Camore Wood and Dornoch Beach

Camore Wood and Dornoch Beach combines a peaceful woodland walk past the remains of an Iron Age settlement with the wide golden sands of Dornoch's Blue Flag beach — two contrasting landscapes within easy reach of one of Sutherland's most attractive towns.

Camore Wood itself is reached via a minor road signposted from Sutherland Road (Cuthill direction) or from the A9 south of Dornoch Bridge, with a car park and picnic tables at the entrance. A figure-of-eight network of paths winds through open stands of Scots pine, with a firm gravel surface throughout, though some sections can be uneven or wet after rain. Along the way, an interpretation board explains the 25 Iron Age hut circles hidden among the trees — the remains of an early farming community that once thrived here — while buzzards hunt overhead and roe deer are regularly glimpsed slipping through the woodland. A natural play area with tree shelters, tunnels, and a wooden fort makes this a popular spot for families, and the full walk covers just over two miles, with a shorter one-mile option for those wanting a briefer outing.

Dornoch Beach itself is reached separately, a short walk or drive from the town centre, with parking, a children's playground, and toilets nearby. The beach offers calm, shallow waters and sheltered dunes stretching for miles towards Embo, making it ideal for paddling, swimming on warmer days, or simply a leisurely stroll — seals and dolphins are occasionally spotted playing in the firth, and the beach is a popular year-round destination for dog walkers.

Both sections are easy, family-friendly walks suitable for a wide range of ages and fitness levels, though those extending onto the wider dunes and points further south should check tide times carefully, since sections of sand can become cut off on an incoming tide.

Parking at Camore Wood and Dornoch Beach is free; Dornoch has bus services, and public toilets, shops, and places to eat are available in the town, around 2 miles from Camore Wood.