Dunrobin Castle – our local castle
Dunrobin Castle
A visit to Golspie must include the Castle 1 mile north of the Golspie Inn along the A9. The historic seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland hosts many activities including an impressive Falconry display 01408 633177 – [Go To Website]
The Golspie Inn
A little History; The Golspie Inn, Golspie and Sutherland
The Golspie Inn has been in existence for over 200 years and has recently reverted back to its original name having been known as the Sutherland Arms Hotel. It is of historic importance locally, was the first bar in Sutherland and boasts the oldest postbox in Scotland, dating back to 1861.
Golspie History
Golspie lies on the east coast of Sutherland, mid way between Loch Fleet and Brora on the main road north. Originally a small fishing hamlet Golspie was, like many villages on the east Sutherland coast, expanded in the early nineteenth century to house some of those evicted from the inland straths and glens during the clearances. Fishing was the main industry, but the opening of the railway in 1868 brought the first tourists to the area.
Golspie today is an attractive little seaside resort with much for the visitor to see and do. The village boasts a long sandy beach and there a number of scenic walks around the area, including one at the Big Burn with its spectacular waterfalls.
There are a number of historic buildings too, including St Andrews church dating from the sixteenth century and, most famously, Dunrobin Castle. This is one of the grandest houses in the north of Scotland and is situated just north of the village. It is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited homes in Britain, the oldest part of the castle dating from the early fourteenth century. As well as the castle itself, Dunrobin is known for its formal gardens.
Sutherland History
It was the early Viking settlers who came to Caithness that named everything to the south “The Southlands” which is how Sutherland came by its name. However, Sutherland’s history goes back much further than this.
There is evidence of man’s activities throughout the county from prehistoric times. Stone Age and Bronze Age man have left their mark throughout the area, as have the Picts and the Scots. The remains of their buildings and monuments can be seen wherever you go.
Since those ancient times, small communities grew up throughout the county with the people living off the land. Families worked small parcels of land and tended to a few animals, and this simple way of life continued relatively undisturbed until the early eighteenth century.
But following the Jacobite defeat at Culloden, the Highlands and its people were persecuted. Then in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century the people that once inhabited the remote glens and straths were forced out by the landowners and replaced with more profitable sheep. The infamous Highland clearances took place over a number of years where many of Sutherland’s population were forced to move from their land to coastal villages or to further lands to start up a new life. The ruined remains of their homes and entire villages can still be seen to this day across the county.
Golf
Links Golf in Sutherland
Golspie is the ideal base for a golfing break.
It is said that whenever the great Jack Nicklaus comes to Britain, he jets up to Dornoch (currently rated as the 2nd best course in the world outside the US*) to get away from it all. The Royal Dornoch Golf Course is only 10 miles from the Golspie Inn.
There is no question that Royal Dornoch Golf Course is the jewel in the crown of Sutherland’s courses.
Within said crown, however, there are little gems sparkling. Golspie Golf Course is a beautiful combination of rugged links and parkland golf. Formed in 1889 The club owes much to the famous golf course architect James Braid whose recommendations implemented in 1926 for the basis of this challenging course.
Another James Braid course is only 6 miles north at Brora Golf Course (A highly rated links) where little has changed since he left in 1923, it is still challenging to all standards but is it is relatively easy for a visitor to get a tee-off time and the club atmosphere is relaxed.
There are 20 Golf Courses in the Highlands but these three nearest ones must be played!
*Golf Digest has recently placed Dornoch as its 2nd ‘best’ course in the world outside the USA, only behind Royal County Down in GB&I, that is placed first, with Muirfield and St Andrews Old as 9th and 10th.
Wildlife
Grey seal pup
The beautiful seaside and surrounding countryside features every imaginable habitat, so a wide variety of our fellow inhabitants can be seen in the wild, as nature intended.
Seals: seen often locally and all around the Dornoch Firth our local Loch Fleet is also home to a large herd of Seals. Most days you are pretty much guaranteed to see these lovely mammals dipping in and out of the water from the sandbanks and if you get the right tide level you can see them quite close-up from the roadside.
Moray Firth bottlenose dolphins can also occasionally be seen making their way along the coast, often quite close to the beach in small groups.
Wildcats: In local woods and in the hills, if you are lucky!
Deer: Roe deer are widespread and may be seen wherever there is cover, Red deer can commonly be seen on the hills around Golspie.
Red Deer Stag at First Light
Other Mammals; Hedgehog, moles, shrews, voles, house and wood mice, fox, stoat, weasel, rabbit are all common. Brown hares are found on farmland and mountain hare on heather moorland. Long eared bats in sheltered areas and Goats are often to be seen on the Morvich Rock at nearby Rogart.
Birds to be found include Goldeneye and other ducks, Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing. Buzzards are likely, and with luck Golden Eagles may be seen in winter.
A few miles South at Loch Fleet, off the A9 between Dornoch and Golspie, forms part of a well known nature reserve with a wealth of sea ducks and waders. Here one may hope to see Osprey fishing.
The area also has a wide variety of Gulls & Cormorants.
NC500
More information coming soon