Tarbat Ness – A Red-Banded Lighthouse on a Sandstone Point
Tarbat Ness is the long, low point where the Dornoch Firth meets the Moray Firth, and at the end of it stands one of the tallest lighthouses in Scotland, white with two red bands.
You can walk out to it along the shore from the harbour village of Portmahomack, or drive to the car park near the tower and stroll round the point. Either way there are red sandstone cliffs, rock pools and a very big sky.
- Time
- About three hours there and back along the shore from Portmahomack, about 5 km each way. Walkhighlands gives the full round of the peninsula from the village as 15 km. From the car park near the lighthouse, a few minutes to the tower. A coast walk.
- The path
- Faint paths over grass, shingle and mud along the shore; the car park near the lighthouse is a few minutes from the tower.
- Where to start
- Portmahomack seafront, free, with public toilets open at all hours; or the car park near the lighthouse at the end of the road, for a short stroll.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off from Portmahomack by noon, or by 10am for the full round.
- Dogs
- On a lead: cattle and sheep graze parts of the shore.
- Children
- Cliff edges and a rocky shore: hold on to young children. The short stroll from the lighthouse car park suits all ages.
- Before you set out
- The lighthouse is a working light and is not open to visitors. The Tarbat Discovery Centre in Portmahomack is open until 31 October 2026, then by appointment from November to February.
The walk
Park on the seafront at Portmahomack, where parking is free and the public toilets are open at all hours. The lighthouse is at the tip of the peninsula, to the north-east. A signposted path follows the shore to it from the village, about 5 km each way, so allow three hours to walk there and back. Walkers who want more can come back down the far shore. Walkhighlands gives that full round from the village as 15 km. The shore is rough going in places: faint paths over grass, shingle and mud, with cattle and sheep on parts of it.
For a short walk, drive to the car park near the lighthouse instead. From there it's a few minutes on foot to the tower, with the red sandstone shore of the point just beyond. The lighthouse was built in 1830 by Robert Stevenson, and its two red bands were added in 1915. At 41 metres it's one of the tallest in Scotland. It's still a working light, so you can't go inside. Seabirds, seals and dolphins are all seen from the point, so bring binoculars.
Keep dogs on a lead near the cattle and sheep, and hold on to children near the cliff edges. Take a flask, as there's nowhere to buy a drink beyond the village. In Portmahomack, the Tarbat Discovery Centre in the old church is open until 31 October, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. From November to February it opens by appointment on 01862 871351. From November to January, set off from the village by noon, or by 10am for the full round.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the point, and the shore path is slippery when wet, so keep the long walk for a dry day. In rain or a gale, drive to the car park near the lighthouse, take a short look and go back to the village.
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 Links House at Royal Dornoch in Dornoch, 8 miles away.
For further reading, before you go.