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The A9 follows the coastline north of Dornoch to Wick. Loch Fleet, about 5 miles north of Dornoch, is a tidal estuary where there is a nature reserve. Golspie, a few miles further north, has a championship golf course and sandy beach. Its main attraction is the many-turreted Dunrobin Castle which is the seat of the Sutherland clan who were mainly responsible for the Highland Clearances. It was originally built in the 13th century but much of the current house is 18th century with an obvious French influence. There is also a museum in the summer house within the extensive formal gardens. A few miles south of Brora is the Iron Age broch of Carn Liath. The fishing village of Helmsdale, 5 miles north of Brora, provides access to excellent salmon fishing on the River Helmsdale. The village's Timespan Heritage Centre depicts the local history including Viking raids, the Clearances and gold prospecting (which continues today at Baile an Or, 8 miles to the west).
Just north of Dunbeath (which has its own heritage centre) are the interesting Laidhay Croft Museum and the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre & Museum. The Waterlines Visitor Centre in Lybster, a purpose-built 19th century fishing village, focuses on the local fishing industry and has CCTV of birds nesting in the nearby cliffs. There several sites of ancient standing stones nearby: the Grey Cairns of Camister dating from 4000 BC; the Achavanich Standing Stones; and the Hill o'Many Stanes - forming 22 rows of stones dating from 2000 BC.
Wick was originally a Viking settlement and has a fascinating Heritage Centre which focuses on the local fishing industry and an interesting photographic collection. There are two castles on the cliffs near Wick: the ruins of the 12th century Old Wick Castle to the south; and Castle Sinclair to the north. John O'Groats lies 17 miles north of Wick on the A99 and the Northlands Viking Centre at Auckengill provides an interesting account of its Viking history.
Information
There is a tourist office in the High Street in Wick. Wick airport services flights from Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Orkney and Aberdeen. There are also Citylink buses to Inverness and Thurso and local buses to John O'Groats with a train link to Inverness and a passenger ferry to Orkney. Hotels in the area include the Belgrave Arms Hotel in Helmsdale and the Nethercliffe Hoteland MacKay's Hotel in Wick. Restaurants include La Mirage and Bunillidh in Helmsdale, and the Quayside, Bord de L'Eau, Alexander Bain and Cabrelli's in Wick.
Sleeps: 6, Bedrooms: 3
Is on a private landed Estate almost midway between Lairg on Loch Shin and the sandy coast at Dornoch (famous golf links) - a comfortable detached stone house one mile west of the village of Rogart facing south across its large enclosed garden to the valley of the River Fleet (fishing) and the hills around Loch Buidhe.
Sleeps: 6, Bedrooms: 3
Is another modernised and comfortable traditional stone cottage facing onto its own (enclosed) pretty front garden and built against the walled garden of Rovie Lodge. It is on a private country Estate one mile west of Rogart and almost midway between the famous sands at Dornoch (golf-links) and Lairg on Loch Shin.
Sleeps: 6, Bedrooms: 3
Is a detached cottage in a small group of three cottages one mile west of Rogart, on a private landed Estate almost midway between Lairg on Loch Shin and the sandy coast at Dornoch (famous golf links). Modernised and partly open-plan, it is entered via a courtyard with its own enclosed patio and garden at its rear.
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