The Scottish Highlands have some fantastic beaches, and one of the best ones is Dunnet Bay, located on the north coast of Caithness. This sweeping sandy beach is worth a visit at any time of day!
Geological Features
Dunnet Bay’s beautiful beach stretches around two miles from the villages of Castletown to Dunnet. From the road running parallel to the beach, you’ll be able to see the ‘machair’ – grassy plains that are most commonly found in areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland. The machair is home to many rare Scottish plants including the Scottish primrose, and nature enthusiasts also note that the smallest butterfly in the UK, the small blue butterfly can be found at Dunnet Bay, near to its primary food source of kidney-vetch, a bright yellow plant.
Whilst on the NC500, you’ll also notice that your sight of the beach is mostly blocked by the towering sand dunes – so this is a good reason to get out and explore! To protect the habitat, please do not walk over the sand dunes apart from at the designated access points.
Activities at Dunnet Bay
On such a huge beach at Dunnet Bay, there is plenty to do!
Walking
You can walk the full length of the beach at any time of day, even at high tide. We’d advise you to have appropriate footwear as there are a couple of streams to cross in the middle of the bay. Also see our page on Walking in Scotland.
Surfing and Paddle-Boarding
Dunnet Bay is a watersport lover’s dream, and you’ll often find North Coast Watersports teaching surfing to beginners of all ages. They also hire out equipment and offer stand up paddle-boarding lessons at more sheltered locations including nearby Dwarwick Pier.
Swimming
No special equipment is required for a dip in the north sea and Dunnet Beach is a popular place for outdoor swimming for locals and visitors! As Dunnet Bay is sandy it’s very pleasant to go for a swim without needing swim shoes to navigate sharp stones. It is surprising at low tide how far you will need to go out to be able to swim, so make sure that you always are with someone who can spot you if you are swimming alone, and that you know your limits for how long you can spend in the (very) cold water.
Beachcombing
The tide brings in an assortment of stones and pretty shells, so Dunnet Bay is an ideal place to pick up a souvenir of your visit! However it’s not a place to find the famous Groatie Buckies (tiny cowrie shells) – the best place to find those are at the beaches east of John O’Groats.
Seadrift Centre
The Seadrift Centre houses an information point and wildlife exhibition during the summer months, and is also a base for the Caithness Countryside rangers who run events, guided walks and wildlife activities for families all year round. It’s worth taking a look at their local Facebook page to keep updated if you are planning a visit.
Wildlife Watching
Take your binoculars and see if you can spot any coastal birds including oystercatchers, eider ducks, red throated divers, curlews on the water or on the shore. See more on our dedicated Wildlife page.
Cetaceans like whales and dolphins or seals rarely come into Dunnet Bay, favouring the currents of the Pentland Firth and areas like Scrabster, Thurso and John O’Groats. If you spot any cetacean or seal stranded on the beach, please contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
Picnics
At the Dunnet end of the bay, there are some picnic tables available, so you can enjoy outdoor dining with a fantastic view! You can prepare a feast in our well equipped lodges. There are bins in the car park so make sure you dispose of your waste or take it away with you.
Dunnet Bay Access Points
There are three access points for Dunnet Bay. All have some car parking spaces.
- Castletown end (west) which is a good car park if you would also like to explore Castletown Harbour and flagstone trail in addition to the beach (What3words: ///spotty.sleeping.opts)
- Burn of Midsand which has the smallest car park with spaces for just a few cars – if there’s no space, visit one of the other locations: (What3words: ///boast.sunblock.sorry)
- Dunnet End (east) which has toilet facilities, picnic tables and the Seadrift Centre: (What3words: ///taking.eruptions.merit)
Other Beaches in Caithness
Dunnet Bay is the closest beach to Celtic Lodges, being less than 4 miles away from Scarfskerry, If you want to explore other beaches in Caithness, we’d recommend:
- Sinclairs Bay: on the east coast of Caithness, north of Wick. There are two entry points at Reiss (What3words: ///puffed.afflicted.bland) and Keiss (What3words: ///resides.mixes.funny). If you are planning on visiting the castles of Sinclair Girnigoe and Old Keiss Castle, this is a great beach to visit as it is in between the sites, and like Dunnet Bay, is a long and sweeping sandy beach. There is also a shipwreck on Sinclairs Bay close to the Reiss entry which you can walk up to and look at during low tide.
- John O’Groats: Park at the main village car park and walk east to Sannick Bay, or park at Duncansby Head and walk down the hill. The bays in this area are a lot smaller and more sheltered, but you’ll still find soft white sand to sink your toes into, and at low tide, engravings of Nobel Prize poet Pablo Neruda’s XVII Sonnet on the red sandstone reefs may be visible for you to find!
- Thurso Beach: The most northerly town of Thurso has a beach within easy walking distance of the centre. It’s a popular spot for walkers, outdoor swimmers and surfers. Surfers also visit nearby Thurso East which is known as the cold water surfing mecca of the world!
Nearby to Dunnet Bay
It’s quite easy to spend a whole day in the Dunnet area! Here are our suggestions:
- Explore nearby Dunnet Forest with its wood sculptures and trails.
- After all your exploring, you’ll have worked up an appetite! Grab a bite to eat at the Northern Sands Hotel which serves good pub grub.
- Book a tour and tasting at Dunnet Bay Distillery, which produce one of Caithness’s top exports – Rock Rose Gin.
- Step back into the past at Mary Ann’s Cottage where you’ll learn about days gone by from the unique perspective of crofting.
- For a more secluded coastal experience, drive to Dwarwick Pier (just down the road from Mary Ann’s Cottage) which is where the late Queen Elizabeth landed by boat when visiting her mother’s holiday residence in 1955.
