Caithness flagstones were once a major industry in this area and can be seen as field boundaries, roofing slates, and house building material everywhere locally. This walk combines a small sculpture trail through woodland with a coastal walk alongside the sandstone pavement and also the Flagstone Trail, a short section with information boards.
Summary
Marked trail through woodland and then coastal track.
Terrain
Castletown Heritage Trail carpark near the old harbour
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1. Park in the large car park signed from the centre of Castletown for the Heritage Trail; it is just before you get to the harbour. From here take the path leading out of the south west corner of the car park where there is a sign board about the community woodland and sculpture trail created in 1997 on the site of the old quarry where flagstone was first extracted in 1793. Follow the path uphill and then take a short detour to the right to view the first sculpture before climbing back up and crossing the main path to walk past some picnic tables and a group of carved animals including a deer and an owl. Continue uphill through the woods, passing a large sculpture of a family group and at a clear junction with another sculpture opposite turn right to head downhill and back into the car park.
2. Now cross to the car park entrance and take the track to the left which is lined with flagstones. At the junction turn right to follow the track down to the coast. Continue along the main track which has good views over the water to Dunnet Head. At all but the highest tide the large wave cut platform of Caithness sandstone can be seen along the shore. The grassy lump on the left is all that remains of an iron-age broch.
3. Keep following the track, passing some concrete buildings. Soon afterwards the Victorian cannon battery is reached. There is no access to the battery itself but there are good views of it from the fence and a nice stretch of shore which can be accessed here. Return along the track, with lovely views of Dunnet Bay ahead, until you almost reach the car park entrance again. Here turn left through the gates to follow the flagstone trail. Keep to the main path as there are hidden holes from the time that this was a thriving quarry and processing depot for the stone which was also exported from the harbour here.
4. By 1825 a hundred people were employed at the site of these derelict buildings with flagstone produced here being exported all over the world. By the end of the 1800's the number had risen to over 500 but production here ended about 80 years ago following the rise of cheaper concrete products. Follow the path past the windmill which used to power saws used to cut the stone before it was polished and hauled down to the harbour by horses using wagons running on tracks. The ruined house on the right was once lived in by pilots who guided vessels in and out of the harbour. Keep following the path through the ruins and bear right towards the harbour.
5. Follow the pathway past the seats and net-drying to poles to the edge of the harbour where there is a viewing platform. The harbour is made from vertical stone to withstand the impact from the sea. Although the harbour is no longer busy with boats, Caithness flagstone has revived as an industry - albeit on a small scale. Flagstone products such as fireplaces, kitchen worktops and pavements are proving popular once more. From the harbour head back along the road to the car park and the start of the walk.
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