The borders of Caithness are the Pentland Firth to the north, and Moray Firth to the east, this is a historic county, Caithness has a land boundary with the historic county of Sutherland together they cover the far north coast of Scotland, on land and bounded by the sea, part of the North Coast 500 route, The route is an experience in itself and driving the full 516 miles of coastline makes for an exhilarating holiday, the heart of Sutherland is the only county that has access to the east, west and north coasts of Scotland.
The coast is low-lying on the east, with off shore stacks at places based around harbours and making their living on a mix of fishing and tourism.
The Pentland Firth island of Stroma is within Caithness, the geological features of the Caithness coastline feature soaring sea stacks, raucous colonies of sea birds and vertically faced headlands jutting out into the wild waters of the Pentland Firth, with ferries linking Caithness with Orkney. Here you will find Nybster Harbour, Located 14 miles south of Wick.
Nybster offers a range of activities for the family to enjoy, from historic remnants of the Highlands through the town’s brochs, it is home to a lovely stretch of sandy beach and Sinclairs Bay, a stretch of pure, white sands, locally known as Reiss Beach, with a remarkable landscape, although the waters may be too cold for swimming, the beach provides your prime opportunity for a blast of fresh air or your chance to experience an unforgettable display of the Northern Lights! The land boundary follows a watershed and is crossed by two roads, the A9 and the A836, and one railway, the Far North Line.
Caithness
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The vast open landscape, also known as the flow country, is rich in archaeological remnants of a bygone age, inland to the north, is a desolate flat peat bog and moorland, one of the last true wilderness areas in Europe, with high cliffs, while the population of the Flow Country is sparse, it is a popular home for numerous rare plants, insects and birds.
Dunnet Head is the most northerly point in Mainland Britain, whilst John O Groats is the most northerly village, this cliff top landscape provides a dramatic journey, perfect for those who seek a rugged, yet manageable walk and breath taking views of the sea towards Orkney.
Caithness is home to John O Groats Wick Airport in Wick with flights daily from Edinburgh or Aberdeen, with car hire ready available.
Caithness and the North Coast Sutherland is a large area of unspoilt, dramatic scenery a land of open moorland and blanket bog, known as the Flow Country with very few trees, some farmland and scattered settlements, the land boundary follows a watershed and is crossed by two roads, the A9 and the A836 cross Caithness, on the extreme edge of Europe, in the far north of Scotland, there is one railway the Far North Line.
This area is surrounded by a dramatic coastline, much of which you’ll see on the road, rank amongst one of the very top motorcycle touring destinations in the world. It has everything great roads, amazing scenery and a ever-changing geography at every turn of the bend, part of the North Coast 500 route.
Inland is the desolate flat peat bog and moorland of the Flow Country, one of the last true wilderness areas in Europe.
While the population of the Flow Country is sparse, it is a popular home for numerous rare plants, insects and birds.
The borders of Caithness are the Pentland Firth to the north, and Moray Firth to the east, the Pentland Firth island of Stroma is within Caithness and meets Sutherland, together covering the far north coast of Scotland, the coast is low-lying on the east, and majestic on the north, with high cliffs and off shore stacks at places like Duncansby Head.
Caithness has over 4000 monuments dating from Prehistoric right up the more recent Highland Clearances era.
Caithness, is nestled in the far north of the mainland of Scotland in Caithness and Sutherland, unspoilt natural surroundings within small, enterprising communities, Once a Viking settlement, and one of the busiest herring fishing ports, and now home to the Castle of Mey and Old Pulteney whisky distillery.
The Wick John O’Groats Airport is located north of the town of Wick in Caithness and was originally a originally a grass air field,
Just to the west of Thurso lies Scrabster, the main ferry port for Orkney, whose outline can be seen rising from the sea to the north, with a further vehicle ferry operated by Pentland Ferries to Orkney from Gills Bay, near John O’ Groats.
The whole region offers fabulous outdoor sporting activities, from golf to sailing, from hill and forest walks to mountain biking and abseiling, the Assynt Mountains, recently designated the UK’s first Geopark a magnet for geologists and climbers from all over the world, here you will find spectacular white sand beaches and cliffs that dot the coastline, and the offshore stacs are homes to massive colonies of seabirds.
The flow country is an internationally important habitat for birds and the area is also home to eagles, red kite, deer, otter and a range of subtropical plants that thrive in special gardens on the west coast.
The variety of places to visit include the Castle of Mey – the late Queen Mother, Wick Heritage Museum that charts the herring boom years of the 19th century and Dunnet head – the most northerly point of the British mainland and Dunrobin Castle with its spectacular decorative gardens.