TOURING : CLUB SITES Stroll miles of glorious sand at Dunnet Bay FOR THE FAMILY

Boat trip A Sealife glass bottom boat cruise offers visitors the opportunity to view the ocean floor as well as the scenery and wildlife of Gairloch Bay. Nearest site: Kinlochewe.

T01445 712540 Wseawildlife.co.uk

STAG PARTY To p Seen and herd Near the Kinlochewe site, Torridon Countryside Centre houses a micro museum and deer enclosures where you can get up close to a herd. Elizabeth Fowler gets back to nature on a T0844 493 2229 Scotch Wnts.org.uk tour of the furthest reaches of DON’T FORGET Mey days You can book your The Queen Mother’s pitch online at summer retreat for 50 caravanclub.co.uk/ years, The Castle of Mey is searchandbook, by calling the most northerly castle our Advance Booking Service on the UK mainland. on 01342 327490 or, for Nearest site: Dunnet Bay. AS sites, calling them T01847 851473 direct. Wcastleofmey.org.uk YOU ARE HERE

hat a magnificent area that there were gannets over the sea, I fished THIS MONTH’S FEATURED SITES in which to just sit and out binoculars to watch. I then realised that stare! Watching the sea among the constant changes to the surface of KINLOCHEWE Kinlochewe Club site Water treat roll in onto an empty, the water were darker movements, and surely See p262 of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2011/12 Head for the Falls of Shin pristine sandy beach, there was a pointed fin? Yes, I was watching to see salmon leaping colourfulW fishing boats returning to a remote porpoise after the same fish as the birds. upstream on their way to GRUMMORE spawn. Look out for birds little harbour under a great blue sky, gannets I had chosen summer (Scotland did have See p263 of the Directory power diving into the water. No crowds, summer this May!) for my wonderful safari. of prey overhead on the no razzmatazz, just glorious scenery and Starting out in the north-west at BRORA waymarked walks. Nearest site: Grummore. wildlife. If you are stressed, a holiday in the Kinlochewe, I was delighted to find this (Formerly Dalchalm) See p264 far north of Scotland is the perfect tonic. mountain-ringed site had undergone some DUNNET BAY T01549 402231 A quiet picnic stop on a clifftop gave me a great improvements since my last visit. W fallsofshin.co.uk See p270 of the Directory wonderful two hours of spectacle. Noticing A splendid shower block is within easy reach >>

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A true taste of the Highlands Grummore Club site FOOD + DRINK s OUTDOOR FUN KEEP ACTIVE Cycling From Grummore: National Cycle Network Route 1 runs close to the Grummore site. Head north to Loch Loyal or south towards Lairg. From Dunnet Bay: pick up National Cycle Network Route 1 in Castletown and of pools which are home to rare birds, cycle to the tip of mainland Ocean fave insect-eating plants and dragonflies. The Britain at John O’Groats. visitor centre is open from April to A 45-minute drive from Wsustrans.org.uk Kinlochewe is Kishorn Seafood October and through June there is a live Bar. This little blue and white hen harrier nest watch. There are guided building enjoys a lovely setting walks throughout the season. Prey tell and serves some real treats. The North of Scotland is a birdwatching paradise. The T01520 733240 BEAUTIFUL BRORA Wkishornseafoodbar.co.uk golden eagle can be seen over The next site on my safari was different the mountains, while the DRAM COME TRUE again. Right by the sea, Brora boasts an white tailed eagle and the excellent facilities block, neatly-tended puffin are spotted on the coast. grass pitches, flower beds and ornamental Wrspb.org.uk/reserves trees. Close to the town, it offers easy Tipple time access to shops and dining opportunities. Founded in 1819, The However, I enjoyed my favourite light Clynelish distillery is a meal just a few miles south in Golspie at great place to learn Poppy’s, were the owner chatted happily about the art of making a good whisky. to me while putting together my salad. Nearest site: Brora. On the advice of a local resident I embarked on the Brora Falls Walk, a T01408 623000 truly enchanting path in a steep ravine. DID YOU I watched a gentleman fly KNOW? Wooden bridges span the river and is the ultimately you reach a beautiful mostMunro northerly in fishing while a gillie stood by Scotland waterfall. On this river I watched a scene that seemed to date from centuries past, of Good Eighe “ opposite – a cheeky red deer was lunching red deer and more than 70 species of bird – a gentleman fly fishing while a gillie stood Loch here of all the pitches (which are on good on the garden plants. ” you can also fly fish for free virtually from by with equipment and skilled advice. The National Attadale Gardens are a delight on Nature Reserve is a terrific the southern shore of Loch Carron. Pop in hardstandings), and the drying room is a From Kinlochewe, I wound my way next your caravan door. Driving north to Helmsdale, I happened place for walking. Either boon on a rainy day. to the tiny, remote site of Grummore in Fantastic walks head in all directions upon the site of Scotland’s late 19th Look out for the sunken fern garden Not far from Brora in gently wander the lower that was created when a 19th Golspie is Poppy’s, The information room gave me a good ; as I got close, a pine marten from the site and the more energetic can century ‘gold rush’ – never heard of it, paths or head up into the century drain was uncovered. an excellent little café. start for planning my days and a walk on my dashed across the road – things were just climb the of Ben Klibreck and Ben had you? There is an information board mountainside. Nearest My locally-sourced first evening to the nearby Beinn Eighe getting better and better. A single-track Hope. To the east is the Forsinard nature detailing the history of the gold discoveries site: Kinlochewe. T01520 722603 smoked salmon was reserve rewarded me with a flypast of a pair road leads to this attractive little haven reserve – a bogland studded with thousands and you can find out more at >> Wattadalegardens.com particularly tasty. T01463 725000 of cuckoos. The sun was quite low through beside Loch Naver that you will share with Wnnr-scotland.org.uk T 01408 633439 the trees as I followed one of the marked the local sheep population. Pop down to routes; it was so peaceful, with the little the shops? Only 20 miles away! Luckily the information boards adding to my small on-site shop sells basics. This is a true enjoyment, that supper proved to be rather nature-lover’s paradise – here you will find late. Towering above the reserve, Beinn Eighe itself, a legendary mountain, was topped with snow. I had a list as long as my arm Oat-standing of things to do, starting with a Reid’s of Caithness is an spectacular drive through the award-winning bakery in Torridon Hills to visit Attadale Thurso – its oatcakes were Gardens. These are just some of the best I’ve ever eaten. the many exquisite gardens hidden Nearest site: Dunnet Bay. on this coast, and I also enjoyed a T01847 893574 lovely lunch here at the pretty W reidsofcaithness.com Kishorn Sea Food Café. As I ate, Brora Club site something was moving in the garden Watch the birdie: Brora Golf Club

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Dunnet Bay Club site

baileanor.org. What’s more, you can still try several seals basking on the rocks quite your hand at gold panning today on the unbothered as they watched the Orkney Fairytale treat Suisgill Estate (see suisgill.co.uk/things-to- Ferry arriving and leaving. Dunrobin Castle is a proper fairytale chateau featuring round do/gold-panning for rules and permissions). One abiding image I have is of entire pointed turrets, towers and balconies. What’s more, it’s Reaching the north coast, I visited the hillsides glowing with golden gorse and surrounded by attractive formal gardens. Nearest site: Brora. museum at and read up on the broom – quite unexpected and beautiful. history of the tragic Clearances. From here, The other pleasure was finding attractive T01408 633177 Wdunrobincastle.co.uk I followed the seaboard to Thurso, heading tea rooms in out of the way places – The Tea for my final site at Dunnet Bay. Cosy at East Mey is a great one. Set behind small sand dunes and The four lovely sites at which I stayed Croft spot overlooking the two-mile sweep of the bay, perfectly reflect what the north of Scotland Built in 1850, Mary Ann’s this is the ultimate site for sunsets. The gives to holidaymakers. Empty beaches, Cottage is a traditional crofter’s dwelling near views from all pitches are great, access is dramatic mountains, intimate, tumbling Dunnet. Caithness Heritage easy, the facilities are excellent and the area water courses and so much that is precious Trust acquired the croft, has a wealth of things to do. A small gate and rare in our native wildlife – the region is which Mary Ann Calder left leads directly from the site onto the beach a treat for the senses. Just be prepared to in 1990 at the age of 92. for your evening or early-morning stroll. enjoy everything you find. ■ It’s open to the public from Beyond Dunnet Bay, you can see puffins 2pm to 4.30pm daily between June and September. and thousands of other nesting sea birds on the high cliffs. At Gills Bay, there were

History lesson MEMBERS’ VIEW From Grummore you could visit Strathnaver Museum and discover To read even more member views, the history of the tragic see our fantastic online forum at Clearances and learn about life in caravanclub.co.uk/together Scotland over hundreds of years. Caryn and Chris Beatonfrom St Andrews were visiting Dunnet Bay. “This T 01641 521418 Wstrathnavermuseum.org.uk is our first outing in our first caravan and we are having a great time. This site is lovely with views of the bay. We’ve got Mr and Mrs Stirlandfrom Nottingham photos of John O’ Groats, wonderful Ancient remains were staying at Kinlochewe. “We come shots at the Duncansby lighthouse and every year to the north-west of Scotland. seen puffins at Dunnet Head. We also Discover a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village on the We just love the peace and quiet and had a lovely tea at the Tea Cosy at Mey.” Orkney Islands. John O’Groats Ferries will take you being close to natural things – a cuckoo over for a guided day trip. Nearest site: Dunnet Bay. flew over us today as we walked towards Pam and Geoff Truckle from Carlisle were Beinn Eighe. There are also lots of really T01955 611353 Wjogferry.co.uk staying at Brora. “This is our first visit – a good craft shops and galleries – friend is always talking about how good everything is geared to help you enjoy this site is; well-spaced pitches and well yourself. We also love the empty roads.” cared for. It is perfectly placed for visiting the high moorland behind the coast where we want to go to see the eagles. Birdwatching is a real interest of ours and there are terns nesting by the site on the beach – just take care as they will dive-bomb you!”

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