Northern Sutherland

Photo of the view east from Foinaven over the stunning A'Cheir Ghorm (A' Ch'eir Ghorm) ridge

Northern Sutherland in the far north west of the Scottish mainland is an area of mountains, moors, lochs, rock, bog and wild and beautiful coastlines, with welcoming settlements nestled in sheltered locations.

Sutherland comprises of the most north westerly area of the British mainland and is an area of stunning natural beauty, it has a feeling of space and solitude, probably more so than any other area of the mainland. The North Coast 500 scenic route follows the main roads around the coast and provides access to many of the wonderful sights, with many more accessible for the adventurous further off the beaten track. Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, Ben Loyal, Ben Klibreck, Foinaven and Arkle are the most significant and celebrated mountains in the area, but the hills of the Reay Forest south of Foinaven provide exceptionally rough and wild terrain away from the “crowds” and The Flow Country is a unique expanse of blanket bog and peatland wilderness.

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  • Dawn Over The Flow Country, Northern Sutherland
    Dawn Over The Flow Country
  • Sunset and Boiling Clouds, Reay Forest, Northern Sutherland
    Sunset and Boiling Clouds, Reay Forest
  • Ben Hope at Dawn from Beinn Direach, Northern Sutherland
    Ben Hope at Dawn from Beinn Direach
  • Ptarmigan - Beinn Direach, Northern Sutherland
    Ptarmigan – Beinn Direach
  • Dun Dornaigil Broch and Ben Hope by night, Northern Sutherland
    Dun Dornaigil Broch and Ben Hope by night
  • Stars over Ben Hope and Alltnacaillich from Dun Dornaigil Broch, Northern Sutherland
    Stars over Ben Hope and Alltnacaillich from Dun Dornaigil Broch
  • Stars over Loch Eriboll and Ard Neackie, Northern Sutherland
    Stars over Loch Eriboll and Ard Neackie
  • Ben Hee and Upper Strath More - Winter Sunlight, Northern Sutherland
    Ben Hee and Upper Strath More – Winter Sunlight
  • Ben Hee and the Reay Forest Hills from Creag Riabhach, Ben Hope, Northern Sutherland
    Ben Hee and the Reay Forest Hills from Creag Riabhach, Ben Hope
  • Ben Hee from Creag Riabhach, Ben Hope, Northern Sutherland
    Ben Hee from Creag Riabhach, Ben Hope
  • Dun Dornaigil Broch, Allnacaillich and Ben Hope, Strath More, Northern Sutherland
    Dun Dornaigil Broch, Alltnacaillich and Ben Hope, Strath More
  • Late afternoon on beautiful Ceannabeinne beach (Traigh Allt Chailgeag)
    Late afternoon on beautiful Ceannabeinne beach (Traigh Allt Chailgeag)
  • Photo - Sunset Over Cape Wrath
    Sunset over the Cape Wrath hills at the British mainland’s north western tip. Loch Hope is in the foreground, then Loch Eriboll.
  • Ben Hee Over the Clouds from Ben Hope
    Ben Hee Over the Clouds from Ben Hope
  • Photo of Beinn Spionnaidh, a Corbett seen in late afternoon light across Loch Eriboll
    Beinn Spionnaidh, a Corbett seen in late afternoon light across Loch Eriboll
  • Photo of A telephoto view of the misty eastern shore of Loch Eriboll
    A telephoto view of the misty eastern shore of Loch Eriboll
  • Photo - A view south west down Loch Eriboll
    A view south west down Loch Eriboll over the picturesque Ard Neackie peninsula to the Corbett Beinn Spionnaidh
  • Photo of a snowy December view south down wild, remote Strath More to Ben Hee from the slopes of Ben Hope
    A snowy December view south down wild, remote Strath More to Ben Hee from the slopes of Ben Hope
  • Photo of late afternoon on an autumn descent from Beinn Leoid and Meallan a’ Chuail to the A838 Laxford to Lairg road
    Late afternoon on an autumn descent from Beinn Leoid and Meallan a’ Chuail to the A838 Laxford to Lairg road
  • Photo looking south east from the summit of Arkle at the back end of a squally snow shower departing to the south east
    Looking south east from the summit of Arkle at the back end of a squally snow shower departing to the south east
  • Photo of near perfect reflections on a beautiful, still May morning on Loch Hope
    Near perfect reflections on a beautiful, still May morning on Loch Hope
  • Photo of Lewisian gneiss, Farr Bay
    Lewisian gneiss, Farr Bay
  • Photo of a panoramic autumnal view across Sutherland from Meallan a' Chuail above Loch Merkland to Ben Klibreck, behind the shower, and Loch Shin to the right
    A panoramic autumnal view across Sutherland from Meallan a’ Chuail above Loch Merkland to Ben Klibreck, behind the shower, and Loch Shin to the right
  • Photo of an autumn view south from Foinaven's highest top Ganu Mor over the southern section of the Foinaven ridge to a host of hills beyond
    An autumn view south from Foinaven’s highest top Ganu Mor over the southern section of the Foinaven ridge to a host of hills beyond
  • Photo of Foinaven wreathed in January snow, from the summit of Arkle
    Foinaven wreathed in January snow, from the summit of Arkle
  • Photo of the view of the Sutherland icons Foinaven and Arkle from Ben Hope
    The view of the Sutherland icons Foinaven and Arkle from Ben Hope
  • Photo of April sunshine on a chilly picnic at the beautiful beach at Farr Bay, Bettyhill
    A Chilly Picnic – Farr Bay in early April
  • Photo of Erin's cairn, Ben Hope with western hills beyond
    Erin’s cairn, Ben Hope with western hills beyond
  • Photo of a winter view of Ben Loyal & Ben Klibreck from Ben Hope over the huge expanse of Sutherland's open flow country
    A winter view of Ben Loyal & Ben Klibreck from Ben Hope over the huge expanse of Sutherland’s open flow country
  • Photo of Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, resplendant above Loch Hope on a blustery autumn afternoon
    Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, resplendant above Loch Hope on a blustery autumn afternoon
  • Photo of reflections on Loch Hope on a beautiful, still May morning with Ben Hope, semi shrouded in morning low cloud, on the left
    Ben Hope and Loch Hope with beautiful reflections on a still May morning
  • Photo of Arkle from the southern end of Loch Stack late on a summer evening
    Arkle from the southern end of Loch Stack late on a summer evening
  • Photo of the view east from Foinaven over the stunning A'Cheir Ghorm (A' Ch'eir Ghorm) ridge
    The view east from Foinaven over the stunning A’Cheir Ghorm (A’ Ch’eir Ghorm) ridge and Coire na Lurgainn to Ben Hope
  • Photo - Ben Hope Above Strath More
    A long exposure view north up Strath More to Ben Hope taken from near Dun Dornaigil
  • Photo - Dun Dornaigil Broch and Ben Hope
    The broch of Dun Dornaigil in Strath More with Ben Hope behind
  • Photo - Early morning light - Ben Loyal from Ben Hope
    Early morning light – Ben Loyal from Ben Hope
  • Photo - Ben Loyal and the Kyle of Tongue at Sunrise
    Ben Loyal and the Kyle of Tongue at Sunrise
  • Photo of Dawn over the Kyle of Tongue
    Dawn over the Kyle of Tongue
  • Ard Neackie And Loch Eriboll, Northern Sutherland
    Ard Neackie and Loch Eriboll with Foinaven, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh beyond
  • Beinn Spionnaidh in the Cloud, Northern Sutherland
    Beinn Spionnaidh in the Cloud
  • Loch Eriboll and Ard Neackie Panorama, Northern Sutherland
    Loch Eriboll and Ard Neackie Panorama
  • Loch Eriboll - Eastern Shoreline, Northern Sutherland
    Loch Eriboll – Eastern Shoreline
  • Loch Eriboll on a Summer Afternoon, Northern Sutherland
    Loch Eriboll on a Summer Afternoon

See & Read More About Northern Sutherland

Dun Dornaigil Broch and Ben Hope by night, Northern Sutherland
Dun Dornaigil Broch and Strath More
Dun Dornaigil (or Dun Dornadilla) is an excellent example of an iron age broch built around 2000 to 2500 years ago. These dry stone tower structures are unique to Scotland and are mostly found in the north and west highlands and islands, built perhaps for defense or status. At its ...
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Loch Eriboll and Ard Neackie Panorama, Northern Sutherland
Ard Neackie & Loch Eriboll
Ard Neackie is a small scenic peninsula on the east side of Loch Eriboll joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus and has an interesting history of lime quarrying (from the outcropping Durness Limestone), lime kilns, and as former home to the Heilam Ferry across Loch Eriboll. Just before ...
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Late afternoon on beautiful Ceannabeinne beach (Traigh Allt Chailgeag)
Ceannabeinne Durness – Grey November Day but Still Beautiful
Saturday was a grey day in the far north, there was some mizzle in Caithness to start. The forecast had seemed okay so I set out with my boy to head west and do something. No firm plans, just a need (on my part) to get out of the house ...
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Photo of Dawn over the Kyle of Tongue
Ben Hope Summit Camp
Back in July I had a free weekend that coincided with good weather in the north west. This generally seems to be a rare occurrence with good weather appearing to only happen during the working week. Whilst having climbed Ben Hope many times I had never spent a night high ...
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Photo of a Puffin surveying the geo around Wester Clett, "Puffin Island"
Puffin Colony – Wester Clett, Sutherland
Just on the Sutherland side of the Sutherland/Caithness border is a deep geo, or coastal inlet, with a steep sided island called Wester Clett in the middle. Wester Clett has been popularly named "Puffin Island", which is fair enough given the number of puffins here in the summer months. The ...
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