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The Kyle of Durness at low water, pale sands and shallow channels below green hills.
Sutherland

Kyle of Durness

The long sea loch south-west of Durness, sands and channels at low water, where a small passenger ferry crosses from Keoldale on the way to Cape Wrath.

Welcome

South-west of Durness, the sea runs a long way inland into the hills.

The Kyle of Durness is a sea loch, and at low water it drains almost to nothing, leaving great banks of pale sand and a few winding channels between green slopes.

The A838 runs south beside it, and at Keoldale, two miles from the village, a small pier is the starting point for one of the odder journeys in Scotland. There is no road to Cape Wrath, the far north-western corner of the mainland, so a passenger boat carries visitors across the Kyle in about ten minutes, and a minibus meets it on the far side for the hour-long drive along an eleven-mile track.

At the end stands Cape Wrath lighthouse, built in 1828 under Robert Stevenson, with the cliffs of Clo Mor nearby, the highest sheer sea cliffs on the British mainland. Allow about three and a half hours there and back.

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The Daily for 2 November, from Scotland with love. Cloud shadows cross a sunlit mountain above a loch, rust-coloured moorland stretching below
A short drive awayBalnakeil Craft Village5 min by roadSee itBalnakeil Craft Village
Before you go

The Kyle can be seen from the A838 at any time.

The Cape Wrath ferry runs from Keoldale Pier; the crossing takes about ten minutes, with fares paid on the boat, and a minibus meets it for Cape Wrath. Allow about three and a half hours for the round trip.

Where
South-west of Durness, by the A838.
The ferry
From Keoldale Pier, about ten minutes.
Beyond
Cape Wrath, by minibus.

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Where it is

South-west of Durness along the A838, with the ferry at Keoldale Pier, two miles from the village.

Close byDurness.
  1. Durness Golf ClubDurness Golf ClubA nine-hole links at Balnakeil, on the edge of Faraid Head, with a second set of tees for eighteen and a par 3 played across a sea inlet.2 miles as the crow flies
  2. DurnessDurnessThe village above Sango Bay.2 miles 3 min by road
  3. Cocoa Mountain BalnakeilCocoa Mountain Balnakeil3 miles 5 min by road
  4. Balnakeil BeachBalnakeil BeachA long white beach at the mouth of the Kyle.3 miles 6 min by road
  5. Vast limestone cave arch with a wooden viewing shelter beside the streamSmoo CaveA great sea cave on the edge of Durness.3 miles 5 min by road
Directions
Wooden gallery building with potted plants and a hill behindShoppingBalnakeil Craft Village2.6 miles
Balnakeil Church's roofless walls above a kirkyard of old stones, the bay beyond.AttractionsBalnakeil Church3.0 miles
Wooden viewing platform inside a large cave with rocky floor and green-lit wallsAttractionsSmoo Cave3.4 miles
Tumbled stone walls of Ceannabeinne township on a green slope in evening light, the sea beyond.AttractionsCeannabeinne Village Ruins4.6 miles
A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.DurnessCeannabeinne CottageSleeps 4 · 4.8 miles
Rocky headland and grassy dunes above a sandy beach with calm seaAttractionsCeannabeinne Beach5.1 miles
River winding through a glen beneath cloud-covered hillsAttractionsRiver Dionard6.7 miles
A curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.LaidShore CottageSleeps 2 · 8.9 miles
A curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.Port na ConHill CottageSleeps 2 · 8.9 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the Kyle, and when each is next free.

A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.Ceannabeinne Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Durness
  • 4 miles from the Kyle of Durness
Free 18–25 JunA curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.Hill Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Port na Con
  • 4 miles from the Kyle of Durness
Check datesA curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.Shore Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Laid
  • 4 miles from the Kyle of Durness
Check datesA stone cottage with a slated roof and skylights sits on a lawn, a bench, fire bowl and basket of logs set out on the patio in front.Ferryman's Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Hope
  • 7 miles from the Kyle of Durness
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in SutherlandAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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