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Walking In Caithness
There can be little doubt that folk who walk regularly are
fitter and healthier. It is also enjoyable and when
combined with another interest such as
bird watching,
history,
archaeology or just out seeing the sites of the area can help ensure
that the pace of modern life is put back into perspective.
Caithness has a huge range of walking possibilities from coastal
paths along spectacular cliffs or inland to see
castles,
brochs or pictish
places. Caithness is also one of the least developed
counties in Scotland so you may often find that interesting places
are not sign posted. A map or local book of the area will be of great help.
Ask around and you will often find that local folk can point you
in the direction of all sorts of places that you might not see.
And expect to be on your own at many of the sites.
It is a great feeling to be able to view the old places with no one
in sight. Some are near roads but many others require a mile or
two of walking to get to them. Several groups advertise FREE
walks for members but visitors are always welcome to attend.
One thing is for sure. You cannot see most of it from a car.
You need to walk to many of the coastal castles and most are not
marked by signs. But several are spectacular although they
need great care when approaching the cliffs as most have no fencing
or warning signs about any dangers.
Caithness Field Club Programme
Waybaggers
Waybaggers Calendar
2007 - 2008
The Rangers Walking Programme
RSPB
Forsinard
Paths In Caithness & Sutherland
Information at Highland Council Rangers
Access Info And More Paths In Highland
Leaflets
These leaflets make only a few
suggestions out of hundreds of possible places to walk in the north.
A few walks in the
county........
Wick To
Altimarlach (Site Of Scotland's Last Clan Battle)
Achvarasdal Woodland Walk
Archaeology Walks In Archaeology Section
Newtonhill Community Woodland - Near Wick
Broubster Forest Walk January 2001 - Pictures
Dunbeath
Strath Walk
John O'Groats To
Duncansby Ness
Thurso
Thurso River Walk
Wick
Wick River Walk
Castlehill Flagstone Industry
Walk
Dunbeath Strath - Heritage Trail
Duncansby Head - Seabird City
Dunnet
Bay Walks
Dwarwick Head
Holborn
Head
Neil
Gunn Walk At Dunbeath
John O'Groats To
Duncansby Ness
Lybster To Forse Castle
Four Walks in Castletown
Skirza To Duncansby
Yarrows Archaeology Trail
Wick
Community Woodland at Newton Hill
Forsinard Nature Reserve -
not in Caithness but whose counting. Its not that far away and a
great place to see wildlife and a unique landscape and several places to
walk
North Of
Scotland Way - A Series Of
Walks
Sutherland
Portskerra - Melvich - An Audio Walk
For this walk you pick up a CD and player
from a local shop and it guides you around various places with
stories connected to the area. An interesting one for the whole
family.
You are invited to enter the
village. Walk around the beautiful natural and built Sutherland
environment, the ever-changing sea, the craggy coastal landscape and
placed within these, the people and their stories. At selected vantage
points around the walk a map instructs you to listen to a selected short
story on CD. The stories bridge the old and new, the young and the old
with a vision of the changing shape of Scottish rural life.
Pick up the CD audio walk and player at :
West End Stores,
Portskerra, Melvich, Sutherland Tel: 01641 531219 Open Mon-Sat
9am to 6pm. Halladale Inn , Portskerra, Melvich, Sutherland Tel:
01641 531282 Open Mon-Thurs 11am – 11pm, Fri 11am – 1am, Sat 11am
– midnight & Sun noon – 11pm
Estate Walking
Walking on Estate Land is
possible but check with estate contacts to find out if shooting or
stalking is going on
Walking Morven And Area
Contact Estate Braemore
& Langwell Estates
Contact: Braemore Keeper
- 01593 731371 or
Langwell Keeper - 01593 751225
Walking Scaraben And Area
Contact Estate
Braemore & Langwell Estates
Contact: Braemore keeper - 01593 731371 or Langwell Keeper - 01593
751225
Walking Caithness & Sutherland Hills?
Always tell someone where you are heading for.
A Few
Hills
Morven - 2315ft Map 17 Grid ND 004286
Scaraben
- 2055ft Map 17 Grid ND 066268
Ben Griam Mor - 1936ft Map Grid 17 NC 806389
Ben Griam Beg - 1902ft Map 10 Grid NC 832412
Creag Scalabsdale - 1820ft Map17 Grid NC 970241
Beinn Stumanadh - 1728ft Map 10 Grid NC 641499
Smean
- 1670ft Map17 Grid ND 032277
Maiden
Pap - 1587 Map 11/17 Grid ND 048239
Braigh na h-Eaglaise - 1385ft Map 17 Grid 065221
Beinn Dubhain - 1368ft - Map17 Grid 937207
Creag Thoraraidh - 1329ft - Map17 Grid ND 041187
Cnoc na Maoile - 1319ft Map 17 Grid ND 008212
Meall nan Clach Ruadha 1099ft Map 10 Grid NC 605570
Groups that organize walks often
with local experts - Many are advertised locally at libraries,
shops, tourist offices and on this web site.
The
Caithness Field Club - organises a series of outings on
Sundays and some weekday evenings throughout the year. Welcomes
visitors and non members. Members cover all age groups.
The
Caithness Waybaggers - a walking group tackling a
wide range of walks around the county and sometimes further.
Great Days Out.
Caithness Waybaggers Pictures and Previous Walks
The
Highland Ranger Service - Walks with a wildlife emphasis
for the naturalist and the casual walker. They organise local
walks of varying length on the coast, in woodlands and inland.
Pictures From Previous Ranger Walks
Caithness Riders Access Group
The group are gathering together information
on riding routes in the county but this information may be of interest to
walkers and cyclists.
All Walks Are FREE
Walks Weather Dependent
Outdoor and Waterpoof clothing recommended
Reasonable Fitness Required
Wednesday Wanders Summer only
Dunbeath Wednesday
Wanders are a regular weekly walk. The Heritage Trust conducts walks
based on archaeology & history every other week. Meeting place and
time is the same as above.
See Also
General Walking Links
A Great Glen Way
What You might See Walking In Caithness &
Sutherland
Nature
Caithness Biodiversity Collection
Caithness Rangers
Highland
Wild Encounters
Caithness & Sutherland Map
Sutherland Biodiversity Plan
Links
Great Glen Way
Great
Glen Ways Project
Great
Glen Way Long Distance Route
Caledonian Canal
Speyside Way
Outdoor Access Scotland
Great Glen Mountain Bike Trails
The West
Highland Way |
Check The
What's On For
Guided Walks
Ranger Guided Walks Caithness & Sutherland 2008
Schools Out - Site Guide for
Caithness
- SNH (Pdf)
Aimed at Teachers but useful for families and individuals looking
for places to visit in Caithness.
The Site Guide for
Caithness
provides a list of suitable sites (27 in total) throughout
Caithness
and covering a wide variety of different habitats, with details for
each site covering basic details to assist in planning any trip
there. Details include: access points, available facilities, contact
details for access, site description, map and much more! The aim is
to provide a useful resource for teachers and rangers in
Caithness,
in pursuing environmental education aims through the 5-14
Environmental Studies and right across the National Curriculum.
The fifth CAITHNESS & SUTHERLAND
WALKING FESTIVAL
A choice of walks on Tuesday 6th May:
Tuesday, 6th May - RSPB Forsinard, Sutherland 2pm Learn the
secrets of the Flow Country every Tuesday and Thursday with the RSPB.
Tel: 01641 571225
Tuesday, 6th May - Wick Heritage Trail, Caithness 2pm A
heritage walk around Pultneytown. Enjoy great views across the most
northerly town. Visit the distillery
Tuesday 6th May - Faraid head SSSI, by Durness, Sutherland.
10 a.m. A great walk along the beach and through the sand dunes,
possibly watching Puffins at a small colony there. Sutherland Ranger
Service
Tel: 01971 511756.
Ranger Guided Walks Caithness & Sutherland 2008
Waybaggers Calendar
2007 - 2008
Hillphones
Useful for checking which hills
have stalking going on. Caithness is not included but the
listing is very useful for number of estates in the Highlands
and the list is growing.
Caithness Waybaggers 2007 - 08 Walks
If you would like to see some of the
most beautiful parts of Caithness and Sutherland why not join the
Caithness Waybaggers on one of their outings. Look
HERE to see a few of their previous outings. You do not
have to be fanatically fit to head out on these walks and you will
see some great places in the north of Scotland.
Highland Council Countryside Ranger
Guided Walks/Events in North Sutherland
Contact: Paul Castle
North Sutherland Countryside Ranger
01641 521884
Walking In Caithness
If you are looking for organised walks
in Caithness it is always worth checking -
The
Caithness Field Club - organises a series of outings on
Sundays and some weekday evenings throughout the year. Welcomes
visitors and non members. Members cover all age groups.
The
Caithness Waybaggers - a walking group tackling a
wide range of walks around the county and sometimes further.
Great Days Out.
2007 - 08 Walks
The
Highland Ranger Service - Walks with a wildlife emphasis
for the naturalist and the casual walker. They organise local
walks of varying length on the coast, in woodlands and inland.
Holborn Head
Neil
Gunn Walk
A group enjoyed a sunny Saturday afternoon in Dunbeath
Strath looking at places Neil Gunn got his inspiration from.
Walking Contacts Caithness & Sutherland
Highland
Rangers
North Caithness - Mary Legg - 01847 821531
East Caithness - Marina Swanson - 01955 607758
North West Sutherland - Donald Mitchell 01971 511259
Mid Sutherland - Ian Paterson - 01549 402638
Assynt - Andy Summers - 01571 844 654
RSPB Forsinard Reserve - 01641
571225
Tourist Offices
Wick Tourist Office - Info point - no staff
Thurso 01847 892371(Seasonal)
John O'Groats 01955 611373(Seasonal)
Other walking contacts -
The Ramblers Association
1-5 Wandsworth Road
London
SW8 2XX
Tel 0171 339 8500
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