Dunnet Bay

Sandy beach

Picnic area

Toilets and Parking at the Seadrift Centre
Beach access at the Seadrift Centre

Dog Friendly

Castle of Mey

RSPB Dunnet Head
Rock Rose Gin
The Sea Drift Centre
Castlehill Heritage Centre
Nearest ATM is at McColl's in Castletown  24 hour service (external ATM) KW14 8PP
Nearest Shop is McColl's at Castletown  KW14 8TU opens 7am to 10pm every day. 8am Sundays
Nearest Petrol Station is West on A9 before Thurso  KW14 8PP  open 7.30am to 10.30pm

Dunnet Bay is located at the northern end of the wide, sandy beach between Castletown and Dunnet, close to the north-eastern tip of Scotland. The pale expanse of sand stretches for over 2 miles and is backed by dunes and the grassy plains found along the north of Scotland, known locally as "machair". Dunnet Head, which features the most northerly point of the United Kingdom mainland, lies just beyond the beach, above the mouth of the Dunnet Burn. This remote headland has a lighthouse, built in 1832, and provides plenty of opportunities for walkers and birdwatchers. The cliffs here provide nesting for a variety of seabirds. On a clear day, there are spectacular views from Dunnet Head along the coastline and out towards the Orkney Islands. Seals and the occasional dolphin may be spotted bobbing up and down in the surf.

Castle of Mey

The Castle of Mey was purchased in 1952 by the Queen's Mother. It is the most northerly castle in mainland Scotland. It looks out over the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands from a location a few hundred yards inland from the coast some 13 miles east of Thurso and some 6 miles west of John o' Groats.the Castle of Mey is a real delight: a feast of turrets topping off a confection of honey-coloured stone. Modest in size, the castle is in excellent condition and its different elements merge to produce a very homely residence you could almost imagine yourself living in. Combine the castle with beautiful gardens, an animal centre and a superb new visitor centre, tearoom and shop, and you have somewhere that should be viewed as an essential port of call for anyone visiting northern Scotland.

Opening season times for The Castle and Gardens of Mey 2018 will be from 1st May to 30th September inclusive, but will be closed between the 25th July to 7th August . The castle is open every day from 10.20 am until last admission at 4.00 pm.  The visitor centre, tearoom, shop, grounds and animal centre are open every day during the season from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm.

To plan your visit please click on the link to the Official Castle Of Mey Website.

RSPB Dunnet Head

This rugged peninsula in Caithness has the honour of being the most northerly point of mainland Britain. It's wild and untamed, with stunning sea cliffs and coastal grasslands which are home to puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes.From the A836, take the B855 north to Brough for two miles (3 km) until you reach Dunnet Head. On a clear day the northern end commands some of the most extensive views you are likely to find anywhere in northern Scotland. These include the Orkney Islands to the north, and the length of the north coast of Scotland from Duncansby Head.


Download the  PDF Guide and Map to find out more about what you can see and do here.



Rock Rose Gin

Martin Murray is the Co-Founder of Dunnet Bay Distillery in Caithness, which he set up with his wife Claire in 2014. The couple launched Rock Rose Gin to critical acclaim and the gin was recently named in the Top 50 Food and Drink Products in Britain at the Great Taste Awards.  Most recently the couple have added a Navy Strength Gin and a unique Holy Grass Vodka to the portfolio.

The gin is produced in a very beautiful part of Scotland and Rock Rose Gin showcases the heritage and provenance of Caithness. They hand forage botanicals, such as Sea Buckthorn and Rowan Berries, from the local cliffs and forest to create their unique Rock Rose Gin taste. Perhaps the most significant of these is the Rhodiola rosea (a rose in the rocks), which adds a delicate floral note to the gin. In fact, it’s such a a precious plant that was once pillaged by the Vikings who believed it would give them extra strength and make them live to 200! 

The distillery is open to visitors although booking is advised. You can visit their Website to find out more. Opening hours are 11am until 2pm Monday to Saturday. They also have a wee shop with a few lovely locally made goodies to discover. Shop times are 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.



The Seadrift Centre

As well as being a visitor centre, Seadrift is used as a base for the North Sutherland Countryside Rangers. They manage a number of sites in the countryside and organise walks, wildlife watches and activities for schools. You can find the visitor centre at the north end of Dunnet sands about 1 mile from Dunnet village. Visitors should look out for a caravan site half a mile south of the village of Dunnet. At the north end of this is a large car park providing beach access, and Seadrift can be found on the upper floor of the building whose ground floor provides facilities for the caravan site next door.

Seadrift is accessed via a set of steps on the end of the building, which carry the painted tracks of birds and animals. The visitor centre itself is larger than you expect from the outside, and comprises a main room housing most of the displays and the viewing area, and a smaller room aimed at younger visitors or educational groups.  Opening times in May to June and September: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday - 2pm to 5pm. July to August: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday - 10.30am to 5pm. 

Download a Visitor Leaflet to find out more or contact the countryside ranger on Tel: 01847 821531



Castlehill Heritage Centre

Located on the most northernly coast of Scotland, Castletown in Caithness is frequently referred to as the 'Flagstone Village' due to its association with the quarrying and the export of flagstones as paving and construction material. Important though the flagstone industry was, Castletown has a rich and diverse social, enconomic and archaeological heritage stretching from the impact of Viking habitation, the strategic role played by RAF Castletown in the defence of Scapa Flow and the north British coastal waters during World War II, to the present day. Castletown Heritage Society seeks to bring this story to life at the heritage centre. You will find it on Harbour Road, Castletown, KW14 8TG. It is well signosted from the village down the road opposite McColl's shop which is shown on the map at the top of this page. Open all year on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm. You can visit their Official Website to find out more about their exhibitions.



Local Parking in the Area

I am unsure if these locations are suitable for wild camping but if you want a large space to park your Motorhome and take in the views then these are ideal. You can park in the Seadrift Centre too, especially if you need beach access and toilets. If you want to get a little off the beaten track then these spots are perfect for a "brew with a view". Top left is labelled as West Dunnet Parking .


The bottom left image is labelled as Castletown Harbour Parking on the map and there is a "No Overnight" yellow sign in this location.  I think there are also wild camping spots up near Dunnet Head RSBP but I will edit this section after our trip in May. As always, please leave only your footprints and arrive late, leave early to be courteous and allow other visitors to enjoy.

Dunnet Bay Caravan Club Site

This is a very busy site and it is right next to the road and the Seadrift Centre. I heard that traffic noise here can be a problem. Also being a Caravan Club site it charges an extra £12 on top of the already hefty pitch fees. For my family this worked out to £43.60 per night so we will definitely not be using this site on our trip. If you would like to stay here do book ahead and visit their Website or call them on Tel: 01847 821319 to make an enquiry.


Camp Site Facilities
BBQs allowed
Disabled shower room
Dishwashing area
Dog walk from site
Electric hook-up
Laundry facilities
Motorhome service point
Toilet block
TV reception: good
Wi-Fi but only in a communal area

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