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Scrabster Harbour (Sea Angling) (0 Miles)
Description
Scrabster is famous for its tremendous sea angling off the Caithness and Orkney coastline. There are charter boats are available from Scrabster and can cater for short charters to suit your specialist requirements.
Sea angling from a charter boat has several distinct advantages, the most important being that the skipper can take you various locations where the fish are known to be, and if they are not biting you simply move somewhere else.
The range of species to be caught off the Caithness coast is good with good sized cod, ling, pollock, flat fish, mackerel and other species readily available.
Above and Beyond Tours (0 Miles)
Description
Above and Beyond Tours offer to pick-up passengers from Thurso town centre and take them on a walking tour of the historic area of Thurso.
We also offer to drive them to Dunnet Head, John O'Groats and Duncansby Stacks, if time allows take them to tour the Castle of Mey and gardens or a distillery tour, ensuring they are dropped off at Scrabster Pier in time for their cruise ship departing.
Our tours are personal and bespoke and include any specific areas visitors would like to experience, allowing them to make the most of their short time spent in Caithness.
Wolfburn Distillery (1.6 Miles)
Description
Wolfburn distillery appears on the first Ordnance Survey map of the area, dated 1872, marked as a ruin. The reasons for its demise are unclear - very little remains of the original distillery. However, records of its annual production volumes of whisky can be found in tax returns, which show it producing 28,056 “Total Gallons of Proof Spirit” during 1826 (roughly 125,000 litres) – making it the biggest distillery in Caithness at the time.
Such was the demand for ‘uisge beatha’ (‘the water of life’) by the locals, few if any bottles made it down the rutted road to Scrabster and on to the capital’s Georgian drinking houses and if any did, none remain.
Using both un-peated and peated malt the stillmen of Wolfburn distillery today are crafting the latest incarnation of Wolfburn whisky from a blank canvas by pot still distillation the old way; no automation, no rush and a lot of care. A variety of casks continue to be filled with new Wolfburn spirit and are laid down in the warehouses to mature.
Tours consist of a walk around the distillery and warehouse number one followed by a sample of our four core expression. Tours are available Monday to Friday and can be booked online via wolfburn.com.
Enquiries for large groups or tours at weekend or outside of normal times can be made to info@wolfburn.com
Artisans North (1.9 Miles)
Description
Artisans North hosts regular Craft Fairs & Shows on the FIRST Saturday of every month at the Masonic Hall, Olrig Street, Thurso, KW14 7JA between 11 to 3pm.
We are also hosting our first Art Exhibition at Thurso Art Gallery (located at Thurso Library building) 2024 during July and August, as well as organising the crafters tent and trade stands at the Caithness & Sutherland Vintage Car Club Rally at John O’Groats this year on Sunday, 9th June, 2024.
Thurso River (Salmon Fishing) (2 Miles)
Description
The Thurso is among the best salmon rivers in the north and is often coupled with the Helmsdale and Naver. It enjoys a long productive season, from 11th January to 5th October, and fish can be caught during every month. Currently the river fishes best from March to October with the larger catches occurring from July to the end of the season.
On average the river produces around 2000 salmon per year and fishing is by fly only. In recent years the catch has been rising and, as can be seen from the chart overleaf, numbers of early running fish are increasing. This is of interest in that, historically, the Thurso offered some of the earliest and best spring fishing in Scotland.
Some heavy fish have been caught on the Thurso, with fish of 47 lbs, 44 lbs and 36 lbs being taken during the 1920s. Nowadays, the vast majority of spring fish exceed 10 lbs and in 2008, fish of 25lbs were taken.
Aurora Jewellery (2 Miles)
Description
Aurora has been welcoming customers to Thurso’s shopping precinct since 2004.
Over the years their handcrafted jewellery collections have proved hugely popular with customers. A variety of ranges to suit all tastes – contemporary designs inspired by nature and island history
Aurora are also the only UK jewellers to hold a licence with Sony TV to create collections based on the Outlander series
Alongside their jewellery is a wealth of carefully selected quality gifts, many of which are sourced within Scotland.
Call in to Aurora to find the perfect gift for your special occasion, their staff are always happy to assist.
North Coast Visitor Centre (2 Miles)
Description
A Four-Star Visitor Attraction consisting of a Museum, Gift Shop, and Café.
Our summer opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, and we are fully accessible with public facilities and WiFi.
There is no entry fee for North Coast Visitor Centre, but it does rely on donations.
Our Museum houses a permanent exhibition which uses the Collection to tell the story of Caithness from the Devonian period (about 416 to 359 million years ago) to present day.
Exhibitions include the Stones Room with locally unearthed Pictish artefacts, a collection and investigation into local botanist and geologist Robert Dick, and a detailed look into the history of Dounreay, and its impact on Caithness culturally and socially.
Craft North (2 Miles)
Description
Thurso based, Craft North are dedicated to showcasing the incredible talents of local crafters and artisans in the Highlands. Each event is designed to inspire, connect and celebrate the artistry of our unique region. Craft North events are more than just shopping experiences – they are a celebration of skills, talents and community spirit.
From April, through out the season, Craft North host a wealth of events across the county. On cruise days our vibrant Thurso Precinct Market provides the ideal event where visitors can connect with our talented creative community. The free shuttle bus service from Scrabster Harbour to Riverside, Thurso ensures that no one will miss out on these days. The bus will take you to the buzz in Thurso!
What would the county be with out the local agricultural shows? As Craft Convenors for the annual Latheron Agricultural Show then, it is guaranteed that quality and craftsmanship match the splendour of this fantastic event – a true favourite on the summer calendar. A brilliant day out for all the family!
Craft North is also proud to work with other local businesses. These include Mackays Hotel, Wick and The Pentland Hotel, Thurso. Bringing the sparkle to the dark nights of winter, they host their ‘Shop in Style Evenings’, offering the chance to wine & dine at these popular local hotels. Sample the gourmet delights and then shop in comfort, glamour and style. These evenings are occasions.
If you are someone who appreciates the magic of hand crafted and wants to connect with the community the Craft North events provide all that and more. Details of all events can be found on our Facebook page and also our group page NC500 A.C.E ( arts, crafts, events)
Let’s celebrate craftsmanship together!
Old St. Peter’s Kirk Thurso (2.1 Miles)
Description
Old St Peter’s Kirk Preservation Association is a charity dedicated to preserving this 800 year old scheduled monument, as well as telling the stories that make it an important feature in the history of Caithness.
The now roofless “kirk” (church in Scots) is located in the small coastal town of Thurso, in the North Highlands of Scotland which sits on the famous NC500 route. It has been there since medieval times, and although the plaque on the gate states that it was founded circa 1220, it might have been used as a religious site even earlier than this. Possibly even before 1120!
Throughout history the kirk was enlarged and adapted to suit the changing times and religions, which is reflected in many of its features. These include Norse runestones found here, suggesting a Norse graveyard on the site before the kirk, and the remains of the Jougs used to hold people guilty of offences deemed unacceptable to civil or church morals. They were used in the early 17th/early 18th centuries when the kirk tower was also used as a prison. There is also a memorial to Reverend William Munro, a charismatic character who claimed to have encountered a mermaid at Reay.
If you’d like to join us for a tour or even a quick chat about the site, feel free to stop by the kirk. Our volunteers are there most Sundays as well as whenever there is a cruise ship in and we have leaflets available in several languages.
The tour is free but donations to the charity are greatly appreciated.
(Please Note: Tours may vary depending on weather conditions/ maintenance.)
Thurso Golf Club (3 Miles)
Description
A warm welcome awaits you at Thurso Golf Club, the most northerly 18-hole course on the British mainland.
The tree lined parkland course offers golfers of all abilities an excellent challenge. There are lush fairways, generous well-manicured greens as well as some beautiful whin bushes which you do not want to go in! After your round, you can enjoy a refreshing drink in their comfortable lounge bar which boasts magnificent views over the course.
Thurso Golf Club has been in existence for over 100 years but the golf course has moved locations during that time. The present course was established as a 9-hole in 1921 and was extended to 18 holes in 1963. Over 100,000 trees have been planted which gives the course a parkland feel. Because it is located on a hill above Thurso, several holes are tough tests into a prevailing wind. The signature hole is the 13th over a burn with heather on the left and the rough on the right. The green is drivable but with a strong wind against the fairway is sometimes out of reach. The 15th green has a fine view of the Pentland Firth, Orkney and Dunnet Head
Castlehill Heritage Centre (5 Miles)
Description
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.
Over the years Castletown Heritage has amassed a significant collection of local artefacts reflecting the archaeological, social, commercial and industrial heritage of our parish, ranging from single pieces to lifetime collections by local people - from fossils to photographs, matchboxes to mangles.
The Castlehill Heritage Centre builds on earlier achievements - visitors can walk around the Heritage Trail which outlines the stages of the production of the stone, while an adjoining Sculpture Trail within the community woodland, demonstrates some artistic uses of the material.
Kaithness Clays (7.6 Miles)
Description
Kaithness Clays is an established Skeet Shooting Range, which has a picturesque backdrop of the Pentland Firth.
It is situated on the foreshore below what used to be the Old American Naval Base. It is now known as Forss Business Park, and is approximately 7 miles from Thurso heading west on the A86.
The Skeet Shooting Range is operated by KC Mackay and caters for the total beginner to the advanced clay pigeon shooter. Down The Line & Compak Sporting is also available.
The range is normally open on weekends. Corporate/fun days are available week days by prior arrangement.
Kaithness Clays holds all the relevant paperwork to operate this shooting range.
Halkirk Games (7.9 Miles)
Description
The Halkirk Highland Games, is the premiere sporting event in the North of Scotland. The prize money of over £20,000 is one the best in Scotland and attracts the country’s best amateur and professional competitors. It is always held on the last Saturday in July and attracts crowds of up to 3,000.
The 2023 Games will be held on Saturday 29th July 2023.
There are nearly 100 events packed into an afternoon and it is the Scottish version of a mini Olympic Games! There are normally dozens of competitors from all over the country and often from abroad. The “Heavies” are the kilted strongmen who toss massive wooden cabers, throw scots hammers and weights and putt the shot. A sight not to be missed. There are pipers, Highland dancers, track and field athletes, cyclists, clay pigeon shooters and children, all competing for top prizes. Spectators are kept informed of all the action by both our roving commentator and announcer. Surrounding the arena are entertaining side-stalls, charity stalls, a thrilling fun fair, plus food and drink stalls/marquees.
Visit our Facebook Page for more information.
Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Museum (8 Miles)
Description
Superb exhibition of motoring – vintage and classic cars, motorcycles, bicycles, books, memorabilia. A truly wonderful collection in the Far North. A ‘hands-on’ experience…sit in the cars, take photos, make memories!
Heritage Room packed with artefacts giving a taste of bygone life in the Highlands.
Reading Room full of local interest books and documents – treasure for the family historian!
Exhibition Room – themed annually.
Postcards, books, hot beverages for sale.
Open Tuesdays and Sundays 2-4pm Easter to October, plus Saturdays Jun-Sept. Group bookings any time by arrangement.
Plenty of parking – front, side and rear.
Free admission, donations welcome (registered charity).
Dunnet Bay Distillers (10 Miles)
Description
Dunnet Bay Distillery, Scottish Gin Tourist Destination of the Year 2022, offers intimate guided tours for 12 people of its gin and vodka distillery at 11am and 2pm, Monday - Saturday, April - September.
On arrival visitors are welcomed with a Rock Rose Gin and Tonic and are told about the history of the distillery and the spirits it makes.
They then visit the Still House to see where the spirits are made, and hand-waxed before finishing their tour with a tutored tasting of three of the distillery's multi-award-winning spirits.
Private tours and gin making experiences are available on request.
Reay Golf Club (10 Miles)
Description
Reay Golf Club lies on the edge of Sandside Bay in the far north of Scotland and offers panoramic views of the Pentland Firth and North Atlantic from every hole on the course.
The course is a true example of a links course, as you would expect when the legendary James Braid had a hand in its design. Its exposed location and the typical challenging conditions call for real shot making, from punched long irons, little bump and runs to hitting under the wind. This is how the game started and what real golf is all about.
The renowned golf course architect Donald Steele is quoted as saying of Reay, “In a different location, it would enjoy worldwide acclaim.” But it is precisely the location that gives the course at Reay its great distinction, as the most northernly18 hole links course on the British mainland.
Mary-Ann's Cottage (11.2 Miles)
Description
In 1990, Mary-Ann Calder moved from her life-long home at Westside Croft, Dunnet to a Wick nursing home.
Her grandfather John Young, had built the cottage in 1850, and the croft was successively worked by him, his son William, and finally his grand-daughter, Mary-Ann and her husband James Calder. Over the three generations the way of life and working practices had continued largely unaltered.
When the time came for Mary-Ann to leave, because of its historic nature she sought to have the croft preserved as it was. However, the property was required to be sold to provide for the costs of Mary-Ann's residence in the nursing home and so the Caithness Heritage Trust was set up with the primary aim of acquiring and preserving the cottage.
Thankfully the cottage was bought and preserved so that visitors can experience a small taste of Croft life.
Lyth Art Centre (14.7 Miles)
Description
Lyth Arts Centre offers a programme of live performances and presents the best work of small-scale touring companies – from Scotland, the UK and the world.
This includes theatre, dance, family events, jazz, folk, classical and world music, and much more. Lyth Arts Centre also presents performances in village halls and community centres across Caithness and North Sutherland.
Dunnet Head/Lighthouse (15 Miles)
Description
As you arrive at Scrabster you will see the most northerly point in mainland Britain in the distance, Dunnet Head has stunning sea cliffs and coastal grassland. The views from Dunnet Head are spectacular, as are the bird life, home to puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, shags and cormorants. Above the cliffs are some very diverse coastal heathland and grassland habitats with special plants such as spring squill, thrift and roseroot.
Of strategic importance during World War II, Dunnet Head has several old military buildings still standing on site.
The RSPB started to manage this site in May 2008 and, as yet, there are no visitor facilities beyond the car park and some interpretation panels.
The Royal Castle of Mey (15.5 Miles)
Description
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother first saw what was then Barrogill Castle 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.
Having acquired the most northerly inhabited castle on the British mainland, The Queen Mother renovated and restored it and created the beautiful gardens you see today. For almost half a century she spent many happy summers here and shorter visits at other times of the year.
Still frequented by His Royal Highness, The Prince Charles Duke of Rothesay, the castle is steeped in history and heritage.
The Castle and Gardens of Mey have held Visit Scotland's highest award of a 5 Star quality assurance grading every year since their first unannounced visit in 2007. The guides in the castle will do all they can to make your visit interesting and enjoyable and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Puldagon Farm (19 Miles)
Description
At Puldagon we pride ourselve on our warm and friendly service, realxed ambiance and fantastic food. Everything on our menu is freshly prepared to order and our daily specials include ingredients which are foraged from our own farm or locally sourced.
Our barn conversion restaurant is bright and modern and offers stunning views out over the Caithness countryside.
Our gift shop stocks local produce and crafts, from jam to jewellery, bags to books, theres something for everyone!
Top off your trip with a walk to see our animals including Highland cows and our Clydedale horse
John O Groats (20 Miles)
Description
John O’Groats is famous for being the ‘End of the road’ for many on the Lands End to John o’ Groats trail.
John O’Groats is a fantastic, unspoilt location from which the adventurous can see the wonderful landscape and wildlife that is so special to this area and is the real star of the show. For the less adventurous there is still plenty to do and see at ‘the end of the road’.
With a choice of local craft and gift shops it is also home to John o’ Groats brewery, the ales of which can be tasted in the well-stocked bar at the Seaview Hotel. With various restaurants serving fine fare to satisfy the hunger brought on by the fresh sea air that is all around you.
Seacoast Boat Tours (20 Miles)
Description
The “Geo Explorer” is 10m (33ft) long Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), with family friendly seating and is licensed to carry twelve passengers. The boat is similar to the new inshore RNLI lifeboats. It can cruise at speeds of 25 knots (28mph), sea/weather conditions permitting.
They are licensed to operate 20 miles from a safe haven, in good weather, 24 hours a day. Safety equipment meets the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulations.
With Private Charter, you can travel with friends or family and choose your own destination as long as it is within our operating range. We tailor each charter to your individual requirements. All you need is warm clothing and a sense of adventure.
Stacks of Duncansby (20 Miles)
Description
The Stacks of Duncansby are some of the most impressive in the British Isles. The Great Stack is over 60 m high and rises above the summit of the adjacent cliff. A short walk from the nearby Duncansby Head Lighthouse, which sits on the North-East corner of mainland Britain. The views are spectacular!
Walk along by the fence and look down into the geos and wildlife, during breeding season you will be rewarded with seabird city! There are abundant Fulmars, kittiewake, guiliemots, razorbills, puffin and the infamous Skua. The well-trodden Path goes along cliff, past stacks and further along where there are brilliant views over cliffs.
8 Doors (21 Miles)
Description
8 Doors Distillery is a Highland Single Malt Distillery based in John O'Groats.
Opened in September 2022 it is the most northerly Whisky Distillery based on the UK mainland.
The Whisky lounge is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a dram or whisky cocktail with coffee and cake also available
Breath-taking views across the Pentland firth are captivating whatever the weather!
Sample our whisky and whisky liqueur in our gift shop and browse a selection of merchandise.
Distillery Tours and Tastings available and private events can be arranged on request for special occasions.
John O Groats Development Trust (21 Miles)
Description
John O'Groats Offers an excellent destination to visit, with the famous signpost for a photo opportunity, then a tour of John O'Groats Brewery and 8 Doors Whisky Distillery only yards away from the signpost. Why not send a postcard and get the JOG Postmark, then have a stroll along the John O'Groats Seafront Promenade and then a bite to eat or drink in one of the many Food & Beverage Establishments.
John O'Groats Truly offers many options within 1 drop off destination.
Old Pulteney Distillery (22 Miles)
Description
Wick was once known as the herring capital of Europe. Yet while the herring shoals may be long gone from this rugged northern coastline, the spirit of that seafaring past lives on in the form of Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky - long renowned as The Maritime Malt.
With traditional warehouses exposed to the invigorating sea air blowing in off the North Sea, Old Pulteney captures the taste of the sea in every drop of its liquid gold. From subtle coastal chords to more defined salty notes, the flavour of the whiskies says much about the role and influence of its home.
Pulteney Distillery offer a range of behind-the-scenes tours to allow you to experience their unique location for yourself. ‘The Spirit of Wick’ tour allows you the chance to try a dram of Old Pulteney 12 Years Old and Old Pulteney Huddart before receiving a complimentary branded Glencairn nosing glass to take home.
Wick Heritage Centre (22.8 Miles)
Description
The Wick Heritage Centre is a local history museum which presents the story of the town.
The Wick Heritage Centre houses a fish kiln, a cooperage, a restored fisherman’s house, art gallery, the famous Johnston collection of photographs of 115 years history of Wick covering a time when Wick was the herring capital of Europe, a working lighthouse and a harbour setting.
The Centre is designed to gradually lead you through all aspects of life in the town. The contents run to many thousands of items in rooms and cases. Even more is held in storage and shown from time to time. A massive collection of photographs over half of which is derived from the Johnson collection.
As with so much of this incredible museum the depth and range of items is staggering. Most of the items are on loan from local people and families.
Whaligoe Steps and the Cairn O' Get (25 Miles)
Description
'Whaligoe Steps' is the name of a man-made stairway of 365 steps that descend to what was a naturally formed harbour between two sea cliffs - once a landing place for fishing boats. The steps are located just south of the town of Wick in Caithness on Scotland's most northeasterly coast. They date originally from the mid-18th century and were once used by fisherwomen to haul up the creels of herring landed at the harbour beneath. Crews of women, some in their early seventies, would gut the fish — Herring, cod, Haddock, or Ling — and would carry them up the steps in baskets to be taken on foot to be sold in Wick, some 7 to 8 miles away.
Inland and close by is the Cairn O’ Get, a very well preserved chambered cairn. About 5,000 years ago, this chambered cairn was a sacred place for ancestral spirits where the living gathered to seek the help of the dead.
Waterlines Heritage Centre (26.3 Miles)
Description
Lybster Harbour was one of the top herring ports during the ‘herring boom’ and the story of that time is told within the beautifully restored buildings which house a visitor centre, an exhibition full of information, hands on activities, refreshments and facilities which offer something for everyone.
There's so much to see and do in the exhibition that afterwards you'll want to relax with some refreshments, and just absorb the whole atmosphere and ambience of the harbour. If the weather is favourable there's no better place than the flagstone terrace. We hope you enjoy your visit and remember it with great fondness.
Forsinard Nature Reserve (29 Miles)
Description
Peatlands have vanished across much of Scotland as they are being threatened by development, but the RSPB is helping to preserve and restore this vital area of internationally important habitat. Summer is the best time of year to visit, when golden plovers, hen harriers and greenshanks breed.
As the largest of the RSPB reserves, we manage a vast peatland landscape which visitors can experience by exploring one of our two self-guided trails or joining one of our guided walks. The new Flows Lookout Tower gives a unique perspective of the pool system on our Dubh Lochan Trail, which is a classic example of the type of pools that are found throughout the Flow Country.
The Dubh Lochan Trail is the best way for families to explore the reserve and to learn about what makes blanket bogs special. Follow the boardwalk up to the Flows Lookout Tower and then venture off onto the flagstone discovery trail that snakes through the pool systems.
Don't forget to stop off at our visitor centre too! It contains local information, a peatland exhibition and multimedia film, light refreshments and toilet facilities.
Dunbeath Heritage Centre (29.6 Miles)
Description
Discover the heritage, history and culture of Dunbeath at the Dunbeath Heritage Centre, birthplace of world famous author Neil M Gunn.
‘These small straths, like the Strath of Dunbeath, have this intimate beauty. In boyhood we get to know every square yard of it. ‘ - Neil M Gunn, 1941
The Dunbeath Heritage Centre is a fascinating exhibition of manuscripts, photographs and data, relating to the heritage of Dunbeath. The centre provides a thought-provoking and detailed look at the history of the Highlands and the experience of one small area. Explore family archives and enjoy an audiovisual programme full of fascinating facts and details.
Badbea Clearance Village (35 Miles)
Description
Badbea (pronounced bad-bay) is a former clearance village perched on the steep slopes above the cliff tops of Berriedale on the east coast of Caithness, Scotland. Situated around 5 miles (8 km) north of Helmsdale, the village was settled in the 18th and 19th centuries by families evicted from their homes when the straths of Langwell, Ousdale and Berriedale were cleared for the establishment of sheep farms.
Life was harsh, each house had its own spinning wheel, and all the women learned to spin and card. The men mainly worked as herring fishermen from nearby Berriedale and the women gutted the fish that were caught. While the women worked, their livestock, and even their children, were tethered to rocks or posts to prevent them from being blown over the cliffs or into the sea by the fierce winds.
The last resident left the village in 1911 and a monument was erected by the son of former inhabitant, Alexander Robert Sutherland, who had emigrated to New Zealand in 1839. Today, the ruins of the village are preserved as a tourist attraction and memorial to the Highland Clearances.
Strathnaver Museum (40 Miles)
Description
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.
Serving Mackay Country, the Museum is also home to a wonderful collection of Mackay memorabilia belonging to the Clan Mackay Society, making it a must see for anyone of Mackay descent or interested in Clan Mackay.
Located in the ancient province of Strathnaver, scene of some of the most brutal acts of the Highland Clearances, it is unsurprising that this is the main story told by the Museum. In fact it was from the very pulpit which dominates the centre of the Museum that the Rev. David Mackenzie was obliged to read out the eviction notices to his congregation.
Dunrobin Castle (50 Miles)
Description
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. It is the family seat for the Clan Sutherland.
The Castle, which resembles a French chateâu with its towering conical spires, has seen the architectural influences of Sir Charles Barry, who designed London’s Houses of Parliament, and Scotland’s own Sir Robert Lorimer.
The French influence extends into the gardens, completed in 1850, with Barry taking inspiration from the French formal style of the Gardens of Versailles. Each parterre is set around a circular pool with a fountain, with the essential layout the same since it was created in around 1848. The total landscaped area is 1,379 acres (558 ha).
| Title | Distance from Scrabster | Max Party Numbers | Toilet Facilities | Disabled Access | Catering Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabster Harbour (Sea Angling) | 0 Miles | n/a | YES | NO | NO |
| Above and Beyond Tours | 0 Miles | 14 | NO | YES | NO |
| Wolfburn Distillery | 1.6 Miles | up to 45 with prior arrangement | YES | YES | YES |
| Artisans North | 1.9 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | NO |
| Thurso River (Salmon Fishing) | 2 Miles | n/a | NO | NO | NO |
| Aurora Jewellery | 2 Miles | 30 | NO | YES | NO |
| North Coast Visitor Centre | 2 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Craft North | 2 Miles | n/a | NO | YES | NO |
| Old St. Peter’s Kirk Thurso | 2.1 Miles | n/a | NO | NO | NO |
| Thurso Golf Club | 3 Miles | n/a | YES | NO | YES |
| Castlehill Heritage Centre | 5 Miles | n/a | YES | NO | NO |
| Kaithness Clays | 7.6 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | NO |
| Halkirk Games | 7.9 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Museum | 8 Miles | 30 per tour, 40 non-guided | YES | YES | NO |
| Dunnet Bay Distillers | 10 Miles | 12 | YES | YES | NO |
| Reay Golf Club | 10 Miles | n/a | YES | NO | YES |
| Mary-Ann's Cottage | 11.2 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | NO |
| Lyth Art Centre | 14.7 Miles | 60 | YES | YES | NO |
| Dunnet Head/Lighthouse | 15 Miles | n/a | NO | NO | NO |
| The Royal Castle of Mey | 15.5 Miles | 50/30Mins | YES | LIMITED | YES |
| Puldagon Farm | 19 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| John O Groats | 20 Miles | n/a | YES | NO | YES |
| Seacoast Boat Tours | 20 Miles | 12 | YES | NO | NO |
| Stacks of Duncansby | 20 Miles | n/a | NO | NO | NO |
| 8 Doors | 21 Miles | 12 per tour | YES | YES | YES |
| John O Groats Development Trust | 21 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Old Pulteney Distillery | 22 Miles | 40 per tour | YES | YES | YES |
| Wick Heritage Centre | 22.8 Miles | 45 | YES | YES | NO |
| Whaligoe Steps and the Cairn O' Get | 25 Miles | n/a | YES | NO | YES |
| Waterlines Heritage Centre | 26.3 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Forsinard Nature Reserve | 29 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Dunbeath Heritage Centre | 29.6 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | NO |
| Badbea Clearance Village | 35 Miles | n/a | NO | NO | NO |
| Strathnaver Museum | 40 Miles | 50max | YES | NO | YES |
| Dunrobin Castle | 50 Miles | n/a | YES | YES | YES |