Explore the far north
The North of Scotland is a land of glorious contrasts.
Caithness stretches across the headland, revealing vast skies and dramatic seascapes
peppered with peaceful beaches, forests and coastal walks.
As you travel west, Caithness’ flat horizons give way to the dramatic mountains and moors of Sutherland.
Here you will find the peatland mosses of the Flow Country,
moody fields cloaked in heather and tiny coves surrounded by turquoise waters.
The far north rewards the curious.
Slow down, breathe deep and let us guide you through the region we call home.
Caithness
From the iconic John O’Groats to medieval castles clinging to cliffs, Caithness has a flair for the dramatic. But follow its quieter roads and you’ll find bustling harbours, welcoming communities and stories worth stopping for.
See Caithness through local eyes
The North Coast 500, John O’Groats and the Late Queen Mother’s Castle of Mey bring thousands of visitors to Caithness every year. But the pleasure of exploring with a local guide is discovering what lies beyond them.
In Wick, the harbour recalls the days when this was Europe’s largest herring port, and the streets of Pulteneytown still follow Thomas Telford’s plans. The neighbouring town of Thurso invites you to wander down its cobbled streets and take in its sweeping bay.
Further east, dramatic sea stacks rise from the water at Duncansby Head, teeming with wildlife.
Each stop reveals another side of a county that deserves more than a drive through.
Sutherland
From soaring peaks to hidden caves and wild, open moorland, Sutherland will stop you in your tracks.
Sutherland, on a grand scale
In Sutherland, the road seems to run straight into the mountains. Peaks rise above vast, empty glens; moody skies give way to sudden shafts of light that transform the landscape before your eyes. This is a place where you can travel for miles with little between you and the horizon.
Near Durness, the sea has carved Smoo Cave into the limestone cliffs, with a waterfall hidden inside. Inland, the Flow Country stretches across Sutherland and Caithness: a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose ancient peatlands store more carbon than all the UK’s forests combined.
Few places make you feel the scale and power of nature quite like this.
More to explore
Cross the Pentland Firth to Orkney’s ancient sites and island communities, or let the journey lead you further into the Highlands.
A bespoke Highland experience
If you’d like a bigger Highland adventure, our local guides are on-hand to craft your journey.
The City in the Highlands, Inverness is a spectacular starting point. Take time to enjoy its riverside setting, lively streets and castle overlooking the city before following the Great Glen towards Loch Ness. Beyond the famous name is a beautiful, immense stretch of water, framed by wooded shores and mountains.
From there, your journey might lead west to Skye’s dramatic landscapes or north across the Pentland Firth to Orkney’s ancient sites and island communities.
Tell us what draws you here, and we can build extra days around the places you most want to explore.
FEATURED TOUR
Authentic Caithness
See the far north through local eyes on a day trip that takes you from Thurso’s historic streets
and Castletown’s flagstone heritage to the sweeping views at Dunnet Head.
Explore the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother’s former Highland home, then continue to John O’Groats
and the wilder coastline and sea stacks at Duncansby Head.
Your local guide brings the places to life along the way, with pickup and drop-off in Wick, Scrabster or Thurso.
If there’s more you want to see, add a day to discover Wick, venture west into Sutherland or cross to Orkney.
We’ll shape the wider journey around what interests you.
Discover our historic landscape
Image credits:
Cover: Duncansby Stacks: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam.
Caithness: L-R clockwise: Morven: iStock/Rob Candy. John O’Groats: iStock/Neil Bussey. Sinclair Castle: iStock/Albert Brunsting. Wick Harbour: iStock/vale_t
Sutherland: Top: iStock/fotoVoyager. Bottom left: Clachtoll. VisitScotland/Liam Anderstrem. Bottom right: Oldshoremore. VisitScotland/Liam Anderstrem.
More to Explore: L: Unsplash/David Bayliss. Top right: Unsplash/Crawford Jolly. Bottom right: Unsplash/Bjorn Snelders.
Bottom CTA: Nybster Broch: Venture North.