Wick was a boom town between the 1850s and 1930s and the population trebled each summer when 10,000 migrant workers came to harvest The Silver Darlings, as the seasonal shoals of herring were called. This trail takes you to places where you can find out more, and where you can see the remnants of the…
Most of our guests say they wish they could stay longer and see more. This post helps you get the most out of a short stay in Caithness. But it’s been hard to choose the highlights! Many places close between September and Easter, so check their websites if you are visiting then. Day 1…
When I ask the guests in my holiday cottage what they have enjoyed most about their stay, they say the views, the peace, the open spaces, and the walks. So be sure to bring your walking boots and get out of your vehicle, whether you are touring the NC500 or pausing in the area to…
When you go away, do you visit a place, or visit the people? If you’re in Caithness during the summer, be sure to check what events are on at the weekend. From Highland Games to Caithness Pride, from the Game Fair to the Gala, Caithness comes out to celebrate every weekend all summer long. If…
I don’t want to put a dampener on things, but Caithness is in Scotland and it’s undeniable that some days the weather can be, well, very weathery! We are on the east coast so we are drier than the west, but even so, you may want to find things you can do on the NC500…
The stories we hear about the war tend to be about quirky successes like Operation Mincemeat, or conspicuous gallantry like Dunkirk. We don’t hear about the bleak little tragedies and the mistakes of war, like the boat smashed by a storm with all hands lost; or the faulty plane that took off but couldn’t land; or…
Visit the haunting sites and spectacular locations associated with the Scottish Clearances – a notorious and brutal period in the history of the north Highlands and Islands. In a dozen years, 15,000 people were forcibly evicted from one million acres of land in the Sutherland estates. They were dragged from their houses, and if that…
The East Coast of the NC500 really rewards you when you get out of your car! I do love a statue with a story, and the stories behind some of the public art here range from the deeply moving to the cute or bizarre. Here are quick stop-offs, great photo ops, walks with wonderful views,…
I love it that I can fill up my drinks table with sprits and beer from Caithness. And share Caithness snacks too! OK, no-one here is making wine, but let’s hear it for the grain, eh! Small really is beautiful, and creating prize-winning spirits is literally in the water here. Not to mention the passion…
We are all different! Do you love room service? Or is camping your thing? Here is a fun quiz to help you decide how to visit the North Highlands, with ideas and inspo for where to stay on the NC500. Whether your idea of a good meal is a billycan of soup, fresh fish…
