Places to see in ( Durness - UK )
Places to see in ( Durness - UK )
Durness is a village and civil parish in the north-west Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north coast of the country in the traditional county of Sutherland around 120 miles north of Inverness. The area is remote and the parish is huge and sparsely populated covering an area from east of Loch Eriboll to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the Scottish mainland. The population is dispersed and includes a number of townships including Kempie, Eriboll, Laid, Rispond, Sangobeg, Leirinmore, Smoo, Sangomore, Durine, Balnakeil and Keoldale.
The area has been inhabited since stone age times and there are many places of historic interest. Durness was formerly a part of the bishopric of Caithness and the old house at Balnakeil was originally the bishop's summer residence. The church at Balnakeil dates back to the Culdean monks but the existing ruined church is said to have been built by the monks from Dornoch Cathedral in the 13th century. On Faraid Head is Seannachaisteal, presumably a broch, but it is now completely enveloped in sand and no dig has ever been carried out to see what it was and from which time in history. A few years ago, the body of a young Viking boy was discovered exposed by the erosion of the sand dunes at Faraid. At Sangobeg beach, the body of a Pictish boy was discovered.
At Ceannabeinne lies Clach a Breitheanas or the Judgement Stone. This was said to be where judgement was meted out to malefactors and those found guilty were thrown over the cliff to their doom below. The parish of Durness was for centuries a part of Dùthaich MhicAoidh, the land of the Clan Mackay, who held their title to the land extending from Melvich in the east to Kylesku in the west.
The main sources of employment in the village are crofting and tourism. It is the largest village in the northwestern corner of Scotland, has a population of around 400, and is on the A838 road. It is located on the north coast between the towns of Thurso 72 miles (116 km) to the east) and Ullapool 68 miles (109 km) to the south. This area is notable for being the most sparsely populated region in Western Europe.[citation needed] Until some 50 years ago, Durness was a predominantly Gaelic speaking area.
Tourists are catered for by a campsite spectacularly sited on the cliffs above the beach (with easy access down to the beach), an SYHA hostel, housed by some converted army buildings, bed and breakfast accommodation and two hotels and restaurants, Mackay's and the Smoo Cave Hotel. The village is also used as a base by visitors to Cape Wrath.
The main attractions in Durness are Smoo Cave, a conjoined sea cave and freshwater cave with a small river running through it and a waterfall in wet weather, unspoilt beaches backed by cliffs and the local sea birds, seals, porpoises and minke whales. The surrounding coastline is some of Europe's most isolated and spectacular, with the nearby Clo Mor Cliffs being the highest on the British mainland, at some 922 feet (281 m) high.
Balnakeil Old Church, is a scheduled monument with the grave of Donuill Mac Morraichaidh, a serial bandit and murderer, inside one wall of the church so, it is said that his enemies couldn't walk over his grave. The area around Loch Croispol and Loch Borrallie abounds in archeological interest, from brochs to round houses to medieval and pre-clearances settlements. The Balnakeil Craft Village can be found approximately one mile outside Durness and is a collection of former MoD units dating from the 1950s, which now house various independent shops.
Durness is on the A838 road. This links the parish to the A836 at Tongue to the east and loops around the coast through Rhiconich near Kinlochbervie to meet the A836 again north of Lairg to the south. The road is single track along most of its length. Bus services are sparse in the area, although one bus a day links Durness with the Far North railway line at Lairg railway station. This provides rail services north to Wick and south to Inverness.
( Durness - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Durness . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Durness - UK
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North Coast 500 - Travel to Scotland's Route 66 | Travel Vlog
The North Coast 500 is Scotland's Route 66 and a spectacular drive!
Check out the top things to do on the NC500
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Dave and Deb of The Planet D take you to Northern Scotland where they drive the North Coast 500 circular route from Inverness.
It's one of the great drives on earth passing through dramatic coastlines like Duncansby Head, AppleCross to Baelnabach Pass and Klinlochewe Viewpoint.
What You'll See in this NC500 Vide
1. Inverness
Inverness Attractions
Culloden Battlefield
Clava Cairns
3: Dornoch and Distilleries
Dornoch Castle and Whisky Bar
Glen Ord Distillery
Dunrobin Castle
4. Wick to Dunnet Head
Whaligoe Steps
Wick Heritage Centre
Ackergill Tower
Castle Sinclair Girnigo
Caithness Wildlife Tours
Duncansby Head
Dunnet Bay Distillery
5. Along the Northern Coast
People Surf in Scotland
Castle Varrich
Drive to Smoo
The Tongue Hotel Details
6. Tongue to Balnakeil
Smoo Cave
Balnakeil Bay
John Lennon
Belnakeil Craft Village
7. Lochinver to Ullapool
Rock Climbing and Adventure Tours
Ullapool
Corrieshalloch Gorge
Where to Stay in Ullapool
8. Kylesku to Achmelvich Bay
Drumbeg
Stoerhead Lighthouse
Coffee Stop
Clachtol
Achmevilch Beach
Where to Stay
9. Gairloch
Inverewe Gardens
Isle of Ewe Smokehouse
Loch Maree
Walk the trails of Beinn Eighe
Klinlochewe Viewpoint
Diabag Viewpoint
Where to Stay in Gairloch
10. Klinlochewe to Applecross
Viewpoint: town of Sheildag
Famous Red House
Non-stop pullovers
Applecross to Baelnabach Pass
Eat at the Kishorn Seafood Bar
11. Plockton - History and Wildlife
Reraig Forest Tour
Eilean Donan Castle
Strome Castle
Duncraig Castle
Where to Stay in Plockton
Tips for Driving the North Coast 500
Like our Video? Check out our Essential Guide the the North Coast 500
Shot with DJI Osmo, DJI Mavic Pro drone, Sony Camera
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Don't forget about the castles along the North Coast 500 route there's the famous Eilean Donan Castle, the Castley of Mey, Strome Castle, Glenrobin Castle, and many castle hotels to stay in as well.
And there is plenty of wildlife to see. A highlight of our tour was Reraig Forest tour to see the deer, stags and sheep on the property. Plus the wildlife of Duncansby Head where migrating and nesting sea birds soar through the air.
►Cities on the North Coast 500
Wick
Inverness
Gairloch
Dornoch
Plockton
This travel video features stops all the way around the North Coast 500 as we drove the entire route in 10 days.
Other stops on our route include the Glen Ord Distillery, The John Lennon Memorial in Durness, Whaligoe Steps, Belnakeil Bay, Smoo Cave, Stoerhead Lighthouse and many of the other famous stops on Scotland's answer to Route 66.
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►Did you like our North Coast 500 video? Read the entire North Coast 500 guide at
►For more information on travel to Northern Scotland and the North Coast 500 see Visit Britain at
► For Accommodation suggestions on the North Coast 500 see our post: Where to stay on the NC500
►For mountain guiding, hiking and rock climbing on the North Coast 500 Hamlet Mountaineering visit
►If you want to do a wildlife tour check out Caithness Wildlife Tour
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