A day out in Dornoch this Autumn

Whether you are a local, here on holiday or just passing through on the North Coast 500, Dornoch is the perfect place for a day out.

Below are 4 itineraries of things to do to fill these beautiful bright Autumn days in Dornoch.

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Itinerary #1

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Start the day with breakfast in the The Courtroom Dornoch. Choose from their fantastic menu and sit back and admire the court scene mural, browse the newspapers provided and review the Carnegie memorabilia. Wander up Castle Street to Dornoch Stores to get yourself some tasty treats. The store offers a full range of food and drink including fruit, vegetables, meat, game, fish, cheese and dairy products. They focus upon local Highland and Scottish produce and have a fantastic range to choose from the make the perfect picnic!

Head down to Dornoch Beach and spread a rug on the sand or choose from one of the benches to enjoy your lunch on. If you have children, make the most of the new playpark which is situated next to the beach. After lunch take a leisurely walk along the golden sands towards Embo. Stop to paddle in the shallows or explore the rock pools.

For your evening meal, book a table at The Eagle Dornoch. The Eagle serves some great locally sourced and wholesome pub grub as well as a wide range of real ales and more than fifty Malt whiskies available for you to try, a few of which are locally distilled. It has a great atmosphere and is the perfect place to get ‘the craic’ with the staff and other guests. The Eagle also has rooms if you are looking for a bed for the night.

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Itinerary #2

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Start the day with a nail treatment at Dornoch Hair and Beauty which is situated in St Gilbert Street in the centre of Dornoch. They have a range of treatments available- what a wonderful way to start your day out! For those amongst you who don’t enjoy having your nails done, why not treat your dog instead?! Make an appointment to see Vicki at Ultimuttly Groomed– she specialises in all aspects of dog grooming including hand stripping, bath & brush, full grooms, nail trimming, and clipping and can provide a luxurious experience for your VIP pooch. Then pop across to the Barn Owl Bothy to browse their wonderful range of arts and crafts which have been made by local designers and makers.

The Coach House Bar and Restaurant (formerly the Dornoch Inn) offers an extensive Bar Menu including Dornoch Farm Butcher burgers, steak pie, Bannermans of Tain scampi, all day breakfast, toasties and sandwiches. Their restaurant menu includes starters such as ham hoche terrine, haggis tower, crab cakes, pork spare ribs and breaded brie wedges.

Time for a walk to blow away the cobwebs after lunch! Dornoch is rich in history and a very good introduction is to follow the Historylinks Trail, available from Historylinks Museum. This walking tour starts and ends at the museum and takes in many interesting sites around the town.

After your walk pop into some of our independent shops. Jail Dornoch is the perfect place to start. Situated in the centre of the town, it is a wonderful, historic building- Sutherland’s 19th century jail. In 2000 it was completely transformed into a unique shop selling clothing, accessories, arts and gifts. Just over the road is the Jail’s sister shop, Country Interiors, which is an Aladdin’s cave of beautiful decorative objects, gifts, soft furnishings and furniture.

Once you’ve spent the afternoon shopping it’s time to relax over dinner. The Dornoch Castle Hotel’s Garden Restaurant overlooks  the formal walled gardens and is the perfect place to end your day in Dornoch. They have maintained an AA Rosette status for six years running and use locally sourced produce to highlight all that Scottish cuisine has to offer. Enjoy a whisky after your meal in the world famous Whisky Bar and be sure to try the Thompson Brother’s Gin which is distilled on site in the Dornoch Distillery. If you are looking for a bed for the night after your day out then The Dornoch Castle is a wonderful place to spend a night in the Highlands.

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Itinerary #3

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Start your day by exploring Dornoch’s high street; the perfect place to take a wander on a sunny Autumn day. It’s picturesque and historical centre was shortlisted in 2016 for the Great British High Street Awards and has many hidden delights ready to explore. Look out for the renowned Dornoch Bookshop which has an incredible range of books including Scottish, Travel, Biography, Fiction, Crime and Cookery sections aswell as an acclaimed children’s corner.

After lunch visit the relaxing Aspen Spa which is based in the Carnegie Courthouse in the centre of the town.Treat yourself to one of their luxury face, body, massage, nail or grooming treatments. Their shop has a range of gorgeous products as well as a health, home spa & beauty products and gifts vouchers. Complete your afternoon of relaxation by booking onto a Whisky or Gin tasting at the award- winning Carnegie Whisky Cellars. Whether you are a novice wanting an introduction or a connoisseur, the tasting experience in the original Dornoch Courthouse Record Room with its atmospheric vaulted ceiling and with walls lined with exclusive bottles of malt whisky will be an experience to remember.

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Itinerary #4

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Wake up early and head along the old railway line towards Embo. During this walk you will pass through woodland, fields and beaches and walk alongside the world-famous Royal Dornoch Golf Course.  Before lunch do a spot of shopping in Simply the Best Fairtrade Shop which sells an incredible range of fair trade gifts and food. Dogs are welcome and so if you have been walking with your dog you can take them in to browse with you!

For lunch go to Harry Gow’s. They have quiches, sandwiches and other savoury treats as well as ice cream and fantastic sweets and cakes. Everything is made fresh on site and there is wifi so you can catch up on emails whilst you eat. Afterwards head to Kingcraig fabrics to take a look at their Scottish Woollen goods which include travel rugs, scarves, bags, hats, tweed and tartan fabrics as well as luxury knitting yarns. Why not buy something unique and order a cushion, curtain, bag or cape in your choice of fabric.

It is definitely time for tea and at Links House you can experience an Afternoon Tea that is extra special. Sandwiches and savouries, homemade cakes and mini desserts surrounded by the charm, grace and elegance of one of the world’s finest small hotels. You can also buy gift vouchers if you would like to treat a friend.

End your day by booking a bespoke tour around the local area with Dornoch Private Hire (DPH) Sit back and enjoy the views in comfort in one of their luxury vehicles.

For accommodation options check out the Visit Dornoch website.

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Dornoch is Good To Go and looking forward to welcoming you back!

It has been a strange few months for everyone and it is a relief to see tourists back in our beautiful town. If you are planning your trip, take a look for the 'We're good to go' logo to see which businesses are ready to welcome visitors.

Please remember to respect local communities when you visit and stick to covid guidelines at all times. Investigate where amenities are ahead of time and tread lightly, leaving wild areas as you find them and taking all rubbish away with you.

"The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark mean businesses across all sectors of the tourism industry in Scotland can demonstrate that they're adhering to the respective government and public health guidance, and have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment to check they have the required processes and protocols in place." Visit Scotland

Take a look at the Visit Scotland virtual event which is a platform for highland businesses to declare when they are 'Good to Go'! Show your support for the Scottish tourism industry by clicking on the 'going' button on the event and keep an eye on the posts if you are planning a trip to find out what businesses are Good to Go!

thanks to @cams_point_of_view and @joepenrose for the photos used in this blog post

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Dornoch is Good To Go and looking forward to welcoming you back! posted first on http://visitdornoch.blogspot.co.uk

Eat Out To Help Out

Eat Out To Help Out in Dornoch this August!

From 3 to 31 August, get a 50% discount when you eat in at restaurants that are registered with the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.

• 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks (up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner)
• every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 3 and 31 August
• as many times as you like

Below is a list of establishments in Dornoch who are registered to the scheme.

Royal Dornoch Hotel and Apartments

The Coach House Bar and Restaurant

 

Learn More Here: Eat Out To Help Out

Eat Out To Help Out posted first on http://visitdornoch.blogspot.co.uk

Enjoy some LONG Summer nights in Dornoch

Here in Dornoch our summer days are longer than the rest of the UK, giving you plenty of time to do more during your short break.

Daylight hours during the height of the summer are longer because of the Dornoch's latitude, but the extended daylight hours don't end in June! They are a real end of summer/early autumn treat with the evenings not closing in until October! So you can enjoy this extra light right through until the early Autumn months.

Whenever you are planning your break in Dornoch, you are sure to find just the right kind of accomodation for you. With something for everyone's style and budget.

Stay a while in luxurious Links House, characterful Dornoch Castle or any of the town’s welcoming and comfortable hotels, guest houses and Bed & Breakfasts. Dornoch is recognised as a Worldhost Destination, awarded for the quality of its customer care, so when you come to Dornoch, look out for the Worldhost logo and enjoy a really special welcome.

Golfers flock to the Royal Golf Hotel, a handsome building built of Dornoch’s golden, local sandstone overlooking the 1st tee of Royal Dornoch’s Championship course and with long vistas across the links and Dornoch Firth.

For a lively pub with rooms, The Eagle Hotel on Castle St is perfectly positioned in town and is CAMRA’s Caithness and Sutherland pub of the year.

Book now and start planning your Highland brea.

Find the warmest of welcomes at Dornoch

Read Full Article Here: Enjoy some LONG Summer nights in Dornoch

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Plan a winter break to see the Northern lights!

People across the Highlands are treated to spectacular shows of the Northern lights regularly during the Autumn and winter months. Come and see the skies in Dornoch and the surrounding area ablaze with colour. The best time to see the ‘Mirrie Dancers’ during your holiday in Scotland  is when the nights are long and nights are clear, so it's a perfect excuse for a late winter break in the Highlands!

See the Visit Scotland website for more information about the Aurora in Scotland. www.visitscotland.com

See our accommodation page for places to stay when you are planning your Scottish holiday. www.visitdornoch.com/stay-a-while

Photos courtesy of Alasdair Dickson

 

 

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Ten Things to DO in Dornoch: Beaches

The Northern Highlands has a huge array of beaches waiting to be explored: from the craggy and stony to miles of golden sands or small coves with white sand and turquoise seas- there are so many to choose from and they are all equally special in their own way. Of course our favourite beach is our very own award winning Dornoch beach with a very close second place being our neighbour Embo...... but as there are so many other glorious beaches to visit whilst you are visiting Dornoch, we thought we would make a top ten list of our favourites! This is by no means an exhaustive list but is a good place to start if you are looking for plenty of time on the beach during your holiday.

Dornoch

Dornoch’s safe, Blue Flag beach, is ideal for families with its gentle shallows, sheltering dunes and miles of golden sands. Perfect for paddling and swimming on warm summer days. Throughout the year it is popular for walkers taking a gentle stroll or carrying on north to Embo. The beach is popular with dog walkers all year round. A crisp winter’s morning  on Dornoch beach is unforgettable and at any time of year it will be possible to collect shells, spot sea birds and possibly see seals and even occasionally dolphins playing in the firth. There is car parking at the beach close to a children’s playground and toilets.

Embo

Embo beach is number one for rock-pooling in the whole area and has the added bonus of having Embo's its very own holiday park, “Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame” sited right next to it. After you have had a morning on the beach you can make use of the facilities there which are open to the public including a swimming pool, tennis courts, crazy golf and much more. There is also a bar, restaurant, live entertainment, a convenience store and takeaway.

Golspie

Golspie beach runs along the coast behind the main shops and cafes of the village of Golspie. Why not take the coastal path from Golspie through to Brora which winds through small harbours, sandy beaches, passes the iron age broch at Strathsteven and the magnificent Dunrobin Castle. The walk is 6¾ miles along easy coastal path and beach. Make the use of the train for the return leg of the journey! (Not suitable for buggies or wheelchairs.)

Old Shore More

The second most northerly beach on the west coast of Scotland, this stunning beach is very quiet and well off the beaten track. It is well known for its special wildflowers and has some fantastic rocks to explore or jump off of! The small car park and campsite is signposted from the minor road beyond Kinlochbervie.

Achmelvich

A stunning beach of white sand which is part of a collection of beaches nestled amongst the rocky bays and headlands. Look out for the small "Hermit's Castle" built of concrete on a headland in 1950- an architectural oddity that is now abandoned. Achmelvich is well known for looking more like the carribean that Scotland with brilliant white sand and turquoise seas. A safe place to take a swim in the sea and it is easy to spend a whole day here. Luckily it is only a few miles from Lochinver so you can easily pop by for dinner afterwards!

Clachtoll

Just a few miles north of Achmelvich lies a beautiful, unspoilt beach called Clachtoll. It is a great place to combine with a trip to Achmelvich as you can conceivably see them both in a day before returning to Dornoch.

Ardmair

A stony little beach to the north of Ullapool, this is a fantastic little beach with wonderful views across to the Summer Isles. Great for making towers out of the pebbles or catching crabs off of the pier.

Durness

Long stretches of white sand, miles of sand dunes and stunning cliffs... there are actually multiple beaches in Durness so make sure you manage to explore them all!

Melness

Just to the west of the village of tongue is the hamlet of Melness. The beaches are clean and child friendly with rocks to climb on and plenty of golden sand to play on. The views out to sea are spectacular. Well worth a visit.

Portmahomack

Slightly closer to home is the quaint little village of Portmahomack just outside of Tain. With it's museum, lighthouse and harbour it is a bustling community and has a lovely cosy feeling about it on warm summer afternoons. The beach by the harbour runs along the main street so it is easy to grab an ice cream or a picnic and hop straight down to enjoy it on the sand. You look straight over the firth from here to Dornoch, so this beach really does have one of the best views around! There is a second beach at Tarbat Ness up by the lighthouse. This is stonier but equally as charming and is know locally as a great spot for dolphin sightings.

 

www.visitdornoch.com

 

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Visit Dornoch’s June Newsletter

Take a look at our June Newsletter for an update on Dornoch as it reopens to visitors over the next few weeks!

Read More Here: Visit Dornoch’s June Newsletter

Visit Dornoch’s June Newsletter posted first on http://visitdornoch.blogspot.co.uk