Visitor Sites & Attractions

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

North Lands Creative (Caithness | East)

The Arts

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Camster Cairns (Caithness | East)

Heritage sites

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

Yarrows Archeaological Trail (Caithness | East)

Heritage sites

10,000 years to explore in an afternoon.

The Flow Country

Nature

The Flow Country

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.