Balnakiel Craft Village, Durness This is a great place to visit. It started life as a Royal Air Force base but most of the buildings now house various craft people or artists as well as two places to eat. Lotte Glob, who is a world famous potter, has her workshop and gallery just as you come into the craft village. She is well worth a visit if you are looking for something that is a little bit unusual and out of the mainstream.

Cape Wrath. This is a trip that many of our guests make during their stay with us. If John O'Groats is the most northerly point then this is arguably the most westerly. You have to leave your car near the Cape Wrath Hotel and then take a small foot ferry. On the other side a mini bus will pick you up and take you out to the lighthouse. The area is also a military training area and if you are into military aircraft then this area is for you. The world famous Sandwood Bay is also accessible from Cape Wrath.

Dounreay Visitors Centre Located about 30 miles to the east on the road to Thurso. At the visitors centre you can learn about the ground breaking work carried out here regarding nuclear power and information about how a nuclear power station operates.

Golf There is two golf courses near Tongue. Reay Golf Course to the east (25 miles) and Durness Golf course to the west. Both welcome visitors. Reay is the most northerly golf course on mainland Britain and Durness is famous for its shot 'across the Atlantic'.

John O'Groats This is said to be the most northerly point on mainland Britain (in fact that title goes to Dunnet Head about 10 miles to the west!). There are a number of craft shops and café's here and various boat trips. You should go just to say you have been there!

Pony Trekking There is pony trekking available just this side of Bettyhill at the Ferry house at the Naver Bridge. Lorna MacKay will make sure that you have a suitable mount for your ability and then you can be off along the sands and dunes that make up Torrisdale Bay.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Forsinard Nature Reserve Located about 40 miles to the east of Tongue this is a wonderful place for birdwatcher. The landscape is mainly peatland and is the home of a wide variety of birds, animals and plants. These include merlins, hen harriers, red and black-throated divers and golden plovers.

Sandwood Bay. Sandwood Bay is without doubt one of the most magnificent beaches in Great Britain. You can walk for over two kilometres along the pink sand which have a backdrop of enormous sand dunes, a loch and a rather impressive rock which looms out of the sea. The worst that the North Atlantic can offer rolls into Sandwood Bay and that is only one of the reasons that make it worth a visit. However a trip to Sandwood Bay is not for the faint hearted as what keeps the bay special is the effort required to get there namely a 4 mile walk from Blairmore which is near Kinlochbervie.

Skerray Museum. The crofting hamlet of Skerray is a few miles to the east of Tongue. The museum is a traditional croft house with a thatched roof. The building is split into 3 areas consisting of a workshop and office space, the museum room and the village post office and craft shop. The museum exhibits items of local interest and a wealth of photographs of the area's past. There is also a great deal of archive material. The post office next door has a small stock of household goods but mainly sells and displays locally made arts and crafts.

Smoo Cave. If you are going to Durness then you must visit Smoo Cave. Access is made down a fairly steep stepped path (with handrail) and crossing some stepping stones over the Alt Smoo River to reach the cave mouth. The cave itself is a huge limestone cavern. There is a wooden walkway that takes you further into the cave. During the summer months there is also a boat trip available into the waterfall cave which is very exciting.

Stacks of Duncansby Again somewhere not to be missed on a trip east to John O'Groats. Here are some of the most spectacular cliffs that are populated by the 'parrot of the north' the very photogenic puffin.

Strathnaver Museum. This museum in Bettyhill is a must for those who have an interest in either the Highland Clearances and the Clan MacKay. The museum is only open from Monday to Saturday, April through to October.

Falls of Shin   Did you know that there is an outpost of the famous store 'Harrods' in the north of Scotland?   Well there is and it is located at the Falls of Shin, located between Bonar Bridge and Lairg.   Open all year this all weather destination has a childrens adventure playground, forest walks, wildlife, waterfalls and a famous salmon leap.   If you are more interested in shopping then you will not be disappointed by the selection of exclusive Harrods items, local craft goods, clothing, toys, fresh local produce and Highland Stoneware exclusive to Falls of Shin.   There is also an excellent licensed restaurant where you can enjoy home made food and snacks that are served daily from noon.