Posted by Maris on 15th Jan 2024
10 Best Places To Explore in Sutherland, Scotland
One of the best places in Europe to find vast spaces, natural beauty, and genuine seclusion is Sutherland. With hardly two persons per kilometre, visitors to this astoundingly beautiful and rocky region will truly feel like they are in a different world. Below is a list of the top 10 attractions in Sutherland.
1. Scourie
This quaint little village in the far northwest is on the famous North Coast 500 road trip. Among its breathtaking surrounds is a classic azure blue bay that shimmers when the sun and tide are just perfect.
For those who would like to stay, there's a small, free parking area and a bird-watching hide that are perfect for stopping to observe some of the local animals. In addition, there's a hotel, campsite, and bed & breakfast for visitors who want to stay longer. Several of them close in the winter, although some are open year-round.
2. Cape Wrath, Durness, and Sango Bay
Cape Wrath's wonderfully evocative name is well-known worldwide, and its lonely location only serves to enhance its allure. Seasonal ferries are the only means of accessing the route that leads to the Cape Wrath lighthouse from the mainland.
Smoo Cave, with its spectacular internal cascade, and Sango Bay, with its charming dunes and cliffs, are also nearby. Due to their proximity to the main road and availability of free parking, both of these natural wonders are easy to explore while traveling. The cave is open for tourists at certain periods of the year.
3. Stoer Head
Stoer Head is located a few miles north of the quaint village of Lochinver. It provides breathtaking views of the white Stoer Lighthouse edifice, an eye-catching sea stack, and interior bays and islands. There's a small, free parking lot close to the lighthouse where you must park; space is limited.
Next, proceed north to the sea stack at Stoer Point by walking the occasionally slick and muddy path. If you stray from the path, simply keep the cliffs on your left (as you walk north) and reverse your course to return; just watch out that you don't wander too close to the edge.
The short ascent to the trig point at the tip of this tiny peninsula, which affords beautiful 360-degree views of Handa Island and some of the northwest's most iconic peaks, including Suilven, may also be something you want to tackle.
4. Dornoch
This historically significant burgh town, which features excellent architecture, is situated in Sutherland's southeast corner and looks out upon the firth that gives it its name. For those who hike there, the beaches that overlook the Dornoch Firth provide miles upon miles of breathtaking sand.
It's also worth taking a quick stroll around the town. In addition to its 13th-century church, Dornoch is known for its former bishop's mansion, Dornoch Castle, and the medieval jail, which is now a shop. A round at the well-known links course, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, will also delight golfers.
5. Falls of Shin and Achness
Sutherland is home to a number of stunning waterfalls. Near the village of Lairg, there are two lower-level falls that are well worth seeing. The Falls of Shin, which are on the River Shin just south of the town, has long enthralled visitors with its picturesque majesty and the yearly natural spectacle of salmon preparing to "run" the river in preparation for spawning. Viewpoints give onlookers an aerial picture of their valiant actions. Additionally, there is a visitor center on the property with a large free parking area that offers a small shop and a cafe.
A few kilometers west of Lairg lies the somewhat lesser-known Achness Falls. From a little parking lot, it's a fairly short walk to these low-level falls with their characteristic rock formations. It's a quiet place where you could kill time.
6. Achmelvich Beach and Lochinver
One of the area's most exquisite beaches, it's well known for luring fans of water activities like water skiing and windsurfing. Plus, in the height of summer, dogs are not allowed on the gorgeous sands, so you know it will be immaculate when you get there.
Situated just three miles (4.8 km) northwest of the beach, Lochinver village is a must-see, being one of the few communities in the vicinity. It features a range of lodging options, galleries, and gift shops, and hikers wishing to tackle the strenuous climb of the renowned Suilven peak often choose it as their starting point.
7. Strathnaver Museum
Most visitors to the area will be impressed by how bleak it is, among other things. Sutherland used to be one of the least populated areas of Europe, but that wasn't always the case. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, there were much more individuals who lived there. However, a great deal of Highlander poverty, disastrous agricultural failures, and the notorious "Clearances" drove many to seek fresh opportunities overseas.
The reason for the Clearances was that the lairds were not content to live off the little rent that their tiny tenant farms provided; instead, they wanted to raise profitable sheep on their huge holdings in order to augment their revenue.
A lot of families had to move during the transition to make room for farm animals to graze. Whole villages vanished from the map as a result. The ruins of the so-called "Clearance villages," which continue to loom large in people's collective recollections, and physical monuments honoring the dispossessed are just two of the numerous memorials to this horrific period in Highland history.
One such reminder is the Strathnaver Museum near Bettyhill on the extreme north shore, which honors the lives of a few of the people who once called this magnificent setting home. In fact, the eviction notices for the congregation were read from the pulpit during one particularly horrible chapter of the Clearances, which took place in this historic church.
8. Golspie
In relation to the Clearances, Golspie on the east coast has a tribute to those terrible times. Atop Ben Bhraggie, the main hill that looms over this quaint seaside community, is a statue dedicated to one of the Dukes of Sutherland, who was instrumental in organizing this massive migration. Visible for miles, the monument, also known as The Manny, is a somber reminder of the lives that the Clearances radically changed.
The charming stores and picturesque beaches of the hamlet are great reasons to come. A few kilometres north of it are the magnificent remains of the ancient "fortified" residence known as the Carn Liath iron age broch. A little car park on the other side of the bustling A9 road makes it easy to access the broch (shown).
9. Loch Fleet
The beautiful tidal sea loch Loch Fleet, near Golspie, is a nature lover's paradise. The lake nearly completely empties at low tide, revealing broad sands that attract a wide diversity of bird species. These waterways are home to several seals as well as otters.
These cute water creatures are common around the loch, where you can often see them lounging on exposed sandbars before the tide sweeps the water away. You could be lucky enough to spot them if you meticulously plan your route.
10. Dunrobin Castle
With a rich and fascinating history, this majestic castle has close ties to the family whose ancestors were irrevocably linked to the Clearances. Although much of what is visible presently is a consequence of late 19th-century additions that have converted the structure into a breathtakingly gorgeous fairy tale castle, elements of the construction date back to early medieval times.
Visitors like the exquisite interior, which is adorned with magnificent artwork, furnishings, and libraries, as well as the lovely gardens. In addition, the castle regularly organizes excellent falconry shows throughout the busiest months.