Man has lived a long time on the east coast of Sutherland. This enduring and beautiful landscape is home to ancient brochs and medieval castles, hidden woodland sites where iron ore was made and wide flowing rivers and estuaries used for transportation for centuries. Peaceful crofting townships, farms and villages only hint at the sometimes turbulent political history of land use and human settlement. This itinerary will give you a glimpse into the human history of this area, set against a back drop of rugged natural splendour.
Signposted off the A9 a mile north of Golspie.
Carn Liath
Exiting Dunrobin, turn right and continue north on the A9 for less than a mile past the Castle, where parking is signposted on the opposite side of the road from the Broch. Alternatively, a pleasant short walk along the shore from the Castle on signposted paths will bring you to Carn Liath.
Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve
Driving south through Golspie, after the children’s playpark, turn left onto Ferry Road. The car park for the Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve is around a mile down this road, past the golf course and inside the woodland.
Ledmore and Migdale Woods, Spinningdale
At Clashmore, turn off the A9 onto the A949 (signposted as a Tourist Route) along the beautiful Dornoch Firth towards Bonar Bridge. Once you reach Spinningdale turn onto the minor road for Migdale.
Falls of Shin & Achany
From Bonar Bridge, take the road for Lairg, turning left onto the A837 after Invershin, then right onto the B864 signposted for Falls of Shin.
