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Immediate Local Area around Dornoch

In addition to world class Golf there are many other activities available in this lovely area.  There is pony trekking, swimming, sea and river fishing, walks in forests and hills, with ‘Munros’ in easy distance.  You can take in amazing vistas over hills, glens and sea (painting and sketching is popular). The Orkney Isles and the spectacular West Coast are within the scope of a day’s outing from Dornoch.

Here are a few ideas our guests appreciate most in the immediate area…

  • Shops, restaurants and history all around your accommodation:  For Historic buildings Dornoch Cathedral and Dornoch Castle are hard to beat (Castle now a Hotel with restaurant/bar).  Newly opened for 2017 the Carnegie Courthouse has tourist information, whisky shop (also sells our own Dornoch Gin) and cafe and many other super quality eateries and gift shops across town.  The Old Jail is now a fashion shop and for more essential items we also have a well stocked mini Co-op supermarket.
  • Dunrobin Castle: A few miles up the coast lies one of the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and dates to 1300 [Dunrobin Castle website]
  • Wildlife – Nearby Loch Fleet offers interesting birdwatching and wildlife with ospreys, seals and otters.  A wide variety of habitats make Dornoch an ideal location for observing birds of all types and by the seaside dolphins and occasionally whales cruise by.  Boat tours to see these closer up are few miles further south down the Moray firth at Cromarty.  Red deer and Highland cattle frequent the glens.
  • Whisky Distilleries: To the South our local distillery in Tain hosts the famous Glenmorangie and to the North, Clynelish on the outskirts of Brora (the original home of the famous Brora single malt)
  • Mountain Biking: Some of the longest downhill runs in the country are here. For further information, visit the local Highland wildcats trails website.

For more things to see and do in Dornoch go to visitdornoch.com

Woodlands 12 miles from Dunrobin CastleWoodlands 12 miles from Dunrobin Castle
Woodlands 12 miles from Dunrobin Castle A short walk from Woodlands is Royal Dornoch Golf

North Coast 500 and Wider North Highlands Attractions

North Coast 500 Route from Bed & Breakfast

Dornoch has always been a fabulous location to spend a few days exploring the sights and scenes and many activities mentioned above.  But as typified by the North Coast 500 initiative we are now finding increasing numbers of you using us as a stopping place to investigate the wider highlands.  In this section there are some attractions to visit from Inverness, John O’Groats to  Durness and the magnificent beaches and rugged coastline of the West Coast.

Castle of Mey is one of many local visitor sites on the North Coast.   With Thurso, Wick, Durness and Ullapool on the main coastal 500 mile tourist road as day trip destinations each with their own history and sites of interest such as Pulteney Distillery in Wick.

Tourism is supported enthusiastically by local businesses, eateries, pubs, shops and hotels across the Highlands of Scotland and from Dornoch to the famous John O’Groats!

Orkney is a short ferry trip from Scrabster, in Thurso.  A day trip with ancient history to see from several millennia back from the Standing Stones of Stenness to the unique Skara Brae and much more! Other Orkney ferries and day trips from Jogferry, Pentland Ferries from nearby Gills Bay offers competitive rates.

Walking, Bike riding or just appreciating the wonderful Mountains and Glens and Lochs, for example, only a few miles inland, a fitting compliment for the dramatic coastal setting.  Or Wildlife Cruises from a few miles up the coast take in Puffins as well!

Durness Sango Sands along the coast to the West
North Coast 500 Route from Bed & Breakfast

Some more useful links

Castle of Mey, www.castleofmey.org.uk :: Orkney, the Island, www.visitorkney.com :: Orkney Ferry – Northlinks, www.northlinkferries.co.uk :: Pentland Ferries, www.pentlandferries.co.uk :: Boat Tours, www.jogferry.co.uk :: Timespan – Highland History, www.timespan.org.uk

Golf in and around Dornoch as a base


In addition to our famous Royal Dornoch Golf Course There are 56 Golf Courses in the Highlands to suit all.  Why not make your stay a few days longer and take in some.

With many historic courses that set the standards for the game from the North Coast and all around our Moray Firth you will also find some exceptional new courses.  Not least of which is the Castle Stuart course just across the Firth which often hosts the  Scottish Open.

For the historically interested, Tom Morris and James Braid’s original designs are still played today in flourishing clubs up and down the East Sutherland coast and Moray Firth supported by tourists and local members all the year around.

And, of course, our own Royal Dornoch is consistently rated within the top 10 in the World  Championship courses (currently number 6).  We also have the Struie 18 hole and Carnegie close-by at Skibo castle.

Here are a few that shouldn’t be missed if you have the time (some more on the links page).

Other noteable courses include Nairn across the firth and Fortrose and Rosemarkie a short drive onto the Black isle (by Channory Point Lighthouse where Dolphins are often spotted).

Closer to hand there is Bonar Bridge and fabulous Golspie (another Tom Morris Course).

But if you tour across the North Highlands you are never far from a clubhouse – even if it is a modest building with an honesty box and nine holes to have a crack at! A great example of this is Durness, the most Northerly, where the nine holes are played from alternative tees to make up a ‘unique’ 18 hole experience – beautiful views of the Pentland firth too!

www.royaldornoch.com

Dornoch Golf Club was formed in 1877, became Royal in 1906 courtesy of King Edward VII.  Currently ranked 6th in World.  This championship course can be busy so book in advance – there is another 18 hole course served by the same clubhouse called the Struie.  You can walk to the golf easily from Woodlands with your clubs.

www.broragolf.co.uk

Another classic links course designed by James Braid situated 15-20 minutes drive North of B&B. Very popular with our guests.

www.castlestuartgolf.com

One of our new courses and already on the World Championship map as the home of the Scottish Open in recent years – superb!

www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

A traditional Scottish Highland links course designed by Old Tom Morris, situated 9 miles south of Dornoch – a delight to play.