Drumdivan Annexe ref: 511236

About the local area

 The centre of this lovely seaside village is dominated by the beautiful 13th Century Cathedral, constructed of mellow sandstone with beautiful stained-glass windows.  Just off the ancient square can be found the Old Town Jail (now an upmarket clothes store and gift shop), adjacent to the Bishop’s Palace and old Court House.  Once the spiritual Capital of Sutherland, Dornoch is now a thriving Highland village with excellent facilities, including unusual and interesting shops and an excellent selection of good restaurants and bars.  Sandstone cottages and town houses line its peaceful streets and winding lanes.   Known as Royal Dornoch, due to its status as a Royal Burgh, the town is renowned for its championship golf course, its award winning stretch of wide sandy beach and its mussels, which are harvested and exported world-wide.  The region is designated a National Scenic Area, with miles of unspoilt coastline, incredible wildlife and fascinating historical sites.  Andrew Carnegie, the famous Victorian philanthropist who bought nearby Skibo castle stated: “If there is a heaven on earth it is here.”

Dornoch is an ideal touring base for exploring the cream of the Scottish Highlands. The route across to the west coast is truly spectacular.  Breathtaking mountains are interspersed with lochs and rivers before reaching the crystal clear waters and the white shell-sand bays of the Atlantic coastline.  Travel north to explore the wild, rugged seascapes of Caithness.  From here a day trip to the Orkney Isles is a must.  To the south lies Inverness, the Capital city of the Highlands, which is just 40 minutes drive away.  The area is renowned for its outdoor pursuits.  Mountain bike trails, horse riding in the hills, climbing, hill-walking, canoeing, sailing and fishing are all available in the immediate area. 

There are many places of interest and attractions for visitors within a short drive, including the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre (one of the few places to view wild salmon leaping up the falls close to hand), Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Dukes of Sutherland, with its wonderful gardens modelled on Versailles, as well as a number of famous distilleries, including the local malt, Glenmorangie, in the nearby historic town of Tain.

Things to do nearby