Things to do
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Dornoch Cathedral
Founded in the 13th century, the sandstone cathedral stands on the square at the centre of Dornoch and still serves as the parish church. Inside, tall lancet windows light the nave, and earls of Sutherland lie buried within the walls. It is usually open during the day, except when services or weddings are held.
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Dunrobin Castle
Turrets and spires give the seat of the earls and dukes of Sutherland the look of a French chateau, set above formal gardens on the coast north of Golspie. Inside, a run of furnished rooms is open, and falconry displays take place in the garden during the season. The castle opens from April to the end of October only.
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Loch Fleet
A tidal basin north of Dornoch empties to sandbanks at low water, and common and grey seals haul out near the mouth at Littleferry. The nature reserve also holds pinewood planted on the dunes, with wintering ducks and waders on the mudflats. A roadside stop on the A9 at the Mound gives a quick look, and the Littleferry track gets closest to the seals.
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Dornoch Sands
A wide beach runs south from the town towards Dornoch Point, with dunes on one side and the firth on the other. Dog walkers and families use it year round, and seals haul out on the sandbars near the point at low tide. A car park lies at the end of the road past the golf course, a few minutes' walk from the square.
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Falls of Shin
Salmon leap the rapids of the River Shin here from late spring to autumn, watched from a platform beside the falls south of Lairg. Short woodland trails loop through birch and pine above the gorge. The leaping is most reliable after summer rain, and a car park sits off the B864 above the river.
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Glenmorangie Distillery
Copper stills among the tallest in Scotland fill the stillhouse of this distillery on the shore of the Dornoch Firth, just north of Tain. Guided tours walk through the process from mash to cask and finish with a tasting. Tours run at set times with limited places, so booking ahead is needed.
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Timespan
In Helmsdale, a riverside museum and arts centre covers the village's herring boom, the Kildonan gold rush and the Clearances, with a changing programme of exhibitions. A cafe and garden overlook the old bridge across the river. Opening hours shorten in winter, and Helmsdale is about 45 minutes north of Dornoch on the A9.
