Depart Inverness for Brora, Sutherland. Journey time to Brora will take approximately 1hour 30minutes
Take a walk along Brora’s sandy beach, have a look at the little harbour and stop in at the Royal Marine Hotel and enjoy a wee dram by the log fire.
You can pick up provisions in Brora where there is also a village bakery. In Golspie the next town there is a fishmongers and butchers.
Visit Dunrobin Castle – if its Spring enjoy the snow drops in the castle’s the extensive gardens and grounds. This is also a very special wedding venue especially when combined with accommodation at the Royal Marine Hotel. Please note Dunrobin castle opens Easter through to mid October.
RSPB Forsinard - a threatened landscape, peatlands have vanished across much of Scotland, but the RSPB is helping to preserve this vital area of internationally important habitat. Golden plovers and native greylag geese arrive on roadside fields from March to July and in winter you’ll see wild red deer herds and the blue/mountain hare in its white winter coat. In winter, only the buzzards, red grouse, ravens and hardy wardens stick out the cold and golden eagles venture closer to the road occasionally.
Mountain Biking – with routes and terrain to suit all fitness levels, this is a fantastic way to see the area. Why not try the Wildcat Mountain Bike trails, Golspie or Kyle of Sutherland trails from Bonar Bridge
Woodland Walks – Balblair Woods
Beaches – there are excellent beaches at Embo, Brora and Loth
Fishing on Loch Brora – try your hand at Salmon and Brown Trout fishing. You can hire a 3 man boat with 2 rods from the Royal Marine hotel for £20 half day and £35 for a full day. Ghillie, fishing equipment and pack lunch are all available on request at extra charge.
Walking - try to take in as much of our fantastic scenery and wildlife as you can:-
Dolphins - The Moray Firth is home to around 150 bottle-nosed dolphins which can be spotted from Brora Beach and the harbour.
Whales - A sperm whale was observed from Brora beach in 1994. Minke whales are regular visitors to the Moray Firth between August and October and have been observed from Brora beach. Pilot and Killer Whales are both occasionally seen in the Moray Firth.
Grey Seals – The Moray Firth is home to around 500 Grey Seals. Individual Grey Seals are often seen. Breeding takes place on remote islands and beaches in the Autumn when single pups are born. The nearest breeding site is north of Helmsdale and is only visible from boats. The pups remain for about three weeks.
Common Seals – There are around 1200 in the Moray Firth and Brora beach hosts around 100 at any one time. Best seen at low tide, but please do not approach too close and disturb them. The pups are born in the last two weeks of June and swim out to their mothers on the next tide.
Otters - There are many otters on the River Brora. Although they can be seen fishing at midday in hill lochs, the best time to catch them playing in the river is around dawn and to a lesser extent, at dusk.
Golf - Brora Golf Club is an excellent links course with a further 17 exciting golf courses within a 1 hour drive of Brora.
Genealogy and History - the local area is renowned as the home of Clan Sutherland. Timespan Museum and Arts Centre – is situated in the centre of Helmsdale, Sutherland – the largest, but least populated, area of the Highlands and is a vibrant meeting place between our past and our future; linking culture, heritage, the arts, people and their ideas. It comprises an award winning museum, art gallery, story telling Room, riverside café, shop and riverside garden of Scottish herbs and flowers.
Places to eat -
The Storehouse at Foulis Ferry
Just off the A9 about 45 mins from the airport. Open for breakfast, lunches, home baking and coffees. Take stroll along the beach to see if you can spot seals, waders and other wildlife. Excellent farm shop for local provisions. Open Monday – Saturday 9am – 6pm and Sundays 10am – 5pm.
In Brora there is the Royal Marine Hotel with three restaurants – the Garden room, the Bistro and the more formal dining room. The food is excellent at all three. In addition there are 2 Indian restaurants in Brora – Indian Ocean and Spice. The Sutherland Inn also serves pub food.
