Discover Castletown: Coast, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Castletown combines coast, history and varied trails to create a destination offering many different experiences. The village borders the coast and Dunnet Bay; nearby, Dunnet Beach stretches for two miles. There is also a tidal harbour, historic buildings, a community forest and several walking routes. Anyone looking for holiday accommodation in Castletown can therefore easily tailor their preferred travel pace to their own interests: culture, coastal landscapes, crafts or longer walks each provide a different plan for the day.

Culture in Historic Buildings

A central point of interest is the Castlehill Heritage Centre on the northern edge of Castletown. It is housed in renovated 18th-century farm buildings and is an award-winning four-star VisitScotland attraction. The interpretive exhibitions explore the industrial, maritime, military, agricultural and social heritage of Castletown and the parish of Olrig. Particularly notable is the permanent exhibition about RAF Castletown. It includes a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that was recovered from a moor in Caithness in 1990.

Clear opening times apply when planning a specific visit: the Castlehill Heritage Centre is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 4 pm all year round. It is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Centre has step-free access and is fully accessible. Those who prefer to explore historic places at their own pace can also visit the Category C listed Castletown Drill Hall, Castletown Battery, a Scheduled Monument designated SM13625, and the listed Windpump Tower on the Castletown Heritage Trail.

Trails Between Coast, Forest and Hills

Castletown is also a suitable starting point for different types of walks, with not every route having the same character. The Highland Council's core paths map from November 2024 lists Castlehill Coast (Jessans Path) in the Castletown and Dunnet area. The Battery Walk is a 2.25-mile rough coastal path with a stated walking time of one hour. The Birkle Hill Walk is four miles long and runs along country roads, supplemented by a section on a rough track; the stated walking time is two hours.

For a longer tour, the Olrig Hill Walk covers five miles and has a stated walking time of two hours. The hill path leads to a viewpoint and the remains of St Trothan's Kirk. In Dunnet Community Forest, nature-rich walking routes invite visitors to enjoy a different pace. The Sculpture Trail there showcases artistic uses of the material. The stated distances and walking times help when planning the day, making it possible to choose between a short coastal path, a tour along country roads and a longer hill walk.

Harbour, Crafts and Local Character

Castlehill Harbour was built in the early 19th century to ship the paving slabs produced at James Traill's Pavement Works. The buildings of Castlehill Pavement Works form part of a signposted trail; parking signs indicate available parking areas. Castletown's tidal harbour is used by locals for leisure activities, adding a current local connection to the historic attractions.

Traditional crafts are also part of the cultural offering. The Castlehill Heritage Society organises workshop and training days covering local and traditional techniques, including rope making, wood carving, dry-stone walling, croft crafts, lime pointing and beach crafts such as driftwood sculptures. Anyone travelling in August can plan to enjoy Cream Teas with homemade scones, jam and cake at the Castlehill Heritage Centre every Sunday afternoon.

The Right Accommodation for Planning Your Trip

Which accommodation in Castletown is right for you depends above all on the focus of your planned stay. For a culture-oriented visit, it is worth incorporating the Heritage Centre's opening days and the historic stops into your plans. If coast and activity are the priorities, the different trail lengths provide a concrete basis for choosing your excursions. Dunnet Beach, Dunnet Community Forest and the Battery Walk each offer different landscape experiences, while the Olrig Hill Walk combines a longer hill path with a historic destination. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment or holiday house according to your preferred holiday pace, without reducing the village to just one attraction.

If you would like to explore more places for planning your trip, you can also find Aviemore, Dalchreichart, Kincraig, Shieldaig, Letterfinlay, Letterfearn, Alness and Shandwick here.

For the overview of the wider area: Highland.