WALKING

Caithness is pretty flat so walking is relatively easy and there are some great coastal and river walks.

Highland Council Countryside Rangers run many events and guided walks which aim to help raise awareness and encourage appreciation of the scenery, wildlife and heritage of the Highlands. They charge a small fee but this is well worth it for the depth of knowledge that they give.

Events are held all year round, walks are sometimes species specific (eg bats) or aimed at younger visitors (eg find a fossil). Find out what events are on here.

This website has a number of very good walks and also here.

• If it is very windy I would suggest Dunnet Forest, along the Thurso river (from town, at Geise, or from Halkirk), Wick river or Achinarras quarry.
  
  
• The seemingly endless sands of Dunnet Beach are often busy with surfers, kite-surfers, sand yachters, castle builders, stone skimmers, picnic-ers and birdwatchers. There are sinking sands over towards Castletown so watch out. The Ranger service has its information centre at the car park and just around the corner at Dwarwick there is Mary Ann's Cottage.

• If it is fine Strathy Point (see the Primula Scotia), Melvich beach, Holburn Head (watch out for the blow holes and go to the quarry) or Forss river at Crosskirk.
  
  
• If you can possibly get to Forsinard do the "Bog Walk" - it is wonderful. All that expanse of peatbog, the largest in Europe is actually full of life.

Use my "Quirky Quiz" (PDF, 90kb) for a walk around Thurso. It should take about an hour but it guides you past most of the pubs and cake eating establishments in town so it might take a little longer.