Location
Celtic Lodges are perfectly located in the north of Scotland, right on the North Coast 500 route, or NC500 for short, between Thurso (11.5 miles) and John O’Groats (7.5 miles).
Caithness is the most northeasterly county in The Highlands. Its landscape consists largely of open rolling moorland to the North and peat bogs – known as ‘the Flow Country’ to the south. Caithness remains a largely unspoiled and undeveloped county ringed, to the north and east by dramatic coastal scenery with a few Hidden Gems worth a visit. This underdeveloped environment, combined with strong westerly winds provides air that is as clean as the best in Europe.
Close to both Gills Bay and Scrabster Harbour if you’re planning Day Trips to Orkney.
Caithness has a population of around 26,000, the main centres of population being the towns of Wick and Thurso. Wick was once Europe’s leading herring port, with a fleet of more than 1,000 fishing boats. Things are a little quieter these days, but Caithness still has a deserved reputation for arguably Britain’s best sea-angling waters. Salmon fishing is possible in many of Caithness’ rivers, and there are many lochs that attract the serious trout fisher.
Thurso has a population of around 9,000 and lies at latitude 59 degrees North, the same latitude as the Alaskan capital of Juneau. This brings long, seemingly endless lazy summer nights in June and July and perfect for Viewing the Northern Lights in the winter. Thurso was originally a Norse port, and Norse would have been the original language spoken in Thurso and much of Caithness.
The area between Wick and Thurso in The Highlands provides the finest farmland in the North of Scotland, producing world-class livestock which can be seen at The Caithness Show held every year.
Key to the NC500 map on this page:
- Celtic Lodges
- Nearest Restaurant for Food and Drink 1 mile
- Castle of Mey 1.9 miles
- Dunnet Bay Distillery 3.3 miles
- Dunnet Bay 3.8 mile
- Mary Ann’s Cottage 3.9 miles
- Gills Bay Ferry Terminal and Day Trips to Orkney 4.3 miles
- Stannergill Distillery 6 miles (opens 2025)
- Mini Supermarket, Butchers & Fuel 6.4 miles
- Dunnet Head 6.6 miles
- John O’Groats 7.5 miles
- Duncansby Stacks 8.8 miles
Map Location:
what3words: https://w3w.co/release.decisions.paves
Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJuNC54T3LHQN81b8
