John o'Groats Trail: Dornoch to Golspie

Summary

The fifth stage of the John o'Groats trail starts with some excellent coastal walking taking in the beaches and links of Dornoch and Embo. Minor roads then lead to the Mound and Loch Fleet. Fields and woods then lead back to the coast for a final superb beach walk to Golspie.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Good coastal paths then minor road. Busy road verge, then woodland paths, field edges (sometimes livestock - signed diversion at Kirkton if you want to avoid cattle) and woodland tracks and finally a long section of sandy beach.

Getting there

Start

Dornoch.

Public Transport

Both Dornoch and Golspie have bus links; Golspie also has trains.

Start Grid Ref

NH798896

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 22km / 13.75 miles
Time: 6.5 - 7 hours
Ascent: 125m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

From the centre of Dornoch take Church Street south from Bridge Street and soon turn left onto Golf Road. This leads past villas and a hotel and over the golf course to eventually reach the lifeboat building and the small beach car park beyond.

Stage 2

Go through the car park to pick up the track running along the seaward side of the golf course - alternatively you could also walk on the lovely sandy beach (although it is necessary to come up to the track to avoid a rocky outcrop). When the track swings left take the path that keeps to the dunes above the beach. Eventually it joins another track, and keeps right at a junction.

Stage 3

When the track swings sharp left, leave it and and climb to a gate and footpath signpost. The JoGT is turns left here, signed for Dornoch via Railway Line. Once across the field a farm track is reached along an old railway. Turn right on the farm track (away from Dornoch). Keep ahead on a grassy track and follow it to a tarmac road at a bend. Keep straight ahead on the road and when it bends left at a junction, keep straight ahead again on a grassy track to stay on the old railway line (signed Coul Links).

Stage 4

There are good views to the huge monument on Ben Bhraggie across the other side of Loch Fleet. Keep straight on through the gorse bushes at a path junction, staying on the old railway line; at one point the route passes an old signal house. Pass through a gate and continue ahead, watching for a pedestrian gate on your left into a field. Pass through this, cross the field (follow alternative route signs if you want to avoid cattle) and turn right along the farm driveway. After a short distance it meets the public road - go straight ahead along this. Keep straight ahead at a junction, to come alongside Loch Fleet below the ruins of Skelbo Castle.

Stage 5

Continue along the road by the shores of Loch Fleet until just before the junction with the A9. Just beyond and opposite Gate House, bear right onto a path through the trees following the line of an old railway for 1km. Eventually emerge from trees to climb up to the road and turn right to follow the narrow verge of A9. Cross the bridge and keep ahead when the Lairg road goes off left. Turn off the A9 250m beyond this turning onto a forest track cutting sharp right. Soon after the first bend, turn left onto a clear path through the trees.

Stage 6

The path leads on ahead through the trees. At a junction turn left onto a path that heads towards the left edge of the forest. Keep inside the fence until a stile is reached. Cross this and then continuing along the left edge of the fields, keeping the fence on your left. There are two waymarked variants from here - one heads along right by the railway - usually through soggy fields with livestock. The alternative crosses a series of wooden stiles to run along the left side of the fence one field to the left - this keeps to the edge of crops and is usually drier. Eventually a track is reached, to the left of a house.

Stage 7

Go right along the track but then almost immediately left through a gate (not reaching the railway). Once through the gate turn right to follow the edge of the field (can be wet) and then continue alongside the railway fence railway fence. This eventually leads to a tarmac road with a level crossing. Turn right along the tarmac, using the crossing, and follow the road which reaches a gate at the entrance to Balblair Wood. Go straight ahead, now on a track, through the woods. When a t-junction is reached with Loch Fleet visible ahead turn left, following a broad path through the trees. This passes a bench and crosses a bridge before it emerges at a minor road.

Stage 8

Turn left along the road for just over 500m until a track on the right, signed as 'Coastal Route to Littleferry'. Follow the track across the golf course and past the caravan park. At the end head up onto the dunes. From here a fine sandy beach stretches out towards Golspie (left) - you can either walk along the beach, on a path in the dunes, or slightly inland on a path just below the dunes.

Stage 9

At the edge of the village a ramp leads up from the beach onto Golspie's sea wall; from here continue to the jetty. Follow the tarred coastal path beyond the jetty; when it reaches a playpark turn left to head to the main street, and then right along it to reach the centre of Golspie.

Next stage: Golspie to Brora

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