Making it up as you go along is often part of the adventure! Here are a couple of places that don’t need to be booked ahead.
A petting farm with a great wee shop. Puffin Croft is a perfect stop-off for smaller children at John o’Groats, on your way to the harbour. The farm has many rescue animals, including donkeys, miniature Shetland ponies, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens and ducks.
If Highland Cows are on your must-see list, then a visit here is a lovely way to spend a bit more time, seeing a wide range of animals and exploring the Burn of Geise, and the woodland walks.
Be sure you don’t miss out on some of Caithness’s most fun things to do. Book ahead to get a place.
There’s something very special about taking an Alpaca for a walk in the open Caithness countryside, while younger children can have a farm visit, meet the aplacas and feed the ducks.
A petting farm with animals ranging from tortoises to reindeer! Very diversity-friendly, with animal-assisted therapy private sessions available. There is also a bouncy castle, and a small toddlers’ ball pit. Truly something for everyone.
Make this lovely little animal centre part of a historic morning or afternoon out visiting the Castle of Mey. There is a visitor centre, shop and café at the Castle.
Having a knowledgeable guide changes a visit into an experience! Having someone to tell you the history, point out wildlife you missed, and answer questions means you get so much more out of your visit.
Meet the legendary reindeer, maybe use naturally shed reindeer fur to make some craft items, and enjoy seasonal treats with the UK’s most Northerly reindeer.
Tour this working farm in the beautiful, remote Flow Country, meeting sheep, cattle and two handsome Highland Cows. Find out more about Scottish farming in this amazing landscape.
Get a Viking’s view of the spectacular Caithness coast, in summer-season tours, with puffins and other seabirds, lighthouses and castles, or even a trip to the wind farm.
Walking tours introducing favourite puffins in the summer season, and finding out about Caithness’s unique landscape and heritage.
Look out for open days and seal releases by this northern treasure; they are not open to the public, instead they concentrate on rescuing, treating and releasing orphan seals from as far away as the Hebrides.
My name is Ben, and I welcome guests to The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage at Noss Head. I grew up surrounded by dogs, goats, chickens, rabbits and, for a brief while, peacocks too! These days, I content myself with Bella our dog, Tilly our cat, and three elderly tortoises. And of course, the lighthouse is surrounded by sea-birds, and we can sometimes see orca going past!
Being human matters, so this post was written by me, without using AI.
