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Visitor Attractions

Visitor Information - Northern Highlands

History and Heritage

Castles 

Activities 

Out and About:

Northern Highlands:  Accommodation

The Northern Highlands covers a vast area, in fact the whole of mainland Scotland north of a line roughly from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. Large towns are few and far between. The wild and remote west coast is indented by numerous sea lochs. Inland, mountain ranges offer the walker and climber some of the finest scenery in the land.
 

The Old Man of Stoer

Historic Buildings and Castles:

Dornoch Cathedral

Dornoch Cathedral

The cathedral, with its elegant stained glass windows, dates back to the 13th century.

Achanlochy Village

Achanlochy Clearance Village, Strath Never, south of Bettyhill, Caithness. This deserted village was once home to those inhabitants evicted during the Clearances.

Mary-Ann's Cottage

Near Dunnet, Caithness. The cottage gives a glimpse of crofting life over the last 150 years.

Beauly Priory

Beauly Priory

Beauly. The priory was originally built in the thirteenth century.

Hugh Miller's Cottage

Cromarty. Birthplace of the famous geologist and writer. Museum offering video presentation and displays illustrating his work.

Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle

Ten miles north of Dornoch. Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and is certainly one of the most majestic, having almost 200 rooms.

   
       

Museums and Galleries:

Smithy Heritage Centre

Ribuachan, near Lochcarron. A restored blacksmith's workshop and forge. Local history displays, woodland walks, picnic site.

Gairloch Heritage Museum

Gairloch Museum

Reflects the history of the parish of Gairloch: its people, their life, work and customs, the landscape and local skills such as spinning and fishing. Displays and changing exhibitions throughout the season.

Groam House Museum

Rosemarkie. Displays of original Pictish stones. Exhibitions throughout the year.

Tarbat Discovery Centre

Tarbat Discovery Centre

The centre overlooks Portmahomack, an unspoilt village on the picturesque Dornoch Firth.

Highland Museum of Childhood

Museum of Childhood

Strathpeffer, near Dingwall. The museum has collections of dolls, toys, games, books, costume and textiles.

Historylinks

Dornoch. Museum depicting the history and heritage of Dornoch.

Storehouse of Foulis

Storehouse of Foulis

Foulis Ferry, north of Inverness. Housed within the renovated storehouse are a series of entertaining, informative and educational history and wildlife exhibitions.

Timespan Heritage Centre

Helmsdale. An arts and heritage center that tells the history of Helmsdale and its surrounding area in Sutherland, north east Scotland. Experience Helmsdale's highland heritage, fashioned over centuries. From Picts and Vikings, through murders at Helmsdale Castle, the last burning of a witch and the harrowing highland clearances.

       

Parks and Gardens:

Kerrachar Gardens

Kerrachar Gardens

Near Kylesku, on the shore of Loch a Chairn Bhain, access is only by boat. Remote gardens, plant sales.

Black Isle Wildlife Park

Drumsmittal, near North Kessock. Large collection of exotic animals and birds.

Attadale Gardens

Attadale Gardens

Strathcarron. Woodland paths, waterfalls, ponds and restored sunken garden. Restaurant and craft shop.

Inverewe Garden

Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, this impressive garden is set on the shore of Loch Ewe, near Poolewe. Exotic plants from around the world.

       

Visitor Attractions:

Corrieshalloch Gorge

Braemore, near Ullapool. Spectacular mile long gorge, includes the 150ft Falls of Measach, viewing platform.

Achiltibuie Hydroponicum

Achiltibuie Hydroponicum

Its spectacular growing houses produce extraordinary results. Everything from lettuces to bananas can be seen in various climate zones.

Tain Through Time

Tower Street, Tain. Includes the Pilgrimage Centre, Tain and District Museum and the Clan Ross Centre.

Torridon

The Torridon Visitor Centre has information and displays on all aspects of this spectacular mountain area. Ranger-led walks are available.

The Studio

Achnasheen, Wester Ross. The Studio shows the largest collection of contemporary jewellery in the Highlands. Wholefood cafe.

Viking Centre

Northlands Viking Centre, Keiss, near Wick. Displays and exhibits charting the progress of Viking settlers in the area. Reconstructed longship.

Camster Cairns

Achiltibuie Hydroponicum

Camster Cairns are probably the best known neolithic site in Caithness. The local area is rich in remains, including cairns, cists, and a stone row. The Camster Cairns consists of two chambers: Camster Long and Camster Round.

The Camster Cairns are well worth a visit, even when the sun is not shining. You get a feel for the atmosphere and the hard conditions that the first settlers were exposed to. Access is easy, with road side parking, it’s free, and there is a made up walk way from the road to the cairns.

 
       

Sports and Activities:

Golf

Royal Dornoch Golf Course

Royal Dornoch Golf Course. Views across Dornoch Firth.

Fairburn Activity Centre

Fairburn Activity Centre

Fairburn Activity & Conference Centre: Muir of Ord

Offering multi activities courses, conference facilities, team-building events and more...

   
       

Tours:

Handa

Handa

Handa Island is a seabird reserve. Boat tours are available from Tarbert.

Marine Wildlife

Gairloch Marine Life Centre has interpretive displays and a video presentation of seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Cruises are available.

Cape Wrath

Cape Wrath Lighthouse

Normal access to the Cape Wrath peninsula and lighthouse is via a passenger ferry and minibus, dependent on the tides. Contact Mathers Shop in Durness for details.

Smoo Cave

Smoo Cave

Near Durness, Sutherland. Boat trips are available and a walkway takes you into the cave's inner chamber.

Caithness Seacoast Tours

Caithness Seacoast Tours

Coastal tours organised from Wick Harbour in a twin engined 10m (33ft) long Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) 'Geo Explorer'. See website for details.

     

Car Hire:

Ross Rentals

Strathcarron
tel: 01520 722205

     
       

Selected Accommodation in the Northern Highlands
 

Hotels

Guest Houses

Bed & Breakfast

Aultbea Hotel, Aultbea
Caledonian Hotel, Portmahomack
Kinlochewe Hotel, Kinlochewe
Rockvillas Hotel, Lochcarron
Dornoch Castle Hotel, Dornoch
Royal Marine Hotel, Brora
The Anderson, Fortrose
Craigdarroch Lodge Hotel, Strathpeffer
The Park Hotel, Thurso
Kylesku Hotel, Kylesku
Eddrachilles Hotel, Scourie
Inver Lodge Hotel, Lochinver
The Station Hotel, Thurso
Mansfield Castle Hotel, Tain
Conon Bridge Hotel, Dingwall
Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer
Castle Arms Hotel, Mey, Thurso
Fearn Hotel, Tain
Newton Lodge, Kylesku
Strathcarron Hotel, Lochcarron
Fairburn Centre, Muir of Ord
Munlochy Hotel, North Kessock
Ferry Boat Inn, Ullapool
Aultguish Inn, Garve
Northern Sands Hotel, Dunnet
Overscaig House Hotel, Lairg
Lairg Highland Hotel, Lairg
St Clair Arms Hotel, Castletown
Queens Hotel, Dornoch
Strathy Inn, Melvich
Altnaharra Hotel, Lairg
Brown Trout Hotel, Watten

The Old Smiddy Guest House, Laide, Aultbea
Golf View House, Tain
Polcraig Guest House, Lochinver
Dunbius Guest House, Tain
John O'Groats Guest House, John O'Groats
Tigh Nan Ubhal, Tongue
Pentland Lodge House, Thurso
Sheiling Guesthouse, Ullapool
Ladysmith Guesthouse, Ullapool
An Darach, Contin, Strathpeffer
Seaview, Wick
Carey's Guest House, Wick

Fasgadh, Scourie
Murray House, Thurso
Birch Lodge, Strathpeffer
Creag Na Mara, Thurso
Bencorragh House, John O'Groats
Chestnut Villa, Muir of Ord
Inver Lodge, Strathpeffer
Tigh-na-Coille, Invergordon
Rhian Guest House, Tongue
Mrs Murray, Thurso
Woodlands, Ullapool
Easter Badbea, Dundonnell
Leac A Ghradain, Torridon
An Fir Chlis, Opinan, Laide, Aultbea
Kiltearn House, Evanton
Corrie Lodge B&B Chalet, Ullapool
Home Farm B&B, Muir of Ord
Roadside Croft B&B, Muir of Ord
Birchgrove B&B, Ullapool
Hillview Park B&B, Muir of Ord
Braemore Square Country House, Ullapool
Kinneskie House, Munlochy
Birch Cottage, Garve
Station House B&B, Lybster
Newton Croft, Conon Bridge, Dingwall
Keoldale B&B, Durness
Waterside House, Ullapool
Torvaig Steading, Dingwall
Dry Island, Badachro, Gairloch
Auchlea Guest House, Dornoch
Creagh Dhu Guest House, Tain
Newton House B&B, Gairloch
Lea View, East Mey, Thurso
Morangie B&B, Tain
Amalfi, Dornoch
Westmore B&B, Alness
Ragged Acre, Applecross
Still Waters, Culbokie
Broombank, Ullapool
Weavers B&B, Tongue
White Cottage, North Kessock
Fairfield House, Dingwall
Auld Alliance, Gairloch
Aird Hill B&B, Gairloch
Castle Cottage, Lochcarron
Newfield, Dingwall
Waterside Guest House, Thurso
Water's Edge, Fortrose
Bank House, Wick
Suil na Mara, Lochinver
Bank House, Dornoch
Garfield House, Dingwall
Ruddyglow Country House, Inchnadamph
3 Castle Terrace, Ullapool
Cruachan, Ullapool
Cartomie, Edderton, Tain
Croft House, Lybster
Mount Pleasant, North Kessock
Auld Post Office, Wick
Tullochard Guest House, Alness
Valleyview, Thurso
Kerrysdale House, Gairloch
Tranquility, Aultbea
Aurora B&B, Shieldaig, Torridon
Elcaila Cottage, Golspie
Heather Croft, Gairloch
Tigh Lios, Lochinver
Strathdale House, Aultbea
Dalcharn, Tongue
Blar Mhor, Golspie
Tigh Na Failte, Ullapool
Tiree House, Muir of Ord
Forest Way, Ullapool
Bumblebee Cottage, Dornoch
Kilcoy B&B, Muir of Ord
Lochalsh, Dingwall
Acarsaid, Lybster
The Gables, Muir of Ord
Impala, Wick
Ross Villa, Tain
Linnmhor House, Strathpeffer
Old Inn, Reay, Thurso
Cromarty Old Brewery
Loch Dubh, Lochcarron
Ben Wyvis Views, Culbokie
West House, Ullapool
Marsule, Dingwall
Knockbain House, Dingwall
Cam-mont House, Culbokie
Corrigall B&B, Caithness
Bae Seren, Durness
Hilton Lodge, Dornoch
Eden Lodge, Fortrose
Canisp House, Caithness
Number 11, Brora
Mo Dhachaig, Inverasdale
Strathview, Dornoch
Aiden House, Durness
The Bothy, Tongue
Braeside B&B, Kinlochbervie

Self Catering

Caravans

Hostels/Bunkhouses

Kylesku Lodges, Kylesku
Fuchsia Cottage, Fortrose
Hallival, Ullapool
Achnahaird Farm, Achiltibuie
Links View Apartments & Cottages, Brora
The Cottage, Strathpeffer
Killearn Cottage, Portmahomack
Ataireachd Ard, Brora
Glachachro Cottage, Torridon
Tigh na Reultan, Ullapool
The Byre, Fortrose
Pier House, Loch Kishorn
Lochcarron Holiday Properties, Lochcarron
Whindley House, Gairloch
Culduie Cottage, Applecross
Old Mission Hall, Cromarty
Embo Escape, Embo, Dornoch
Links Cottage, Dornoch
Badenscallie Holiday Cottages, Achiltibuie
Croft House, Lochinver
Saorsa, Lochinver
Muir-lan, Lochinver
Tigh Brachen, Diabaig, Torridon
Freyja, Melvaig, Gairloch
Sea Croft, Melvaig, Gairloch
Cairn Shiel, Kinlochewe
Raasay & Rona, Melvaig, Gairloch
Kilbrannan, Ullapool
Seaforth Cottage, Ullapool
Linga, Inverkirkaig, Lochinver
Waterfront Cottage, Ullapool
Dry Island, Badachro, Gairloch
Crofters Cottage, Dundonnell
Tarrel Farm Cottage, Portmahomack
An t-Seann Bhuth, Inveralligin, Torridon
Aultroy, Kinlochewe
Geanies Farm Cottages, Tain
Minch View, Peterburn, Gairloch
Rowan Glen, Culbokie, Black Isle
Caladh, Torridon
Kilcoy Chalets, Tore, Black Isle
Staffa Cottage, Gairloch
Clashview Cottage, Kinlochbervie
Hallin, Kinlochewe
Valhalla, Helmsdale
Seasidecroft, Poolewe
Findron Chalet, Lochcarron
Highland Glen Lodges, Lairg
Dolphin View Properties, Portmahomack
Fisherman's Cottage, Culbokie
Balinoe, Conon Bridge
Seagulls, Ullapool
Carbreck Cottage, Durness
An Cuan, Brora
Doric House, Rosemarkie
3 Ardarroch, Kishorn
Rose Cottage, Badachro, Gairloch
Millbank Mews, Thurso
Greenhill, Achiltibuie
Hamilton Cottage, Tain
Achard, Lochinver
Braighe, Culbokie
Fodderty Lodge, Dingwall
Cathair Dubh Cottages, Lochinver
Hillockhead Cottages, Fortrose
Innes Maree Cottages, Poolewe
An Tigh Earna, Scourie
Craigview, North Kessock
Salmon Bothy, Cromarty
Ceomara Cottages, Badachro, Gairloch
Dornoch Square Mews, Dornoch
Inchard, Rhiconich
Polbain Cottage, Achiltibuie
Heather Cottage, Lochinver
An Grianan, Kinlochbervie
Fearnmore Church, Applecross
Gypsy Cottage, Tain
Pinelea, Bonar Bridge
The Steading, Achiltibuie
Broom Cottage, Ullapool
Crofton Cottage, Ullapool
Strathallan Cottage, Dunbeath
1 Church Street, Dornoch
Duncorann House, Wick
Auchinduich House, Lairg
The Pines, Kinlochewe
Welcome Cottage, Avoch, Fortrose
Auchencairn, Brora
Glenarm, North Kessock
The Hoose, Helmsdale
Glenmuir Cottage, Dornoch
Shenavall, Dornoch
Holiday Cottage Sutherland, Tongue
Posties Bothy, Loch Eriboll
Foulain Cottage, Loch Eriboll
Hillside, Durness
The Croft, Dunnet
Craiglea, Latheronwheel

Kirkaig Hill Caravan, Lochinver
Highland Caravan, Brora

Kinlochewe Hotel Bunkhouse, Kinlochewe
Helmsdale Hostel, Helmsdale
Aultbea Caravans, Aultbea
Balintraid House, Invergordon

 

 
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