Dunnet Forest lies to the south of the village of Dunnet adjacent to the A836 Thurso to John O'Groats road, just inland from the beautiful sands of Dunnet Bay. The land was purchased in 1954 by the Forestry Commission, and planting began as an experiment into silviculture on poor soils - the initial intention was to create a much larger forest. The forest is part of the Dunnet Links SSSI; the owners, Scottish Natural Heritage, acquired the land from the Forestry Commission in 1984. The forest covers 104 hectares, around half of which has developed into mature forest, the remainder being a mosaic of open space, scattered trees and scrub woodland. A range of tree species were planted, but the forest is now dominated by Sitka spruce and Lodgepole, Corsican and Mountain pine, with a few broadleaf species, such as Sycamore.

Extensive, publicly accessible woodland is rare in this part of the world, and the physical development of the forest has been matched by its growth in importance as a recreational facility for locals and tourists, and as an educational resource for schools and the Highland Council Ranger Service. An EU-funded project in the late 1990s upgraded much of the evolving path network, and created an all-abilities trail.


However, the long-term future of the forest was threatened: where initial plantings have been most successful, the trees are reaching maturity and suffering from windthrow. Dunnet Forestry Trust has begun the process of "restructuring" the forest - clearing windblown areas, felling "at risk" stands, and restocking these and other areas with a mix of conifers and broadleaves.

Dunnet Forest Walk

Dunnet Forest is an area of mature coniferous forest containing a variety of pine and spruce species with some broadleaved trees such as sycamore and birch. Dunnet Forest lies to the south of the village of Dunnet adjacent to the A836 Thurso to John O'Groats road, just inland from the beautiful sands of Dunnet Bay. The area was planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1950s as an experiment in planting on poor soils, but is now managed by the local community for recreation and biodiversity.

Near the Dunnet end of Dunnet Links you will find the Dunnet Links National Nature Reserve. This includes a large wooded area complete with bridges and walkways, a good place for children and even toddlers should manage to toddle it! Dunnet Links is one of the largest sand-dune areas in the North of Scotland and the reserve hosts at least 230 different plant species, one of which is the Scottish Primrose which is only found on the North coast of Scotland and in the Orkney Isles.

Dunnet forest is the most commented upon area by the public in Caithness. This is an indication of the quality of the recreational access resource provided by the Dunnet Forestry Trust, with all-ability, horse riding, walking and mountain bike users all being catered for with paths and trails in the forest. The roadside footway linking the forest to the caravan site and beach access point together with Dunnet village creates a well integrated access resource for locals and visitors alike.

Name: Dunnet Forest


Habitat type: Woodland


What can I see there?


Dunnet Forest is an area of mature coniferous forest containing a variety of pine and spruce species with some broadleaved trees such as sycamore and birch. The area was planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1950s as an experiment in planting on poor soils, but is now managed by the local community for recreation and biodiversity.

Whaligoe Steps.

It used to have a step for each day of the year, but thanks to vandals, the steps are now about 30 steps short of that.

Whaligoe is not for the faint hearted, but if you're willing and able to visit this secluded and spectacular spot, you'll be following in the footsteps of a unique community of fisherfolk. 

Some 365 stone steps lead down a precipitous grassy cliff to a sheltered inlet at the foot of towering 250ft cliffs. These days you're likely to hav only the seabirds for company as they swoop and dive high above and through the narrow channel.

In it's heyday, in the middle of the 19th century, over 20 fishing boats used the the landing known as the Haven and the occasional schooner would call by to pick up cargo.

Whaligoe (the name means inlet of the whale) was mentioned as a fishing port as long ago as 1640, but it wasn't until 1792 that construction of the steps began on the orders of the then estate owner David Brodie.

Beside the Haven a flat area called the Bink was created for landing and curing the catches of Cod, Haddock or Ling and boats were also secured there for repairs or re-tarring etc.

The fish would be gutted by crews of women and carried up the steps in baskets to be taken to be sold in Wick. Barrels were made in the coooperage at the top of the cliffs and taken down for salt Herring to be stored in and taken away by schooner.

Iain Sutherlands booklet 'Whaligoe and it's steps' describes the history of the Whaligoe fishing fraternity and explains the techniques they used.

Describing the site as 'quite unique in Scottish industrial heritage' Mr Sutherland points out that no other fishing station in Scotland was built in such an apparently inaccessible place.

Near the top of the steps there is a stone plaque commemorating local woman Etta Juhle who looked after the steps for many years.

In recent times maintenance and repair work on the steps is done by Mr Sutherland himself and Davie Nicolson. Mr Nicolson lives locally and is a great person to talk to about the steps, he is absolutely crammed with information and is happy to talk to interested visitors.

Mr Sutherland and his team have twice been major prize winners in the 'Shell Better Britain Campaign' in 1992 and 2001 in recognition of their conservation work on the steps.

Whaligoe is not signposted but it's not hard to find - It's is 7 miles south of Wick on the A99, it is the turning directly opposite the turning signposted to the Cairn of Get.

There is a small carparking area near the path that leads to the steps. Whaligoe is NOT suitable for the very young or anyone not steady on their feet. It is also NOT ADVISABLE to take pets with you.

Great care is needed to negotiate the downward journey and even those regarding themselves as quite fit can feel the exhaustion creeping in on the way back up!

DO NOT be tempted to stray away from the steps themselves, the cliff tops can very very unstable and extremely dangerous.

As you stop and get your breath back at the top of these wondrous steps, spare a thought for the hardy breed of women for whom carrying baskets of fish up these steps was just one of their daily tasks!

Text taken from Caithness Explorer by kind permission of North of Scotland Newspapers.