Watten: Loch Watten, Nature and History

Watten combines a distinctive loch landscape with traces of ecclesiastical history and a historic pilgrimage route. At its heart is Loch Watten: the loch encompasses around 385 hectares of naturally nutrient-rich lake habitat and is an important roosting site for wintering greylag geese every year from the end of September to the end of April. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Watten can therefore plan their trip around nature observation, walks and historical discoveries.

Experiencing Loch Watten and the landscape

Loch Watten is one of the two best examples of a base-rich loch in Caithness. Its pondweed beds shape the lake habitat and give the water a distinctive natural character. Particularly during the period when greylag geese spend the night at the loch, it is worth planning a trip with the seasonal landscape in mind. Careful observation of the surroundings is the priority; the presence of the birds does not indicate that they are there all year round.

There are seven boats at Oldhall. Access to the shore of Loch Watten is from the A882. There is also a car park at the loch, reached via the turning from the main road towards Gillock on Station Road. Picnic tables are also available there. These specific landmarks help you incorporate time by the water into your daily itinerary without overloading the landscape with a fixed programme.

Church history and traces along the pilgrimage route

The church of Watten is mentioned in records dating from between 1223 and 1245 and was dedicated to Saint Magnus. Only the outer walls of the old parish church of Watten remain, standing at a uniform height of 0.5 metres. These two details provide different perspectives on the history of the place: on the one hand, the church points to a long written tradition; on the other, the surviving wall remains make the changes to the building tangible.

The Northern Pilgrims’ Way also leads to Watten. On Route 6, Watten is listed as Stop 48. In the Watten section, the route joins the B870; at a sharp bend, a narrow road branches off to the site of a chapel on the shore of Scouthal Burn. In addition, Watten appears to have had a joint convent and monastery centre with a holy well dedicated to Saint Catherine. This cautious wording is part of the tradition associated with the place and invites visitors to assess the historical clues carefully.

Walks and practical information

Watten has paved roads suitable for walks, which are accessible and have no steep inclines. This can be a pleasantly manageable option when planning the day if, alongside an interest in nature and culture, a gentler stretch of route is desired. There are car parks in front of the old church and Watten village shop, as well as at Loch Watten. This allows various points of interest in the village to be included in your travel plans independently of one another.

At the south-eastern end of Loch Watten, near the village of Watten, there are indications of a crannog that is now mostly submerged. Together with the church remains, the pilgrimage route and the traces at Scouthal Burn, this creates a varied picture of the area’s history. Families can choose between the loch, short walks and historical exploration depending on age and interests. When looking for accommodation in Watten, the desired mix of nature observation, activity and culture is therefore a sensible starting point.

Further places for your travel planning

If you would like to compare Watten with other destinations, you can also explore Balmacara, Foyers, Isle Of Skye, Nairn, Ullapool, Torlundy, Forres and John o' Groats. For Watten, the combination of loch landscape, seasonal birdlife and tangible traces of the past remains the defining experience.

For the overarching travel overview: Highland.