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Easter Ross                         the coast of Caithness and
                                                                              Sutherland. Sail your way
                                                                              through caves and lochs
                                             Your next stop is Easter         while you keep an eye out
                                          Ross, an area of the Highlands      for dolphins, whales, and
                                          between the Cromarty and            seabirds!
                                          Dornoch Firth that’s full of          Your time here wouldn’t be
                                          natural wonders.                    complete without a trip to the
                                             The fishing village of           beach – our pick is Balnakeil
                                          Portmahomack makes for              Beach near Cape Wrath,
                                          an ideal base to explore the        a wide, white-sand beach
                                          peninsula – stay at one of          with aqua-blue water and a
                                          the Dolphin View cottages           backdrop of tall, grassy dunes.
                                          by the seaside, which offers
                                          panoramic views over the firth
                                          to the Sutherland mountains.  Wester Ross

                                             For an action-packed
                                          experience, have a go at gorge        Wester Ross will be the
                                          scrambling, kayak down lochs,       stunning final stop of your
                                          seas and glens, or explore one      North Coast 500 journey.
                                          of the many woodland and            Known for its unspoilt
                                          coastal trails via foot or bike,    wilderness, this area is largely
                                          including the history-laden         uninhabited and home
                                          Pictish Trail.                      to mountain ranges and
                                                                              beautiful lochs and glens.
                                          Caithness and                       stunning lochs in Scotland,
                                                                                Considered one of the most



 Clockwise from                           Sutherland                          the 20-kilometre-long Loch
                                                                              Maree should definitely be on
 top:
                                             Next it’s time to head           your to-see list. Beinn Eighe
 Duncansby                                to Caithness and the                Nature Reserve is also worth a
 Stacks stand                                                                 visit, with two well-maintained
 prominently                              neighbouring region of
 near the cliffs of                       Sutherland, situated in the         trails that pass through
 Duncansby Head.                                                              the remains of the ancient
 ©VisitScotland/                          north-easterly part of the          Caledonian forest.
 Kenny Lam                                Scottish mainland.
                                             The Auld Post Office               The drive between Gairloch
 Friends on the                                                               and the Applecross peninsula
 Applecross pass.                         Bed and Breakfast offers
                                          welcoming, Art Deco-style           offers up one of the most
 Portmahomack                                                                 breathtaking scenic drives in
 Harbour is a                             accommodation which is              the UK, twisting and turning
 picturesque                              ideally positioned near some
 fishing village                          of Caithness’ best spots.           between the Munro ranges
 in Easter Ross.                                                              before undulating down along
 ©VisitScotland                              Check out the Brig O'Stack,      the coast.
                                          a dramatic sea cave just
                                          south of the town of Wick,            While in Applecross, try the
                                          walk along the clifftop at          world-famous seafood at The
                                          Duncansby Head, and explore         Applecross Inn, stroll along
                                          the stunning Dunrobin Castle        the rugged coastline, and visit
                                          and Gardens.                        Applecross Bay, a large sandy
                                             Hiring a tour boat is a          inlet which looks across the
                                          fantastic way to appreciate         Sound of Raasay to the Isle of
                                          the landscapes around               Skye.





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