© R.S.Sweet 2007
Caithness is Scotland’s best kept secret. With spectacular scenery, an abundance of wildlife and steeped in history, it forms the north east part of the Highland region, with a climate drier than that of the western highlands and generally flatter topography. It offers the visitor excellent opportunities for walking, bird watching, fishing, cycling, surfing and exploring archaeological sights. Wick and Thurso are its main towns, and they both offer a good selection of shops and amenities.
Golf
Lybster itself has a nine hole heath land golf course, whilst nearby Wick, Thurso and Reay have 18 hole links boasting impressive views.
Bird watching
The area offers wonderful opportunities for the ornithologist to view both land and sea birds. The RSPB site at Forsinard Flows, near Thurso is open all year round, though the visitor centre is only open from Easter to October.
Both sea and game fishing are available, including the famous Watten Water, one of the best fishing lochs in the country.
Surfing
The north coast of Scotland is probably not your first thought for a beach holiday, but it has a number of beautiful, sandy, clean beaches, offering good quality surfing. Even if you do not surf, they are well worth a visit.
To really explore Caithness one needs to get out of the car and on with the boots.
Coastal paths with great views, inland to archaeological sites such as brochs and cairns. Mountain paths and lochs for the more adventurous.
Historic buildings
The Castle of Mey and Dunrobin Castle are both within easy reach by car.
Visit the Orkney Islands
Scheduled ferries operate from Scrabster and John O’Groat so why not take a day trip?