Dunnet Scotland

Within the county of Caithness there are several interesting areas which are combine a variety of interesting features and none more so than the Dunnet Bay area. There are many attractions for the visitor and some of the more notable are featured here. The quiet roads and by-ways with single track roads hark back to a much slower pace of life in rural areas. This peaceful part of Scotland has much to offer the naturalist, fisherman and anyone looking for relaxation in unspoilt countryside with a beautiful and rugged coastline.

Welcome to Dunnet Scotland

DUNNET HEAD
This most northerly point on mainland Britain rises some 100 metres above sea level. The Dunnet Head lighthouse was built in 1831 by Robert Stevenson, grandfather of the author Robert Louis Stevenson. It was automated in 1989. On a clear day the view point allows the visitor to see as far as Cape Wrath to the west and enjoy a stunning panoramic view across to John O'Groats and Duncansby Head. to the south lies Morven, the highest mountain in Caithness..

Accommodation in Dunnet

Price Guide - per person based on sharing room: under $40 - $41 - 70 - more than $70

Hotels and Guesthouses below - Self catering cottages click here

CASTLE OF MEY
Built between 1566 and 1572 by George, the fourth Earl of Caithness, it became the family home of Sinclair of Mey. In 1789 the elder line of the Mey family became extinct and for a century it was the seat of the local earldom. It was in a state of some decay when the Queen Mother bought it in 1952, shortly after the death of King George Vl. The building was restored and was now the Queen mother's Highland holiday home until her death. The Castle is open to the public and can clearly be seen from a number of vantage points around the Dunnet Bay tour route. On selected days during the summer the castle gardens are open to the public. For further details refer to the local press. See Gardens Open to the Public in Caithness Mey Castle (Barrogil) In ancient Times

FLAGSTONE AND HERITAGE TRAIL
Caithness flagstone is known in the building trade throughout the world. Although the industry went into decline after the first world war, it is now enjoying something of a revival. More on The Flagstone Heritage.

See entries on the Flagstone Industry in Walks in Caithness

GILLS BAY
Look out across the Pentland firth to the island of Stroma. Stroma is Caithness's only island and was once home to a community of crofter-fishers. The population reached 375 in the late 19th Century, but steady emigration thereafter saw the last family leave for the mainland in 1962. Stroma takes its name from straum, the Norse for tidal stream and it is an apt reminder of its location amid the ferocious currents of the Pentland Firth. During an ebb tide you will see the tidal race known as Men o' Mey. On the foreshore is a seal colony. A ferry run by Pentland Ferries runs from Gills Bay in Caithness to St Margaret's hope in Orkney making good time usually the cheapest car ferry to Orkney.

ROYAL GALLERY
Situated to the west end of the Castle Arms Hotel in Mey, just along from the castle, the Royal Gallery offers a unique photographic insight to the Queen mother's life in Caithness. Whether attending formal occasions, mixing with locals or meeting up with other Royals, the relative freedom she has enjoyed in Caithness is clearly evident. Open all the year round, entry to the gallery is free and selected prints are available to purchase.

DUNNET KIRK
Dunnet Kirk is one of the oldest religious sites in Caithness. The earliest references date from 1230 A.D. and, although the building has been altered a great deal during its long service, much of the surviving structure still dates from the 16th Century. Dunnet has been served by many notable men of the cloth. Prominent among them was Timothy Pont, minister from 1602 to 1610 who was the first person to map much of northern Scotland. His memorial plaque can be seen inside.

MARY-ANN'S COTTAGE
Situated at the Dwarwick Pier turning off Mill road, Westside, Dunnet. This Caithness cottage has hardly altered since it was built 150 years ago. The Caithness Heritage Trust has restored Mrs Mary-Ann Calder's former home. This crofthouse features a wealth of family history. It exhibits original box-beds and a host of early machines and implements which were used on the croft. For opening times and entry fees Tel 01955 603385.

OLRIG KIRK
On the north-west gable of ruined Kirk are date (1633) and the initials of the then minister David Bruce. A medieval Kirk probably existed on the site before this date and may have been dedicated to St Trothan. Despite very strong influence of the Kirk, superstition and legends abound. The old kirkyard at Olrig is the scene of the tale about the Selkie Woman. Found as a baby swaddled in a sealskin, she was subsequently banished from the kirk as a devil worshipper and ultimately died giving birth to her first child. A small hollow on the stone reputed to cover her grave is said to never dry out!

RANGER CENTRE
Located adjacent to the car park at the north end of Dunnet Bay (next to the caravan site) the Ranger Centre exhibits the natural history of the area, including Dunnet Forest.

Dunnet Forest
Leave your car at the small car park at the Southwest corner of the forest. Follow the signpost from the A836 roadside. Dunnet Forest lies within the National Nature Reserve and owned by Scottish National Heritage. The grassland for which the Reserve has been identified supports a great number of plant species and range of wildlife. Some flowers, such as Primula Scotia, and a variety of butterflies, can be seen within some of the clearings of the forest. There is a network of paths through the trees, which provide ideal short and sheltered walks. This is a good place to go in wet or windy weather. The ground can be wet in places, but continuing work is being done to bridge these areas with boardwalks. Dogs are welcome in the forest as long as they are kept under control. If you are interested in wildlife and would like to know more, contact the Ranger Service at Dunnet Bay. The Ranger organises guided walks through the forest and will point out plants and animals of interest.

Dunnet Beach

The Dunnet Bay Area Committee (Dunnet Bay Initiative) can be contacted at -
Chairman W Menzies
Westside, Dunnet. Caithness
01847 851662