Venture North: Tourist Information for Caithness & Sutherland
  • Discovery
  • Taste North
  • Map
  • Heritage Map
  • Home
  • Caithness & Sutherland
    • Tourism Map & Information
    • North Coast 500
    • Year of Stories 2022
    • We Love Local
    • Getting Here
  • Area Guides
    • Caithness | East
    • Caithness | North
    • Sutherland | Assynt & West
    • Sutherland | Central & East
    • Sutherland | North
  • See and Stay
    • Accommodation
    • Restaurants | Cafes | Bars
    • Visitor Sites & Attractions
    • Local Shopping
    • Activities | Tours | Rentals
  • Interests
    • Golf
    • Surfing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Beaches
    • Bird Watching
    • Cycling
    • Paddlesport
    • Flora
    • Hiking and Walking
    • Archaeology
    • Wildlife
    • Fishing & Fieldsports
    • Aurora Borealis
    • Scuba Diving
    • Castles
  • What's On
  • Blogs
  • Home
  • Caithness & Sutherland
    • Tourism Map & Information
    • North Coast 500
    • Year of Stories 2022
      • Caithness and Sutherland Stories
      • Storytellers
      • Events
      • Heritage Centres
      • More resources
    • We Love Local
      • 2021
    • Getting Here
  • Area Guides
    • Caithness | East
      • Wick
      • Thrumster
      • Watten
      • Keiss
      • Lybster
      • Latheron
      • Berriedale
      • Reiss
    • Caithness | North
      • Thurso
      • John O’Groats
      • Dunnet
      • Stroma
      • Canisbay
      • Duncansby
      • Mey
      • Castletown
      • Halkirk
      • Lyth
    • Sutherland | Assynt & West
      • Kylesku
      • Lochinver
      • Scourie
      • Elphin
      • Kinlochbervie
    • Sutherland | Central & East
      • Dornoch
      • Golspie
      • Brora
      • Helmsdale
      • Bonar Bridge
      • Lairg
      • Altnaharra
      • Rosehall
      • Kildonan
    • Sutherland | North
      • Bettyhill
      • Durness
      • Cape Wrath
      • Melness
      • Tongue
      • Strathy
      • Melvich
  • See and Stay
    • Accommodation
      • The Halladale & North Coast Touring Park
      • Links House
      • The Marine
      • Sharvedda
      • Lazybed Accommodation
      • Greenland House
      • Harrow Cottages
      • Melvich Hotel
      • Langhills House
      • Oldshoremore Retreats Self-Catering
      • Dornoch Castle
      • The Elphin Bothy
      • The Highland Haven
      • Ulbster Arms
      • Bannockburn Inn
      • Ferry View Campsite
      • The Sheiling B&B / NC 500
      • Newton Lodge
      • John O Groats Caravan and Camping Site
      • Ceol Mor Highland Lodges
      • Culgower House
      • Northern Sands Hotel
      • Forse of Nature
      • Inver Lodge
      • Tongue Hotel
      • Dunnet Head Lighthouse
      • The Hawthorns B&B
      • Castletown Hotel
      • Kylesku Hotel
      • Smoo Lodge
      • Mackays Hotel
      • The Norseman Hotel
      • Seaview Hotel
      • Royal Marine Hotel
      • Thurso Bay Caravan & Camping Park
      • Royal Golf Hotel
      • Thurso Bay Holidays
      • Caithness View Luxury Farm Lodges
      • Ben Loyal Hotel and Glamping Pods
      • Thrumster House
      • Invercassley Cottage Annex
      • Seaview Cottage
      • North Highland Holidays
      • Salmon Landings
    • Restaurants | Cafes | Bars
      • The Blue Door Coffee Shop Diner, Thurso Bay
      • No. 1 Bistro
      • Mr C's Bar
      • Weavers cafe and gift shop
      • Crannag Bistro
      • The River Bothy
      • The Crazy Hog
      • Bydand Licensed Restaurant
    • Visitor Sites & Attractions
      • Whaligoe Steps
      • Duncansby Stacks
      • The John O'Groats Trail
      • Smoo Cave
      • Dunrobin Castle
      • Wick Harbour Authority
      • North Coast Visitor Centre
      • Handa Island
      • Thrumster Station
      • Kirkton Buggy Tours
      • Heritage App
      • Castle Of Mey
      • Dunbeath Heritage Trust
      • North Lands Creative
      • Castletown Heritage Centre
      • Lyth Arts Centre
      • Wick Heritage Museum
      • Strathnaver Museum
      • Timespan
      • Royal Dornoch Golf Club
      • Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
      • The Seadrift Centre
      • Camster Cairns
      • Yarrows Archeaological Trail
      • The Flow Country
      • Clan Gunn Heritage Centre
    • Local Shopping
      • Marks and Pencils
      • Kiln Store
      • Caithness Chamber of Commerce
      • Simply The Best Toys and Gifts
      • Lindsey Gallacher
      • Ice and Fire Distillery
      • Bin Ends
      • Biron's Ironmongers
      • The Lybster Studio
      • Northshore Pottery
      • Rock Rose Gin
      • Lark and Lily Designs
      • Kelpies Treasure
      • Caithness Furniture
      • MUT Chandlery & Watersports
      • Jail Dornoch
      • Hugo Ross, Fishing Tackle Specialists
      • Inspired by Caithness
      • Patricia Niemann Design
      • The Caithness Aromatics Co.
      • Caithness Summer Fruits
      • Winston the Bear
    • Activities | Tours | Rentals
      • Above and Beyond Tours
      • Sutherland Adventure Company
      • North Coast Watersports
      • A Highland Blend
      • John O'Groats Ferries
      • SJP Bird Photography
      • Richard's Garage (Car Hire and Repairs)
      • Ulbster Alpaca Trekking
      • RobbieMac Tours & Ancestry Services
      • James Curley FlyFishing
      • Caithness Seacoast Ltd
      • North Coast Wet n' Wild
  • Interests
    • Golf
    • Surfing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Beaches
    • Bird Watching
    • Cycling
    • Paddlesport
    • Flora
    • Hiking and Walking
    • Archaeology
    • Wildlife
    • Fishing & Fieldsports
    • Aurora Borealis
    • Scuba Diving
    • Castles
  • What's On
  • Blogs
  • Discovery
  • Taste North
  • Map
  • Home
  • See and Stay
  • Visitor Sites & Attractions

Whaligoe Steps

Heritage sites/Nature

The Whaligoe Steps are 365 steps that descend to what was a naturally formed harbour between two sea cliffs, built by Captain David Brodie who also built the harbour and village of Sarclet some 3 miles north of the steps which was once a landing place for fishing boats.

      Read more

      Duncansby Stacks (Caithness | North)

      Nature

      The Stacks of Duncansby are some of the finest in the British Isles. The Great Stack towers at 60m high.

          Read more

          The John O'Groats Trail

          Nature

          The John o'Groats Trail (JOGT) is a coastal walking route under development from Inverness to John o'Groats, traversing shorelines, cliff tops, back lanes and footpaths of the Scottish Highlands. Accommodation, meals and shops are available at the end of most stages of the walk.

              Read more

              Smoo Cave

              Nature

              Smoo Cave is arguably one of the largest cave entrances Britain and an impressive place to visit. Explore the caves and view the Smoo falls which fall from an opening into the inner chamber.

                  Read more

                  Dunrobin Castle (Sutherland | Central & East)

                  Museum/Heritage sites/Castles

                  Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland.

                      Read more

                      Wick Harbour Authority (Caithness | East)

                      Nature

                      Wick Harbour was developed from circa 1803 to support the booming herring industry, The Harbour is still being used for the fishing industry, cargo business, offshore renewables and leisure.

                          Read more

                          North Coast Visitor Centre (Caithness | North)

                          Museum/Visitor Attraction Information

                          The North Coast Visitor Centre, formerly Caithness Horizons, has officially re-opened to the public as of 2 November 2021. The museum originally opened to the public on 1st December 2008 following the refurbishment of the Thurso Town Hall and adjacent Carnegie Library. Since opening the Museum has been awarded a 5 Star Visitor Attraction rating by VisitScotland and has achieved Full Museum Accreditation.

                              Read more

                              Handa Island

                              Nature

                              Handa Island is a small island just off the north west coast of Sutherland with internationally important seabird populations. Day trips to the island are possible via a foot ferry from nearby Tarbet.

                                  Read more

                                  Thrumster Station

                                  Heritage sites

                                  Thrumster Station was restored by the Yarrows Heritage Trust and now features a rebuilt station with relaid track. The railway was the most northerly light railway track in Britain, it ran from Lybster to Wick during the herring fishing period.

                                      Read more

                                      Kirkton Buggy Tours

                                      Nature

                                      Get an insight of farm life, learn where your food comes from, get up close to farm animals including highland cows, pigmy goats, sheep. See some stunning views on your way around (approx 2.5 miles).Possibly see deer and other wildlife. Display boards explaining a little the farming policy, environment and history of Kirkton

                                          Read more

                                          Heritage App

                                          Visitor Attraction Information

                                          A comprehensive list of sites around Caithness and Sutherland viewable on our online map or by downloading our Venture North Heritage App.

                                              Read more

                                              Castle Of Mey (Caithness | North)

                                              Castles

                                              The Castle of Mey was bought by The Queen Mother in 1952, while mourning the death of her husband, King George VI. Falling for its isolated charm and hearing it was to be abandoned she decided to save it.

                                                  Read more

                                                  Dunbeath Heritage Trust (Caithness | East)

                                                  Museum

                                                  Dunbeath Heritage Centre developed an engaging approach to landscape interpretation - through art installations, photography and our unique ‘floor map’, visitors can explore a rich historical, archaeological and literary landscape.

                                                      Read more

                                                      North Lands Creative (Caithness | East)

                                                      The Arts

                                                      North Lands Creative is a unique studio organisation and gallery in Lybster, Caithness.

                                                          Read more

                                                          Castletown Heritage Centre (Caithness | North)

                                                          Museum

                                                          Castlehill Heritage Centre is located within renovated farm buildings immediately adjacent to the cutting yard and quarry of the now defunct flagstone workings. The workings were the first in the country to exploit the commercial possibilities of flagstone and in doing so put Castletown on the global map.

                                                              Read more

                                                              Lyth Arts Centre (Caithness | East)

                                                              Live Music

                                                              Lyth Arts Centre, deep in the Caithness countryside, is housed in a beautiful old building surrounded by trees and ancient stone walls. From the outside it retains the character of a Victorian village school but the interior has been imaginatively converted to a dynamic multi-purpose arts centre.

                                                                  Read more

                                                                  Wick Heritage Museum (Caithness | East)

                                                                  Museum

                                                                  The Wick Heritage Centre is a local history museum which presents the story of the town. It houses a Kipper kiln, a cooperage, Harbour scene, a restored fisherman’s house, art gallery, the famous Johnston collection of photographs of 115 years history and a working lighthouse.

                                                                      Read more

                                                                      Strathnaver Museum (Sutherland | North)

                                                                      Museum

                                                                      *Strathnaver Museum is currently closed for exciting refurbishment until Spring 2023 but museum volunteers will be running a tourism information service and gift shop service at Bettyhill Tourist Information Centre, Monday-Friday 11am-3pm* Just a short walk from the white sandy beach at Farr Bay you will find a hidden gem of a Museum housed in the former parish church of St Columba. Laid out within its unassuming walls is a treasure trove of unusual objects and gripping stories all presented by a friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer staff.

                                                                          Read more

                                                                          Timespan (Sutherland | Central & East)

                                                                          Museum/The Arts

                                                                          Timespan is an award-winning museum and cultural development organisation which provides a unique experience for locals and visitors alike. Rooted in the village of Helmsdale, Timespan explores the history, heritage and landscape of its distinctive, rural location.

                                                                              Read more

                                                                              Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Sutherland | Central & East)

                                                                              Golf

                                                                              Royal Dornoch is spellbinding and many golfers from all over the world make the pilgrimage to this natural links at some point in their lives. The 6700-yard 18-hole par 70 links was ranked No.4 in the World rankings of the best 100 courses by Golf Digest magazine in January 2020.

                                                                                  Read more

                                                                                  Castle Sinclair Girnigoe (Caithness | East)

                                                                                  Castles

                                                                                  Located about five miles north of Wick the Castle is dramatically and grandly situated on a long narrow peninsula projecting into Sinclair Bay and the North Sea with perpendicular sides of between fifty and sixty feet.

                                                                                      Read more

                                                                                      The Seadrift Centre (Caithness | North)

                                                                                      Nature

                                                                                      The Seadrift Centre interactive display and comprehensive collection of stuffed animals introduces visitors to life around Dunnet Bay and beyond. The Seadrift Centre is now the centre for the Highlife Highland Ranger Service

                                                                                          Read more

                                                                                          Camster Cairns (Caithness | East)

                                                                                          Heritage sites

                                                                                          The Grey Cairns of Camster are a series of three burial cairns.

                                                                                              Read more

                                                                                              Yarrows Archeaological Trail (Caithness | East)

                                                                                              Heritage sites

                                                                                              10,000 years to explore in an afternoon.

                                                                                                  Read more

                                                                                                  The Flow Country

                                                                                                  Nature

                                                                                                  The Flow Country

                                                                                                      Read more

                                                                                                      Clan Gunn Heritage Centre (Caithness | East)

                                                                                                      Museum/Heritage sites

                                                                                                      The Clan Gunn Heritage Centre tells the story of one of Scotland's oldest clans, from its Norse origins to the present day.

                                                                                                          Read more

                                                                                                          Subscribe now

                                                                                                          Keep up to date with the latest from Caithness & Sutherland

                                                                                                          About us

                                                                                                          Venture North are the Destination Management Organisation for tourism in Caithness and Sutherland. We play a lead role in tourism across the region, working with local partners, tourism businesses and communities to ensure Caithness and Sutherland continues to be a high-quality tourism destination offering a wide range of activities and experiences for visitors in a unique and stunning natural landscape and environment.

                                                                                                          Partners

                                                                                                          Highlands & Islands Enterprise
                                                                                                          Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL)
                                                                                                          Caithness Business Fund
                                                                                                          Heritage Lottery Fund
                                                                                                          Hub North Scotland
                                                                                                          Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
                                                                                                          • About Us
                                                                                                          • Membership
                                                                                                          • Contact us
                                                                                                          • Photo Credits
                                                                                                          • Funders & Supporters
                                                                                                          • Media
                                                                                                          Copyright © 2015 - 2022 Venture North. All rights reserved.
                                                                                                          • Terms & Conditions
                                                                                                          • Privacy Policy
                                                                                                          • Disclaimer
                                                                                                          Website by NB NB Communication - Digital Marketing Agency