Dunnet Head – Puffins and Seabird Cliffs at Britain's Top
A few hours.
The route
Dunnet Head is the most northerly point of mainland Britain, a wild Caithness headland of high sandstone cliffs with a white lighthouse on top and Orkney spread out across the Pentland Firth.
The RSPB looks after it for its seabirds, and in spring and summer puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes crowd the ledges below. A firm, step-free path leads to the viewpoints, so it's a fine short outing, grandparents included.
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, 3 miles away. Sleeps 18.
The day
Dunnet
An hour or so on top of the mainland's northern edge, looking down on the seabirds and out to Orkney. Bring binoculars.
About an hour and a halfAbout 1 mile on foot
Dunnet Head
An attraction
Dunnet Head is at the end of the B855, which runs north from the A836 at Dunnet through Brough, with a large free car park by the lighthouse run by the Highland Council. The views start from the car park, and a firm, step-free path leads to the cliff-top viewpoint; the summit viewpoint has a gravel surface and no steps. In spring and summer the cliffs below are busy with nesting puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes, and by the autumn the birds have gone back out to sea. Bring binoculars, as the puffins are small and far below. The cliffs are high and sheer: keep to the path, hold children's hands, and leave it for another day in rain, low cloud or a strong wind. From April to mid-August keep dogs close, on a short lead. There are no toilets on the headland: the nearest are at the Seadrift visitor centre by Dunnet beach, about 5 miles back by road, in its opening hours.
If it rains
Dunnet Head is open cliff-top with no shelter, and the birds are hard to see in low cloud. In rain or a strong wind, leave it for a better day; the view from the car park needs only a few steps.
Where to stay