20/02/2021
Day 4 of ur North Coast 500 road trip
After a game of Golf or swimming in the Donoch firth, we continue our journey up the east coast stopping off at Skelbo for a woodland walk, wander down Skelbo burn, listening for birdsong & spying sculptured carvings among the pines. the walk around the edge of the forest in places gives it more open views towards Ben Bhraggie. Or stop off at Littleferry & Loch Fleet where you can explore the eastern part of Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. It has fine views, a spacious sandy beach, Scots pine woodlands & great opportunites for bird watching.
After all that walking head on up to Golspie wheres theres much to do after a spot of lunch, maybe a picnic at the beach, go for a swim, or how about a game of golf, mountain biking or visit Waterlines Visitor Centre where there is a unique experience waiting for you at Lybster Harbour. In a simply delightful setting, the beautifully restored buildings house a visitor centre, an exhibition full of information, hands-on activities, refreshments and facilities which offer something for everyone.
Head for Dunrobin castle I can offer you a tour for this Tours offered based on Outlander and Fairytale Castle themes as well as historic value. It packs in a lot for one day's tour and is very affordable and good value for money. Entrance to Dunrobin castle is INCLUDED.
Visit Carin Liath Archaelogical site - Carn Liath is a fine example of a solid-based broch tower. It stands at 3m tall today, but when complete it could have been at least three times that. Carn Liath’s surrounding enclosure also contains the ruins of an associated village - a rare survival of stone houses and outbuildings - the earliest of which would have been contemporary with the broch.
Afterwards take yourself along to Clynelish distilery -The Clynelish story is full of drama. It beckons those who relish a good mystery and possess an appetite for adventure.
Back on the road and upto Brora where youll find campsites, parking, shops, public toilets, a swim at the beach which streaches for miles as far as the eye can see with breathtaking views & if your lucky enough you might spot a whale fantastic or what!! or if you fancy a bit of horse riding take yourself along to Star Stables.
Time to leave Brora and head upto Helmdale for a quick game of golf and or stop off at the Timespan Heritage & Art Centre taking you on a journey from the sea and river mouth, upstream and inland to the Strath of Kildonan. Our museum covers the boom and bust of the herring fishing industry; the dark historic period of change of the Highland Clearances; the brief but feverish 1869 gold rush; the shameful burning of the last witch in Sutherland; Pictish mythology and the Borrobol Stone; the last Wolf in Sutherland shot in 1700; the poisoning at Helmsdale Castle and the history of domestic making and craft essential for the parish’s agriculture and fishing industries.
Stop off at Dunbeath & visit Laidhay Croft museum or stop off at the harbour which is less active now but it does provide an excellent viewpoint for Dunbeath Castle, pearched precariously on the cliffs south of the village
Take a trip to Clann Gunn Centre Containing one of the best clan archives in Scotland, the heritage centre explores the genealogy and movement of one of the oldest and most northerly clans. A place of pilgrimage for Gunns from all over the world, the heritage centre also provides a fascinating introduction to the Norse heritage of Scotland. The museum covers the story of Clan Gunn, including the clan’s role in the 1745 uprising and the effect of the Highland clearances on society and agriculture.
Travel a wee bit further and youll come to Forse Castle which are ruins now.
Off the route you have Rumster Forest The forest walks are open all year round for walking and trekking and is ideal for dog walking, cycling with off road bikes, pony trekking and for walking adventures with all the family through the well-defined paths. The forest is 1,392 ha (3,441 acres) in area and home to deer, buzzards, hawks along with other wildlife. Throughout the forest walks you will come across evidence of previous farming use, with old crofts and a couple of ancient broch sites. There are no on-site facilities so take a picnic, or at the very least water with you as in summer the woodland walk can get very warm and you may have a fair distance to get back to the car park area at Sheppardstown (not a town so do not get dissapointed that there are no shops).
Stop off at Lybster viewpoint admire the view and have a game of golf. Leaving Lybster youll come across Hill o' Many Stanes. This consists of about 200 small stones arranged in rows running down a low hill. They were erected about 4,000 years ago, possibly for gatherings and religious ceremonies.
Large arrangements of stone rows like this are rare, and comparable sites are only found in a few places in Europe.
Further on up is Whaligoe Steps - Whaligoe Haven is surrounded on three sides by 250ft cliffs and forms one of the most remarkable harbours you will find anywhere in Scotland. It is reached by the Whaligoe Steps, which descend to the harbour: and a trip down the steps and the hard slog back up them make for a spectacular experience. If all that isnt enough for you then youve got Cairn O'Get, step into a tomb with a history spanning 5,000 years of human activity.
Cairn o’Get is an impressive chambered burial cairn set amid a landscape rich in prehistoric and later monuments.
When it was first built, Cairn o’Get’s walls would have risen over 3m high, sealed by massive lintel stones. The entrance to the tomb would have been through a small antechamber, defined by two pairs of large upright stones.
Today the tomb and upright stones are still clearly visible in the landscape.
If all that still isnt enough then you can go for a walk at Ulbster & Yarrow trails at Loch of Yarrows. The moorlands south of the Loch of Yarrows are rich in archaeological remains. From bronze-age chambered cairns to a fine iron-age broch this walk offers much for the imaginative walker to see. It is usually very wet underfoot, however, and more strenuous than the distance suggests.
Now we must be exhausted after all the swimming, golfing, walking and excitment of the day so we'll head on up the east coast to Wick and settle down for the night. Here you'll find campsites or if staying in more comfy digs theres The Harbour House B&B, Mackays Hotel Wick or The Clachan B&B (these are just some of the accomadation that I can offer you).
Rest well as tomorrow will be another day packed full of challenging and exciting things. night night.
