Holborn Head, Scrabster

Summary

This fine circuit takes in some of the very best of the Caithness coastline, with magnificent cliffs, a giant stack, blow holes and geos There are great views over Thurso and across to Hoy, with the Orkney ferry often seen crossing the turbulent waters of the Pentland Firth.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Grassy cliff top paths, farm track, and road with pavement. The sheer cliffs are unprotected, and at one brief point a fence forces the route uncomfortably near the edge.

Public Transport

Scrabster has a regular bus service from Thurso and some long distance buses also.

Start

Scrabster car park. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 7.5km / 4.75 miles
Time: 2 hours
Ascent: 134m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: ND099703

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

There is parking at Scrabster harbour (charge) near the Fisherman's Mission, where there is also a cafe (also a pub and seafood restaurant alongside the harbour). Start by walking along the road towards the ferry terminal, passing the long stay car park on your left. 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.

Stage 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, with its celebrated Old Man visible in clear weather. 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 continue along the path, heading straight for another stile with the cairn directly ahead.

Stage 3

Follow the path to the cairn for great views both over the sea and along the clifftops to come; there's a deep cave going right into the cliff just to the west. Return to the fork in the path and take the path to the right skirting the edge of the cliff, and passing the narrow, slit-like blowhole above the cave - you can't see into it, but you can certainly hear it!

Stage 4

Take care as the cliffs are high and unprotected, 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.

Stage 5

The path passes an impressive sea stack - the Clett - which has an arch on its west side. Pass Robertson's Point; the path keeps on the outside of the fence passing some impressively high cliffs, some with caves visible at the bottom. At one point the fence comes uncomfortably close to the cliff edge for those with vertigo, but there's a concrete slab underfoot.

Stage 6

Pass Spear Head, and a series of jutting cliffs known as the Turrets. Eventually a deep and wide geo, or inlet caused by sea erosion, is reached. 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. Keep the fence on your left as you head along the near side of the geo, and then go through the gate ahead, leaving the coast and heading inland along the edge of the field, keeping a fenceline on your left. At the end of the field a track is reached; turn left along this, passing through a gate.

Stage 7

The track which was built for the, now disused, clifftop quarries, 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 just before the T junction with the clifftop road 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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