Eastern
Sutherland
As
the A9 heads
northwards over the Dornoch Firth, the Eastern part of Sutherland has
a rich history and many beautiful corners.
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Dornoch
A beautiful town
with wonderful
architecture, Dornoch has a genteel and charming atmosphere. A visit
to it should not be missed. The golf course was recently rated one of
the best 3 courses in the world. The beach – stretching both north
and south – is perfect for children and dogs. The 13th
Century cathedral was where one of Madonna's children was christened
(She and Guy Richie married at nearby Skibo Castle in 2000).
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To
the north of Dornoch is another fabulous beach at Embo. This
stretches northwards away from the rather unsightly caravan park all
the way up to the inlet of Loch Fleet
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A large,
wonderful nature reserve
with a variety of habitats such as coastal heath, dune, salt marsh
and alder carr. Birdwatching here is exceptional, especially between
October and April. Over 170 bird species have been recorded here.
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Another
attractive village that this section of the east coast seems to
specialise in. It's home to Dunrobin Castle (see below) and dominated
by the 100 foot tall statue of the Duke of Sutherland built in 1839
on Ben Bhraggie overlooking the village. There's an excellent walk up
from Golspie to the statue returning via the Big Burn (see below).
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On
the north side of Golspie is this magical wooded gorge which is
criss-crossed by bridges. It can be accessed via car parks in or off
a minor road north of the village. A hidden gem.
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Dunrobin Castle
The
imposing stately home of the Sutherland clan designed by Sir Charles
Barry, the architect of the Palace of Westminster, is well worth
visiting and also boasts superb gardens. The falconry display is also
recommended. It's open from the beginning of April to mid October.
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Falls
of Shin
The
salmon leap here is one of the best and most reliable in Scotland
with a chance of seeing them from May to November. In August and
September you are almost guaranteed to see them make their valiant
leaps up the falls. The Visitor Centre sadly burnt down in 2013 and
there don't seem to be plans at the moment to rebuild it.
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