Country walks and Activities

There are many walks around Ulbster, a sample of three of our favourite after meal walks are listed below.

Whaligoe Steps: less than half a mile from Whinview is an inlet or cove known as Whaligoe. Used in the 1800s as a landing station by fishermen, this is an amazing monument to men made of sterner stuff. 365 steps have been built into a stairway down to the sea.

The sea cliffs are home to hundreds of sea birds: kittiwakes, auks, fulmars, shags, etc. Puffins are often seen in the water. They nest in cliff top burrows. You may also spot whales or seals along the coast.

Cairn of Get: Ulbster has its share of ancient monuments. A walk into the moors along a maintained path will take you to the Cairn of Get. A burial mound older than the pyramids. This has been partially restored by Historic Scotland.

This walk is a riot of colour during summer when wild flowers adorn the moors. In late summer the hills are dominated by heather. This walk can be extended to take in the remains of an ancient hill fort at Garrywhin or yet further into the hills where more burial cairns can be seen at Yarrows.

For bird enthusiasts, there are a wide range of moorland birds & a healthy population of raptors.

Loch Watenan : 5 minutes from the back door is Loch Watenan. This is a good trout fishing loch (there are many within 20 minutes drive). A path borders half of the loch but it is possible to walk to the head of the loch where a small reed bed is home to smaller fish. The western side of the loch has much plant cover & this is home to wildfowl. In winter it is home to roughly 15 whooper swans.

There are 3 local golf courses: Reiss, Reay & Lybster. Lybster is never busy & is only 10 minutes drive away. It is a 9-hole course.