Local Attractions
Among the many places of interest in the immediate vicinity, you might like to consider visiting some of the following:
- The Castle of Mey (the private home of the late Queen Mother)
Open 1st May until 30 September 2012 (closed - provisionally - 26 July until 13 August)
- Caithness Horizons, a brilliant new museum/visitor centre in Thurso www.caithnesshorizons.co.uk
- John O’Groats
- The Orkney Islands
- Various cairns and burial mounds, most thousands of years old. Camster Cairns are only 12 miles away.
- Historic Wick and it’s links to the herring fishing industry, and the Wick Heritage Museum.
- Old Pulteney whisky distillery www.oldpulteney.com The 21 year old single malt has been Voted World Whisky of the Year 2012
- Boat trips from Wick harbour to view the dramatic coastline from the sea, www.caithness-seacoast.co.uk
- Dunrobin Castle (at Golspie) open 1st April until 15 October www.dunrobincastle.co.uk
- The magnificent coast of the Pentland Firth
- Dunnet Head (the most northerly point of the UK mainland) www.dunnethead.co.uk
- Lybster Harbour and the Waterlines Visitor Centre (centre closes end of Sept)
- Laidhay Croft Museum in Dunbeath www.laidhay.co.uk
- Latheronwheel harbour
- Dunbeath harbour and Visitor centre
- The scenic drive from Helmsdale to Melvich or via Strathnaver
- The surfing beaches near Thurso (amongst the best in Europe) www.pentlandcanoeclub.org.uk
- RSPB reserves and sanctuaries (RSPB Forsinard open all year. Visitor Centre Easter until end of October 9am -5.30pm)
- Highland Games (various locations usually held July / August) details for 2012 coming soon...
- Inverness Games 23 July 2011
- Halkirk Highland Games 30th July 2011 www.halkirkgames.co.uk
- Dornoch Highland Gathering 5th August 2011
- Helmsdale & District Highland Games 20th August 2011
- Astronomy: For those without powerful telescopes but more than a passing interest in our universe, what better place to view the clear night skies than in the Far North of Scotland where light pollution is virtually zero.
- The Wick Pipe Band - usually run Scottish Variety Shows every Wednesday from July to August Commencing at 8pm and finishing around 10.30pm. Full details on their website www.wickpipeband.org