centre is an excellent way to find out more about the coastal environment of Dunnet Bay and the wildlife who call it home.
Duncansby Stacks
On the very northeast corner of the British mainland lie two beautiful sights…The Duncansby Stacks and Lighthouse are hugely popular tourist attractions, drawing visitors from all over the world to admire their humbling beauty.
The Duncansby Stacks lie just off the shore of Duncansby Head on the most northeastern point of mainland Scotland. These towering sea stacks are believed to have stood in this position for the last 6000 years. The water in this part of Scotland has proven itself treacherous over the years, which has resulted in the construction of the nearby Duncansby Lighthouse.
Built in 1924, the lighthouse was home to a keeper until 1997, when it became fully automated. Soon after, the keepers quarters showed signs of damp and asbestos and were removed. The lighthouse tower however remains, and is still functional, protecting boats from the crags and cliffs of this dramatic and tumultuous span of water.