Updated: 11 August 2025
admin posted: 14 February 2017
This blog post for things to do in Sutherland, Scotland was written by a person who owned a guest house which has now closed so we’ve anonymised the post so you can read their useful tips on the best beaches, fairy tale castles and fish and chips.
A toss up between two. Culgower beach, a couple of fields away from the house, beautiful stretch of golden sand, often no-one else there, sometimes seals, views across the firth to the Moray coast, stunning whatever the weather.
The other is Brora beach, park at the golf course and nip over the first green to the beautiful, sandy beach, fantastic views to the north.
Two, the first across the fields to the beach at Culgower, it’s so beautiful and quiet. The second is the Big Burn walk near Dunrobin Castle, through the woods to the waterfall then down the gorge, criss-crossing the burn on footbridges.
Each season has its special attributes, but early spring is probably the favourite, walking on a blustery beach, looking back to hills with snow patches and seeing the trees begin to green.
Too many to choose, as a minimum try a castle (Dunrobin Castle in Golspie), a distillery (Clynelish Distillery in Brora), and a museum/art gallery (Timespan in Helmsdale).
Watching dolphins play off the beaches in Brora and at Crakaig.
The Glen Loth / Helmsdale loop. A couple of miles south of the house you can turn inland into Glen Loth which cuts north through the hills and then down towards the Strath of Kildonan. A tumble-down broch, occasional standing stones, a roofless croft house and stone sheep pens, red deer, buzzards and if you’re lucky an eagle. Hill, pasture, the Helmsdale river, the village, harbour and sea views all in one 26 mile loop, it just sums the area up.
Out of the windows at home, fields, beach, sea, sunrises.
La Mirage in Helmsdale, we love their huge portions of tasty fish and chips but if you can give 48 hours notice they produce a wonderful seafood platter as well. Wherever you eat, try a beer from one of the North Highland’s small breweries.
Thanks for sharing on things to do in Sutherland. A fairy tale castle, dolphins, fish and chips and real ale – sounds like the perfect holiday to me.
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