Beaches & Coastal Areas

Faraid Head and Balnakeil Bay are located on a peninsula on the north coast of Scotland, 3 miles north of Durness. The peninsula is a popular tourist destination thanks to the wide expanse of golden beach at Balnakeil Beach which faces a shallow bay.

The area behind the beach is covered in dunes and grasses that are a favoured nesting site for a variety of seabirds.

Smoo Cave near Durness has one of the largest sea cave entrances in Britain. The main cavern is 50 feet high and spreads out in an impressive cathedral-like space that features an opening that takes visitors across a subterranean pool and a waterfall.

Discover Smoo Cave with this complete visitor guide.

Talmine is a crofting and fishing village overlooking Talmine Bay north of the A838 bridge near Tongue Bay in Sutherland. The bay is best known for its scenery and the wildlife that live in the area which offers frequent sightings of seals and dolphins.

Discover Talmine Bay with this complete visitor guide.

John O’ Groats is a popular tourist destination on the northernmost tip of Scotland that has gained popularity since becoming a major stop on the NC500 tourist trail.

The site includes several family-friendly attractions including an art gallery, gift shops and restaurants, but it is the signpost that’s the real draw and getting a photograph taken under it is at the top of most North-Scotland visitors ‘must-do’ lists.

Duncansby Head is located approximately 5 miles along the coast from John o’ Groats. It is the furthest northeast point of mainland Britain.

The area is popular with visitors due to the number of seabirds that thrive in the area, especially the adorable puffins that are frequently seen nesting on the immense rock pinnacles of the Duncansby Stacks.