As you are travelling around Scotland’s highlands and islands along the NC500, you will likely see rolling farmland and croft buildings. Crofting is a way of life in Scotland and at Mary Ann’s Cottage near Dunnet Bay, you can step back in time to immerse yourself in some uniquely preserved crofting heritage.
Crofting is small scale farming, often done in small communities where collaboration with other crofters is done in. Crofting can both be crop growing or livestock raising. Crofting is regulated by specific Scottish laws, giving crofters certain rights—such as security of tenure, the right to pass on the croft to family members, and in many cases, the right to buy their croft.
Mary Ann’s Cottage, also known as Westside Croft, was owned by Mary Ann Calder’s parents. It was built in 1850 and is a lovingly preserved traditional Highland croft building. Mary Ann was born in the cottage in 1897 and lived there for 93 of her 98 years, moving to a nursing home in her later years.
Mary Ann’s Cottage is a short 7-minute drive west from Celtic Lodges in Scarfskerry, and is signposted from the A836 in Dunnet. The what3words location is repeat.salutes.crusted
As the Mary Ann’s Cottage website notes:
“Life was tough for the family, surviving on what they could produce from working their land and fishing locally. Thriftiness was essential, and nothing went to waste at Westside – as is still evident in the ingenious handmade and re-purposed objects around the cottage and croft.”
Inside the Croft cottage, you can find out about Mary Ann, her husband James and her son Dan, and experience first-hand how the family lived. Over the 90+ years Mary Ann lived in the cottage, she saw some huge changes to living standards. Warm yourself by the peat fire and see the cottage just how Mary-Ann left it, complete with original furniture, decoration and artefacts.
On the land around the cottage, you can visit various outbuildings including the lower barn, where Mary-Ann’s family and others in the local community gathered for dances and ceilidhs – sociable opportunities sharing stories, music and songs together once the daily tasks of the crofting life were complete. It now stores a collection of antique farming equipment.
Other buildings include the neep (turnip) and cart sheds, the stable and byre, and the milk house. James’ workshop has an extensive collection of antique tools and machinery.
Mary-Ann’s Cottage is open from 2:00-4:30pm on Tuesdays to Fridays from 1st May to 30th September. You will be able to enjoy a guided tour with a friendly volunteer who staff the cottage during these times.
Admission to Mary-Ann’s Cottage costs £5 per adult, with free admission for children. You can pay with cash or credit card on arrival. Please note that tours cannot be booked in advance. There is onsite parking available and limited disabled access.
While you’re in the area, you could also visit these places nearby:
A short walk downhill from Mary-Ann’s cottage is Dwarwick Pier. It’s a scenic peaceful place for a picnic overlooking the small harbour or for nature watching. Look out for paddle-boarders too!
Across from Dwarwick Pier is Dunnet Beach. Its rolling sands and sand dunes make it an amazing place for a walk, horse-ride or swim. It’s a popular sport for aspiring surfers.
If you’re looking to sample some excellent food and drink, there’s a perfect pairing of Dunnet Bay Distillery and the Northern Sands Hotel. Tours at Dunnet Bay Distillery take place daily apart from Sundays, and you’ll be able to taste their award-winning gin and vodka in their beautiful tasting room, and perhaps take a treat home from their shop. The neighbouring Northern Sands Hotel serves up tasty and filling pub grub at lunch and dinner – it’s well worth booking a table in advance as it is popular with locals and visitors alike.
Dunnet Community Forest is the most northerly community owned woodland and it’s a lovely place to enjoy a walk on the 17km of footpaths. There are a growing number of wooden sculptures on the various trails and a stunning log cabin to find.
