ULTIMATE GUIDE
If you are a business on or near the North Highland Way and would like to link your business to the trail and show your support, you can join the Friend as a Way Maker from just £25. Whether you are a food and drink provider, accommodation provider or run a visitor attraction, experience or activity – you help to make the North Highland Way one of the most popular hiking trails in the world.
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You can get your Ultimate Guide to the North Highland Way here, starting with the focal point of the North Highland Way, Dunnet Head.
This vast area of moorland is the most northerly point on the British mainland. A good map is advised.
To avoid parking problems it is best to begin your walk from either the car park at Dwarwick Pier or that at Dunnet Head. Dogs should not be taken onto the hill.
The Estate owners appreciate that people enjoy walking in unspoilt countryside and ask that walkers keep to the cliff tracks, cause no damage to estate property and do not interfere with the activities of the estate in any way.
On the walk round the coast from Dwarwick over the rise of Dwarwick Head you will descend to the ruins of an old cable house which marks the end of a former telegraph cable which linked Caithness with Orkney.
Along the cliff walk to Chapel Geo you will see a great variety of sea birds on the cliff ledges. Near this geo the remains of a monk’s cell can be seen.
From here, head uphill until the slope is gentler. Seals may be seen basking on the rocks below. The next three miles to the lighthouse are rough and boggy. You will pass the Long Byres where, early this century, the Brough crofters milked their cows in summer. A herd boy looked after the cows that were herded into the "Byres" to be milked by the village women who carried the milk home. The east side of the headland towards Brough is very rough and heathery until you reach Sinigoe.
The cliffs support many breeding seabirds – fulmars, kittiwake, guillemot and razorbill. This site also supports smaller numbers of shag, artic skua, great skua, herring gull, great black backed gull, black guillemot and puffin. There are many interesting plants, such as thrift, spring quill and sundew, to be found along the clifftops and in the hinterland.
This entire coastline from Dwarwick to Sinigoe is an S.S.S.I and part of the North Caithness Cliffs special Protection Area. Please respect it and help protect it.
You can see an old edition of our magazine here. Our new magazine is here.
Duncansby Head to Scotland's Haven
