Golspie

’Neath the shadow of Ben Bhraggie

Situated on the shores of the Moray Firth and nestling below the shadow of Ben Bhraggie, the A9 routes you in through Golspie, your first village since entering the Highlands of Scotland from the south. Here you will find a good centre for touring, known for its 18 hole golf course, swimming pool, large exhibition of rocks, fossils and minerals and its vicinity to Loch Fleet in the south with its natural Nature Reserve of abundant and varied wild fowl within the tidal basin.

To the north seek out the Golspie Mill, built in 1863 as an estate meal mill, finally restored in 1992 to produce specialised meals and flours in traditional methods, powered by the Big Burn which runs down Dunrobin Glen, and was a source of the Amethyst Gemstone. This is a magical area for walking to the sound of the rushing water, keeping eyes alert for the wild-life in the surrounding woodlands.

Just north is the magnificence of Dunrobin Castle, with its immaculate gardens, where once only an ancient Broch or defence tower stood looking out over the Firth.

Driving past Dunrobin on the A9 you will find the Cairn Laith Broch with its easy parking, a defence structure from the Iron Age well worth visiting, most of the construction being underground, its tower an ancient refuge against attack.

This ancestral home of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland, was built in the late 13th century by Robert, 2nd Earl of Sutherland. In 1785 the Sutherland family owned the whole of the county of Sutherland. The castle was, and still is, dominated by a massive square keep, which survives today, with gardens well worth the visit.

The Castle with its189 rooms and one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses, saw the architectural influence of Sir Charles Barry and, latterly, Sir Robert Lorimer. It was used as a Naval hospital during the First World War, was a boys’ school from 1965 to 1972 and is now open to the public from April to October. info@dunrobincastle.net