About Caithness



BIG skies, rugged cliffs, spectacular sea-stacks, mysterious moors, long summer nights... these are just some of the natural features that give Caithness its unique appeal. These indeed are the Lowlands beyond the Highlands, a county described by its most famous literary son, Neil Gunn, as that land of exquisite lights.

As well as wide-open spaces you'll find a warm welcome in this historic, geographically diverse triangle in the top right-hand corner of the British mainland, hemmed in on its northern and eastern coasts by the sea in all its moods.

The vast interior of the Far North contains the famous Flow Country, with its internationally important birds and plants, while there's plenty to see and do in the bustling towns of Wick and Thurso and the pleasant villages scattered across the county.

Lovers of fresh air and exercise can enjoy any number of country walks, and there are many picturesque harbours just waiting to be discovered. Keen ornithologists will be in their element, while the mainly flat Caithness landscape makes it ideal for a cycling holiday. Water sports and quad-biking add to the range of outdoor attractions. To the north, across the turbulent waters of the Pentland Firth, lie the Orkney islands; to the south and west is the more mountainous county of Sutherland.