Dunnet Head Lighthouse

24/08/2025

Did you know that bog cotton (Eriophorum angustifiloium) was used a wound dressing during World War 1? The fluffy seed heads are highly absorbant and naturally antiseptic, making them ideal in combating bacterial infection. This is the view across Loch Burifa, just below the lighthouse.

30/07/2025

Dunnet Head Lighthouse was once again sponsoring the piping competition at Halkirk Highland Games. We had a fab day sitting in the sun and watching the thrilling battle for Best Overall Senior Piper. The title was taken by David Stulpner, who was visiting from Perth, Australia.

09/07/2025

The sea pink (Armeria maritima) below the lighthouse foghorn is putting on a gorgeous display this year.

03/06/2025

It's blustery in Caithness today, but this spring was the sunniest on record. The hillsides are covered in yellow spikes of gorse (Ulex europaeus) - love the gorgeous coconut scent! This is the view from Dunnet Forest to Dunnet Head.

07/05/2025

Orca spotted close in to Dunnet Head last night - great shot!

🌊🐋 Spotted: An orca off the coast of Dunnet Head! Moments like this are what make the North Coast 500 truly unforgettable. From rugged landscapes to breathtaking wildlife, this route never fails to amaze.

Want to explore more of Scotland’s wild side? Head over to our Wildlife & Nature section on our website for all the inspiration you need! 🌿

(🔗Link in bio)

📸IG @ kasmunro2

❗️Please be responsible as you explore - remember to plan ahead, be flexible, and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access code. For some this is an adventure, for others it’s home. Please respect the land and the local communities. ❗️

07/05/2025

Orca spotted close in to Dunnet Head last night - great capture!

🌊🐋 Spotted: An orca off the coast of Dunnet Head! Moments like this are what make the North Coast 500 truly unforgettable. From rugged landscapes to breathtaking wildlife, this route never fails to amaze.

Want to explore more of Scotland’s wild side? Head over to our Wildlife & Nature section on our website for all the inspiration you need! 🌿

(🔗Link in bio)

📸IG @ kasmunro2

❗️Please be responsible as you explore - remember to plan ahead, be flexible, and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access code. For some this is an adventure, for others it’s home. Please respect the land and the local communities. ❗️

28/04/2025

Our neighbour, Orkney, emerging from early morning mist.

21/01/2025

Late afternoon sunshine on the lighthouse tower. We're enjoying some beautiful calm weather here in Caithness before the next big storm arrives on Friday.

08/11/2024

Stunning! 😍

27/10/2024

Did you know that the Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for the upkeep and operation of 208 lighthouses and 174 buoys in Scotland and the Isle of Man? If you want to know more about the work of the Board, check out this episode of Our Lives, available now in the UK on the BBC iplayer.

22/09/2024

Many thanks to our guest Andreas from Germany for sending this amazing shot of the aurora as seen from the lighthouse. We are so glad that you got to see the Northern Lights during your stay - what a great capture! 😍

14/07/2024

CAITHNESS MYTHS AND LEGENDS Scotland abounds with tales of the selkie, supernatural creatures who swim in the sea as seals and who can shed their skin and walk on land as humans. Not far from the lighthouse, in the 17th century St Trothans Kirk, lies the grave of the Olrig Selkie. The story goes that a local fisherman and his wife were walking along the beach one day when they came across a baby wrapped in a sealskin. They took the baby girl home with them and raised her as their own. She lived her life as a human - perhaps she never knew her true origins as a selkie or perhaps the old couple hid her sealskin so that she could never return to the sea. Whatever the reason, she lived among mankind and sadly died in childbirth. She was buried in St Trothans and a beautiful carved stone was placed on her grave. It is said that this small enclosure remains wet, whatever the weather. To this day, local folk place seashells and flowers on the grave in memory of the selkie.