Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1

    Default Far North of Scotland

    The Far North

    This is some of Britain's most spectacular and undisturbed coastline, from the wild and remote Cape Wrath in the far northwest, to John O'Groats, that perennial favourite of sponsored walkers, in the far northeast. In between lie over 100 miles of storm-lashed cliffs, sheer rocky headlands and deserted sandy coves, all waiting to be explored. It's also a great place for birdwatching, with vast colonies of seabirds, and there's a good chance of seeing seals, porpoises and minke whales in the more sheltered estuaries.
    Ins & outs

    Getting around the far north without your own transport can be a slow process. Getting to Thurso, the main town, by bus or train is easy, but beyond that things get more difficult. Details of what little public transport there is are given under the relevant destination.
    Durness

    Durness is not only the most northwesterly village on the British mainland, but also one of the most attractively located, surrounded by sheltered coves of sparkling white sand and machair-covered limestone cliffs. It's worth stopping here for a few days to explore the area. The Tourist Information Centre, Tel. 511259, arranges guided walks and has a small visitor centre with displays on local history, flora and fauna and geology. Open April-October Monday-Saturday 0900-1800; July and August also Sunday 1100-1900.
    Around Durness

    A mile east of the village is the vast 200 ft-long Smoo Cave. A path from near the youth hostel leads down to the cave entrance which is hidden away at the end of a steep, narrow inlet. Plunging through the roof of the cathedral-like cavern is an 80-ft waterfall which can be seen from the entrance, but the more adventurous can take a boat trip into the floodlit interior.



    A few miles east of the Smoo Cave are a couple of excellent beaches, at Sangobeg and Rispond, where the road leaves the coast and heads south along the west shore of stunning Loch Eriboll, Britain's deepest sea loch, which was used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War as a base for protecting Russian convoys.

    About a mile northwest of Durness is the tiny hamlet of Balnakeil, overlooked by a ruined 17th-century church. In the south wall is a graveslab with carved skull-and-crossbones marking the grave of the notorious highwayman Donald MacMurchow. If you're looking for souvenirs, or an escape from the rat race, then head for the Balnakeil Craft Village, an alternative artists' community set up in the 1960s in a former RAF radar station. Here you can buy weavings, pottery, paintings, leatherwork and woodwork in the little prefab huts. There's also a café. Info - Apr-Oct daily 1000-1800. Balnakeil has also become well-known in golfing circles. The nine-hole golf course, Tel. 511364, is the most northerly in mainland Britain, and its famous ninth hole involves a drive over the Atlantic Ocean.

    The beach here is glorious, especially in fine weather when the sea turns a brilliant shade of turquoise. Even better, walk north along the bay to Faraid Head, where you can see puffin colonies in early summer. The views from here, across to Cape Wrath in the west and Loch Eriboll in the east, are stupendous.
    Cape Wrath

    There are several excellent trips around Durness, but the most spectacular is to Cape Wrath, Britain's most northwesterly point. It's a wild place and the name seems entirely appropriate, though it actually derives from the Norse word hwarf, meaning 'turning place'. Viking ships used it as a navigation point during their raids on the Scottish west coast. Now a lighthouse stands on the cape, above the 1,000 ft-high Clo Mor Cliffs, the highest on the mainland, and breeding ground for huge colonies of seabirds.

    You can walk south from here to Sandwood Bay. It's an exhilarating but long coastal walk, and will take around eight hours. It's safer doing this walk from north to south as the area around the headland is a military firing range and access may be restricted, which could leave you stranded.
    Sleeping & eating

    A good place to stay is the Cape Wrath Hotel, Tel. 511212, jack@capewrathhotel.co.uk, which is just off the A838 on the road to the ferry at Keoldale. It overlooks the loch and is popular with fishermen and passing tourists who stop here to enjoy the great food and superb views. The best value around Durness has to be the Port-Na-Con Guest House, Tel. 511367, portnacon70@hotmail.com, on the west shore of Loch Eriboll, 7 miles from Durness. It's popular with anglers and divers so you'll need to book ahead to take advantage of such comfort amidst all this great scenery. The food in the adjog restaurant is superb and also great value, especially the seafood. Non-residents are welcome but should book. There are also several B&Bs in Durness, best of which is Puffin Cottage, Tel. 511208, puffincottage@aol.com, open Apr-Sep. There's a basic SYHA Youth Hostel, at Smoo, to the east of the village, Tel. 511244; open mid-Mar to early Oct. There's also camping at Salgo Sands Caravan Park, Tel. 511222.
    Transport

    A daily bus runs to and from Thurso, via Tongue and Bettyhill (Jun-Aug, Mon-Sat) with Highland Country Buses, Tel. 01847-893123, leaving Thurso at 1130 and Durness at 1500. There's also a daily bus service (May to early Oct) to and from Inverness via Ullapool and Lochinver, with Bluebird/Inverness Traction, Tel. 01463-239292. There's a Postbus service to Lairg via Tongue and Altnaharra, Mon-Sat at 1115; also via Kinlochbervie and Scourie Mon-Sat at 0820. To get to Cape Wrath, first take the passenger ferry across the Kyle of Durness from Keoldale, 3 miles south of Durness, Tel. 511376. It runs May-Sep hourly 0930-1630. The ferry connects with a minibus, Tel. 511287, for the 11 mils to the cape (40 mins).

  2. #2

    Default

    Hey jeffrey78 .. Thanks a lot for this avid description.. I did not know many of these beautiful places. Thanks again

  3. #3

    Default

    Hi jeffrey78,
    I enjoyed reading a very good post about Scotland. have got many info about Cumbria but, nothing more father to the north.
    If you enjoy writing such articles then, I can post them in my travel directory or hotels site. (links in signature)
    Thanks for comprehensive information about north of Scotland. Have a nice day!

  4. #4

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
| Travel Forum|