Dunnet Head – The Top of the Mainland and Lunch by Dunnet Bay
A few hours.
The route
Dunnet Head is the top of mainland Britain, a high headland with a white Stevenson lighthouse and Orkney across the water.
This is the headland and its view over the Pentland Firth, then lunch back down the road at the Northern Sands, by Dunnet Bay.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is House of the Northern Gate in Dunnet. Sleeps 18.
The day
Dunnet
The view from the northern edge of the mainland, then a ten-minute drive down to lunch by Dunnet Bay.
About two and a half hours
Dunnet Head
An attraction
Dunnet Head is at the end of the B855, which runs north from Dunnet through Brough, and there's a large Highland Council car park beside the lighthouse. The view starts at the car, and a firm, all-abilities path leads on to the cliff-top viewpoint; the summit viewpoint has a gravel surface and no steps. Robert Stevenson built the lighthouse in 1831 on cliffs 300 feet above the sea, and Orkney is less than seven miles away across the Pentland Firth. Avoid the cliff edges, and keep an eye on children and pets.
10 min by car
Northern Sands Hotel
Lunch
It's 10 minutes' drive back down the B855 to the Northern Sands Hotel in Dunnet, with the bay across the road. Food is served all day, all year round, and the kitchen was named Scottish Hotel Restaurant of the Year in 2022. The sample menu runs from Cullen skink to Scrabster haddock in beer batter and Caithness steaks, and the current one is on its Facebook page. Ring first: 01847 851300.
If it rains
In rain or low cloud the view from the headland goes; on a day like that, go straight to the Northern Sands, where everything is under a roof.
Where to stay
Make it a weekend
More days out near Thurso.
Photograph by Northern Sands Hotel via Google