Whilst the greatest attraction in the area is the natural landscape, there are many other places to see and go. Some suggestions are listed below:

Lairg is centrally located for visiting Caithness, Sutherland and all of the Northern Highlands. To The North West
To the North West of Benmore cottage is the dramatic wilderness of Sutherland. The interior of this area is virtually unpopulated and is an ideal place to get to one with nature. In the far North West is the village of Durness with the nearby Smoo Cave. During the summer months it is possible to visit Cape Wrath, the most North Westerly point of the UK and home to the mainland's highest cliffs. Nearby is the beautiful Sandwood Beach. The complex goelogy of the area has created the North West Highland Geopark. Wildlife cruises are available from Loch Laxford and Kylesku, the latter offering views of the highest waterfall in Britain. Mountains including Suilven, Quinag and Ben More Assynt cater for the most demanding hill walkers. Closer to the cottage is Advreck Castle.

Stunning photography of the area to the North West of Lairg, taken by a local photographer, is visible below.
To The North
To the of North is the remote Crask Inn, and the village of Altnaharra, then onwards to the villages of Tongue and Bettyhill. The stunning Strathnaver hosts museums dedicated to the history of the infamous highland clearances.

To The North East
To the North East is Caithness which is very different in character to Sutherland, with its gentle rolling landscape and Viking related heritage. The most Northerly point of mainland Britain is Dunnet Head, a good location for seeing Puffins. Whilst the interior hosts the internationally important Flow country, the coastal towns of Thurso, Wick, Lybster and Latheronwheel offer deserted beaches and quaint harbours. Ferries operate to Orkney from Scrabster, Gill's Bay and John O'Groats. The Castle of Mey, once the Queen Mother's residence, offers an interesting experience. Arts centres are located in Thurso, Wick, Lybster and Lyth. The excellent RSPB Flow Country centre at Forsinard offers an insight to the remarkable wildlife of the area. The Old Pulteney distillery welcomes you in Wick.

To The East
To the East lie the towns of Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie,Dornoch and Tain, with many attractions amongst them. Whisky is distilled at many distilleries in the area including Clynelish in Brora, Balblair in Evanton and Glenmorangie in Tain. Elegant Dornoch is home to a 13th Century Cathedral. Loch Fleet Nature Reserve offers coastal heath, sand dunes, pine woodland, as well as mudflats attracting a broad number of bird species.

To The South
South of Lairg lie Alness, Dingwall, the Victorian spa town of Strathpeffer and, of course, the city of Inverness. Also worth visiting is the Black Isle with its fine beaches, walks and new cycle trails.

To The West
A short boat trip to the uninhabited Handa Island is an interesting day out for bird-watchers and nature-watchers with incredible views of some of the world's rarest seabirds.



The West coast is home to Lochinver and Ullapool, the latter providing ferry routes to Stornoway in the Western Isles. Further West lie Gairloch, and the nearby astonishing Inverewe gardens, before reaching the walkers paradise of Torridon.

Copyright (c) 2011 Benmore Self Catering Cottage, Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland.