Make Dornoch your first stop on your 2021 Highland adventure!

Dornoch- your time to explore awaits!

Winter nights are the perfect time to begin dreaming of Dornoch and your 2021 holiday. When you are planning your next Highland Adventure, why not make Dornoch your first stop?

The Highlands are known for a warm welcome 365 days a year, no matter when you travel if you are thinking Scottish Highlands – Dornoch is an absolute must!

Whatever outdoor pursuits you are into you will find something in or around Dornoch to try. Experience more during your visit and try canoeing with Go Wild Highlands or explore Dornoch and beyond on two wheels with Dornoch bike Hire, whilst experiencing a more relaxing way to get out and about.

Climb Ben Bhraggie
Ben Bhraggie is a steep climb of around 5½ miles but well worth the effort as from the top, on a clear day, it is possible to see both the nearby east coast and the distant north coast.

The Falls of Shin are are beautiful water fall on the River Shin near Lairg. They are famed for the Salmon leaping and you are sure to get a sighting of this awe inspiring sight anytime from May to November.

Walks in and around Dornoch
No holiday in Scotland would be complete without a walk to enjoy our scenery and wildlife. You can do it all from Dornoch – woodland walks, hill walking or a stroll along our beautiful beaches each one building lasting memories you’ll treasure.

Beach bagging

You've heard of Munro bagging, why not try beach bagging?! With so many spectacular beaches in the Northern Highlands you will be spoilt for choice. See how many you can see during your trip.

If you prefer to stay indoors then there are plenty of fantastic independent shops and cafes to keep you busy. You can even treat yourself to a massage in Aspen Spa at the Carnegie Courthouse. They also do specialist golf massages for anyone with sore muscles after a day on the world famous Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

Even if we remain socially distanced and with restrictions in place, Dornoch is open – to plan your trip why not check out our blog posts for ideas of things to DO in and around Dornoch?

 

Originally Published Here: Make Dornoch your first stop on your 2021 Highland adventure!

Enjoy a Shopcation in Dornoch this Christmas

Skip the crowds and come to Dornoch for your Christmas shopping and enjoy a wonderful festive experience! Choose a shopcation instead of buying online and come a stay for a few days whilst you leisurely purchase your Christmas gifts here in Dornoch.

Avoid the crowds altogether and shop for all your Christmas presents locally in our gorgeous range of independent shops. Combine with some lunch in one of our many cafes and stop for an afternoon tea or hot chocolate break and make a day of it! See some ideas below for some great Christmas present shops.

We are so excited that on Saturday 5th December our popular Dornoch Community Christmas Market is taking place on the Cathedral Green! Pop down for a true festive feeling and buy some goodies for gifts and food over the Christmas period whilst soaking up the wonderful feeling of community that we have here in Dornoch.

With over 20 independent shops to choose from, Dornoch is an ideal location to find that unusual gift, piece of jewellery or special cashmere jumper.

Jail Dornoch combines its historical setting of old cells with contemporary design to display a range of luxurious clothing, country wear, exquisite gifts, jewellery, Scottish pottery and glassware. Becca Mac, a ladies’ and gents’ boutique with the very latest fashions.

Browse in the Dornoch Bookshop for your Christmas reading, pick up a tartan rug and a length of tweed at Kingcraig, or explore the Aladdin’s cave that is Simply The Best Fair Trade Gift & Toy Shop and its sister shop Outside the Box.

Mitchells Chemist  also stocks an extensive range of gifts including candles, makeup, scarves and designer handbags and purses including Kipling, Brakeburn and Oilily.

Dornoch Garden Centre is an ideal place to shop for the gardening enthusiast there is a great range of outdoor clothing and fishing tackle, DIY tools, plants, seeds, bird feeders and gardening equipment and don't forget to head down for your REAL christmas tree!

If you a buying for a golf fan then what better gift for a golfer than Royal Dornoch branded goods in the Royal Dornoch Pro Shop! The range includes golf balls, tees, hats, jumpers and tee shirts.

Treat yourself to a hair or nail treatment at Hair & Beauty in Dornoch or the luxury of a relaxing massage at Aspen Spa in the Carnegie Courthouse or alternatively purchase a voucher for a loved one? You can also get vouchers from Ultimuttly Groomed  and Go Wild Highlands.

These are just a few of the wonderful shops we have in Dornoch, take a look at the shopping section of our website for a full list of all our wonderful shops!

 

Originally Published Here: Enjoy a Shopcation in Dornoch this Christmas

Dine out alfresco style in Dornoch!!

#dineindornoch

The newest Covid restrictions from the Scottish Government mean that our restaurants and hotels are unable to serve food and drink to non- residents inside after 6pm. This has forced our businesses to get inventive! The takeaway menus are back along with some coorie alfresco dining experiences. Grab a blanket and a cosy sweater and head down for a bite to eat in Dornoch!

During the next fortnight the business community has come together to share resources and enable you to Dine in Dornoch 'al fresco' at the Dornoch Castle Hotel and The Eagle. Other eateries have changed their offering to make the most of the restrictions including the Courtroom focussing on daily brunch and a brand new takeaway menu from The Coach House.

Takeaway

If alfresco dining isn't your thing, why not order a take away to enjoy in your accommodation? there are takeaway services available from Highland Spice, Dornoch Castle, the Eagle, Milk & Honey and The Coach House.

Coach House
They are still be open during the day for food and non-alcoholic drinks with last orders for food at 4:30pm with takeaways available until 9pm.

The Eagle
Meals being served inside from 12pm-6pm (last table 5pm). If you are wanting an evening out, get wrapped up warm and enjoy a meal, hot drink or home baking in the beer garden. They are even serving beer and cocktails to takeaway!

The Dornoch Castle
The Beer Garden will be open 12-7.30 serving food and drink throughout the day. The restaurant will be open as normal for non residents between 12-6 with the last seating time at 5pm. Enjoy a delicious Castle meal from the comfort of your own home! Takeaway is available every evening from 4pm-7.30pm, phone before 4pm to order, pay and book collection time. Call 01862 810216 to order or book a table.

The Courtroom
The Courtroom are bringing back BRUNCH! They are open from 10 - 4pm Wednesday to Saturday (Brunch & Cakes 10:00 - 12:00) and Sunday (Brunch & Sunday Roast All Day!!)

Milk & Honey

Breakfast, Lunch, coffee & cake or takeaway, Milk & Honey have got you covered. They are open 9-4 Monday to Saturday and there is no need to book a table, just turn up and enjoy!

The Bookshop Coffee Wagon

For something abit different, why not pop to the new The Bookshop Coffee Wagon and enjoy your coffee on the go whilst you soak up beautiful Dornoch.

So please come and dine in Dornoch - we are ready to welcome you!

For More Information Go Here: Dine out alfresco style in Dornoch!!

Ten things to DO in Dornoch: Dogs

1) Ultimuttly Groomed.

Ultimuttly Groomed is a pamper parlor for your best friend, a professional dog grooming salon and spa in Dornoch. Amongst all the other services listed below, Ultimuttly Groomed now offer a great service to holiday makers; bring your dog along at the end of your stay for a bath to get the sand and dirt of before heading home. You can also pop along if your dog needs a freshen up during your stay.

Viki has been fully trained in all aspects of dog grooming including hand stripping, bath & brush, full grooms, puppy grooms, nail trimming, de-shedding and clipping. With only one dog being groomed at a time, Ultimuttly Groomed provides a luxury and calming experience for your VIP pooch. The salon is based in at 9 Brannen Terrace, IV25 3LQ

1) Dornoch and Embo Beaches

Dogs love our beaches! Miles and miles of golden sand to run on and gentle shallow water for a good swim! Both beaches are popular throughout the year. Walk up to the Dornoch point for views towards the Kyle of Sutherland or carry on north to Embo.

2) Camore and Skelbo Woods, Dornoch.

Skelbo woods have a fantastic circular route which takes you through pine woods and native deciduous woodland, over streams and past ancient ruins. It takes about an hour and is a perfect place for your dogs to have a good run!

Camore Woods has miles of well-maintained forestry paths for you and your canine friend to explore. Stroll though the native pinewoods and enjoy glimpses of the surrounding countryside and coastline.  You can walk to the woods from the centre of Dornoch for a five mile loop.

3) The Coach House Bar & Restaurant

The Coach House Bar & Restaurant overlooks the centre of Dornoch: the Cathedral, Castle and Jail. The bar menu includes their own Dornoch Farm Butcher burgers, Bannerman's of Tain scampi and all day breakfast. A three-course menu is available in the upstairs restaurant. The Sunday carvery is very popular and great value with 2 courses for £12.95. Dogs are welcome in the bar area, so why not pop into one of their regular live music nights and have a dance with your pooch!

4) Simply the Best Fair trade shop, Dornoch.

Simply the best sells a wonderful range of fairly traded, organic, ethically sourced and eco friendly gifts, clothes, jewellery and toys. Dogs are welcome to come and browse with you, and they even provide a water bowl and dog treats!

5) Mitchells Chemist, Dornoch.

Take your dog shopping in the chemist! Mitchell’s sell much more than you would expect a chemist to stock and are also home to the Post Office. There is a photo printing facility and they stock all beach essentials- suncream, hats and flip flops! Dogs are allowed in and there are also two dog loops outside if you would prefer to leave your dog to watch the world go by whilst you browse. Water bowl also provided.

7) Eagle Hotel, Dornoch

The Eagle is a friendly hotel in the centre of Dornoch. It welcomes non-residents to eat in its cosy restaurant area.

The Eagle’s menu includes authentic home cooked food and award-winning real ales. There is a lovely beer garden as well as tables outside on Castle Street. Dogs are welcome to join you outside, whilst you have a meal or a drink in the sun. Dog water bowl provided. (Due to staff with dog allergies, dogs are not allowed inside).

8) Historylinks Museum

Enjoy Dornoch's very own 5* museum and leave your dog safely secured outside. Water bowls are provided.

9) Dornoch Castle Hotel

The Dornoch Castle hotel is famed for its Whisky bar and fantastic locally sourced menu. Whether you want that special candle-lit dinner in the Garden Restaurant which overlooks the formal walled gardens, or a more informal meal in comfortable surroundings in front of the roaring log fire in the 11ft fireplace, which was formerly the Bishop’s kitchen in the 1500s, there is an excellent choice of dishes. If you want to bring your dog with you to experience the ambiance of the historic Castle Hotel, visit on a sunny day and enjoy your food in the wonderful walled garden where dogs are more than welcome to join you whilst you eat.

10) Royal Golf Hotel

Dogs are allowed to join their owners inside, if the bar is not too busy, please check on arrival.

Susanne Arbuckle from Adventures around Scotland visited Dornoch to test out how dog friendly it is. Here is her report to add to our top ten suggestions below.

Discover all of our dog-friendly accommodation on our website.

Read More Here: Ten things to DO in Dornoch: Dogs

Visiting Dornoch during Covid-19

Is it safe to go to Dornoch?  Is Dornoch open for business?  These are some of the many questions we have been asked through our Visit Dornoch Facebook Page and the answer is a big YES.  Dornoch is open for business and you can Dine, Dream and Discover safely in Dornoch, so why not visit us this winter?

As a small town in the Highlands of Scotland where tourism is our main business, we take our responsibility very seriously to keep our visitors, our community and our staff safe.  We spent a lot of time in lockdown learning about the cleaning protocols and carrying out risk assessments to make sure we were ready to welcome self-catering visitors on 3^rd July and then to open all hospitality as regulations allowed.

We worked with our community to understand their concerns and developed the Dornoch Visitor Charter 2020 and businesses signed up for the ‘We’re Good to Go’ quality assurance scheme launched in June  – look out for the sign

We support the Scottish Government’s FACTS

Face covering must be worn in shops, and when moving around in cafes and restaurants

Avoid crowded places – come back later when there is no queue – book a table ahead of your visit!

Clean hands and surfaces regularly – use the hand sanitiser provided by all businesses

Two metres is the social distancing rule

Self-isolate and book a test if you have COVID 19 symptoms

When visiting Dornoch you may find some shops have a limit to how many can enter at one time, others may have markers on the floor to help show you how much distance to keep.  It is the little things that go a long way, and this is something that all of our businesses have got behind to ensure visitors, staff and locals feel safe at all times. You are always assured of a warm (but socially distanced) welcome!

 

Protect Scotland

Visit Dornoch are proud ambassadors for the new test and protect app from the Scottish Government. We are encouraging everyone to simply download the Protect Scotland app and join us as we try to keep everyone safe on their staycation.  It takes two minutes and all you have to do is have the app on your phone, the Bluetooth does the rest for you and you will be notified if you have come in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 within the last 14 days.

Visit Dornoch are taking all steps to ensure everyone is as safe as possible.  We are open for business and visitors are very welcome.   We understand it is a little different, but we are confident you will have the best time when discovering Dornoch – we look forward to sharing our wide open spaces and historic Highland town with you – so start planning your trip today!

 

Email info@VisitDornoch.com  or message us on Facebook if you have any questions.

 

#InItTogether

#discoverDornoch

 

Learn More Here: Visiting Dornoch during Covid-19

The year of staycations and remote working

Nearly half of the United Kingdom's 30 million employees have worked from home during the pandemic according to the country's statistics body, but has the novelty worn off? Most of us quite enjoyed being able to work from the safety and comfort of our own homes, but as we have been doing it for quite a while over the past months, it no longer gives you that warm cosy feeling of working in your slippers.

As 2020 has turned into the year of the Staycation, Dornoch has absolutely loved welcoming visitors from all over the UK.   It has continued to deliver its famous Highland hospitality while respecting social distancing.  The businesses have signed up to the ‘Good to Go’ quality assurance scheme so you can be sure that safety protocols are being followed to ensure your safety. If you are feeling a little low about the thought of working remotely or are perhaps planning your next Staycation, why not plan your next trip around where the Wi-Fi is!

By embracing the staycation trend and adhering to government guidelines you can still enjoy remote working while embracing the very best the Scottish Highlands has to offer in Dornoch!  As long as there is Wi-Fi you can have peace of mind that you can jump on that Zoom meeting or have the teams calls daily…just with a better view.

We are all adapting to the new normal but working from home might not be as exciting as it once was, especially with the winter months looming.  But imagine starting your day by looking over majestic landscapes and walking along the miles of unspoilt beach.  Clear your mind and lungs and get ready to enjoy working from your Highland home!  Dornoch is open, the season has extended, and this special Highland town is ready to provide that warm (socially distanced) welcome.  Dornoch has a historic town centre with cathedral, castle, jail & courthouse nestling round the green and a range of local cafes, restaurants and shops, so is the perfect base for you to explore when the work is done for the day.

A staycation in Dornoch will recharge your batteries and set you up for the winter, so check out the great range of wonderful holiday cottages and Scottish holiday lodges at VisitDornoch.com. It is important when booking your Staycation that you adhere to government guidelines and are aware of the latest information from the Scottish Government.

If you are ready to plan your next break in the Scottish Highlands, it’s time to Discover Dornoch!

Self-catering Scottish breaks

Bed and Breakfast Scotland

Highland Hotel Breaks

 

 

Read More Here: The year of staycations and remote working

Ten things to DO in Dornoch: Winter

Shop
Dornoch boasts over 20 independent shops! Why not do your Christmas shopping in a relaxed atmosphere without the crowds and the rush this year? Shop in Dornoch this festive season.

Walk
Walk the deserted beaches of Sutherland and soak up the peace and tranquility that our beautiful coastline has to offer.

Discover willdlife
Discover the vast array of winter Highland wildlife. Spot seals and dolphins, flocks of geese and listen out for stags roaring!

Visit Loch Fleet
Loch Fleet is a must see at all times of year. This tidal sea loch just up the coast from Embo is home to hundreds of seals and many breeds of sea bird as well as many other forms of sealife along it's shores. Catch it at low tide and watch the seals lazing on the sand banks before slipping off back into the water. Don't forget your binoculars!

Northern Lights
Will you be lucky this year and spot the incredible Northern lights during your Highland stay? There are many opportunities to spy the 'Merrie Dancers' during the winter months in the far north.

Winter Golf
Winter is the perfect time to come for a golfing break in Scotland! Visit us in Dornoch and enjoy the crisp sunny days on our work renowned golf course!

Wild Swim
It may seem like an odd time of year for a dip in the sea but there is a great tradition in Scotland called the Loony Dook where folk take a cold dip on New Year's day! Make sure you take your own refreshing Highland swim during your Highland winter break (and bring a wetsuit!!)

Explore by bike
There are many places locally which can be explored by bike. From woods to quite country roads and more formal mountain bike trails. Why not hire a bike whilst you are here from Dornoch Bike Hire?

Whisky Tasting
Although most more traditional Whisky tastings are on hold this year, you can still visit our very own world famous Dornoch Castle Whisky bar. You can enjoy a meal in their newly refurbished restaurant whilst sipping some very rare and special drams! Pop next door to the Carnegie Whisky Cellars and buy your very own bottle to take home.

Discover Sutherland's beaches
The Northern Highlands has a huge array of beaches waiting to be explored: from the craggy and stony to miles of golden sands or small coves with white sand and turquoise seas- there are so many to choose from and they are all equally special in their own way. Of course our favourite beach is our very own award winning Dornoch beach with a very close second place being our neighbour Embo...... but as there are so many other glorious beaches to visit whilst you are visiting Dornoch!

 

 

 

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