The circuit takes in some of the best of the Caithness coastline, with high cliffs, a blow hole and geo and great views over Thurso and Orkney and a chance to watch the boats leaving and arriving at Scrabster.
Summary
Cliff top grassy paths, farm track, and road with pavement.
Terrain
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Scrabster has a regular bus service from Thurso and some long distance buses also.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. There is parking at Scrabster harbour, next to the Fisherman's Mission, which is also a good place for refreshment before or after the walk. Start by walking along the road to the ferry terminal, past the long stay car park. Once past the ferry office keep on the left hand side away from the ferry traffic and head for the small road leading north towards the lighthouse. Follow this and just before the lighthouse turn left through a gate marked for Holborn Head and climb uphill.
2. Once past the garden bear diagonally right uphill on a faint path. This becomes clearer and leads to a gate and stile at the corner of a stone wall. Go over the stile and follow the path as it undulates towards a small cairn marking Holborn Head. The island of Hoy can be seen straight ahead. Drainage ditches are crossed on a series of small concrete bridges. Cross a fence at a stile and continue to another stile and open gateway where you keep to the lower path and head straight for another stile with the cairn directly ahead.
3. Follow the path to the cairn for great views and then return to the fork in the path and take the path to the right skirting the edge of the cliff. Take care here as the cliffs are extremely high and can be dangerous in windy weather. The path goes past a natural arch which also acts as a blow hole (known locally as a gloup) in rough seas. Follow the path along the coast keeping the cliffs on your right.
4. The path passes Robertson's Point and an impressive sea stack comes into view which has an arch on its west side. Follow the path next to the fence and then through a small gate. The path stays on the outside of the fence passing some impressively high cliffs, some with caves visible at the bottom. Go through another gate and continue for a short way on the seaward side of the fence until the, now broken down, fence is reached opposite. Cross to the other side and follow the grassy path.
5. The route passes a series of sticking out cliffs known as the Turrets. Eventually a deep geo, or inlet caused by sea erosion, is reached which is fenced off. On the far side flagstones can be seen sticking up, the remains of old boundaries. The stone was which quarried just behind the coast here. Turn left alongside the fence to head inland. At the fence corner go right through the gate and then immediately turn about and go left through the adjacent farm gate to follow the track which heads inland.
6. The track crosses barren moorland used for sheep grazing and passes a lochan on the right. Keep following the track and a Caithness stone sculpture comes into view ahead on the right. Go through a gate (which may have to be climbed) before passing a building and heading downhill towards the outskirts of Scrabster. Continue straight ahead when the road is reached and when the top of the hill is reached head diagonally left across a parking area to a gate which leads to a long series of steps down to the harbour road. Once at the road turn left to return to Scrabster harbour and the start of the walk.
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