Legendary Tour of the North

Legendary Tour of the North

You will not find this Tour available anywhere else... this tour has been specificaly designed by Johnny to show off the Beautiful North East coast of the highlands en-route to Dunrobin Castle, home of the Dukes of Sutherland.

Following this route from Invergordon heading north we will visit areas very few visitors ever get to see.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Struie Hill Viewpoint, B9176, Alness IV17 0XR, UK

The Struie viewpoint - known to the locals as Millionaires View - over the Dornoch Firth will take your breath away. It is said that Andrew Carnegie who was a Scottish-American industrialist, business magnate, and philanthropist would bring his (Rich/famous) guests to this viewpoint which led to it being know to the locals as 'Millionaire's View'

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Falls of Shin, Achany Glen, Lairg IV27 4EE Scotland

The Falls of Shin visitor attraction is famous for being one of the best places in Scotland to view salmon leaping upstream. With a restaurant and gift shop, forest trails, mini golf, and children’s playpark. Free admission and parking.

Follow the winding road up through Achany Glen, alongside the meandering River Shin to an opening in the pine forest where the majestic Atlantic salmon leap up the thundering falls in a valiant attempt to get back up stream.

Every year throughout the summer, the fish return from the open ocean, swimming up the Dornoch Firth and the Kyle of Sutherland to try to reach further up the River Shin to where they were spawned. However, before they reach their destination they must pass the powerful torrent of water at the Falls.
Standing on the viewing platform you can watch the salmon as they try to leap clear of the water. Some manage to pass on their first attempt while others have to jump again and again. From the platform there are also fine views both up and down the River Shin, a popular fishing destination in the North of Scotland. (The best time to spot the salmon is between May – September.)

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, Golspie IV25 3JD Scotland

Whether you have a passion for plants, a fascination for birds or fancy doing some seal and otter spotting, Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve provides a place to experience nature's delights in a magnificent setting. Linger on the edge of the tidal basin at low tide to watch the intense feeding activity of hungry wading birds. Walk out onto the sand dunes and you can enjoy the carpet of wild flowers that nestles on the dunes against a grey lichen backdrop. Or wander in the woodland and smell the fresh scent of pine needles, whilst searching out rare pinewood plants.

The most northerly estuary on Scotland's east coast, Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve is a large tidal basin surrounded by dunes, saltmarsh and pine woods. Whatever the season, this wide range of habitats supports a huge variety of wildlife- making it a great place to visit at any time of the year. Fast-flowing currents empty the tidal basin on every tide, leaving sands exposed. Here, you can spot seals and their pups hauled out on the banks and waders feeding in the shallow waters.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Grannie's Heilan' Hame Holiday Park, Dornoch IV25 3QD, UK

With direct access to the beach, Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame Holiday Park is set by the famous white sands of Embo beach and is located in a superb spot for exploring The Highlands. Enjoy stunning views of Dornorch Firth, while looking out to catch a glimpse of the famous bottlenose dolphins.

The Park offers so many activities to keep both you, and, the kids entertained. Whether you want to enjoy a splash in the heated indoor pool, relax and unwind in the sauna, a round of crazy golf or enjoying the evening entertainment, there is something for everyone.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Dornoch Cathedral, High Street, Dornoch IV25 3SH Scotland

Sitting on the edge of the Dornoch Firth, the small historic town of Dornoch boasts a tranquil location, stunning scenery and sunny climate.

This thriving community sits on the east coast of the north Highlands that runs from the Moray Firth up to Sutherland. It is blessed with a particularly sunny climate thanks to its sheltered position, and has miles of golden sand beaches. The beach stretches from Dornoch Point heading past Embo beach to the mouth of Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. Adjacent to the beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest that features nesting birds, flora and fauna.

And for those keen golfers, tee-off on the Royal Dornoch championship course, ranked 13th in the world.! The coast is also a favourite with wildlife such as seals and a sizeable population of both breeding and wintering birds.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Fearn Abbey, Fearn Scotland

Fearn Abbey is found on the fertile low-lying ground just east of the Hill of Fearn and two miles north west of the coastal village of Balintore. At first sight it is an ordinary rectangular parish church. The reality is a much more complex story dating back almost 800 years.

On the ground the church you see today is simple in design and largely dates from a major reconstruction in 1772. Internally the look and feel of the church owes much to alterations made as recently as 1971. Towards the east end roofless mausoleums project from both the north and south sides, suggesting much older buildings.

Perhaps the oddest feature is the much larger enclosure projecting from the south side of the church and very obvious in views from that side, as shown in the header photo. To the untrained eye this looks intrusive: almost as if someone has used modern breeze-blocks to build some sort of agricultural structure against the church.

Yet this is actually all that is left of St Michael's Aisle, added to the abbey church by Abbot Finlay McFaed in time to house his tomb and effigy on his death in 1485. And once inside the aisle, the great age of the structure is obvious. The difference between the internal and external appearance is because in 1790 a stone "skin" was wrapped around the outside of the aisle, presumably to keep it standing: it's a shame it wasn't done in a style more in keeping with the church itself.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mermaid of the North, East Street, Balintore IV20 1UA Scotland

The Mermaid of the North sits upon a rock- named ‘Clach Dubh’ (black rock in Gaelic)- in the Seaboard village of Balintore.

The Mermaid of the North is part of the area’s Seaboard Sculpture Trail, which includes several other sculptures related to the sea, such as three giant salmon and three slate monuments.

In 2012 the mermaid was damaged by a severe storm. Originally made from wood and resin, she was not strong enough to withstand the stormy weather. In 2014 the mermaid was replaced with a bronze cast model and this was aided with a grant from the SSE. Every year the Mermaid lures many tourists to the area and is greatly valued by the locals.

The Mermaid’s origins are deep rooted in Easter Ross folklore; legend tells that once a fisherman stole a beautiful mermaid away to be his wife and hid her tail. Years later, after bearing his children, she found her tail and escaped back to sea, returning regularly to the shore to bring fish to her hungry children.

Duration: 30 minutes