Carbisdale Castle - Local Information

Information

Local Attractions

The Falls of Shin

Dramatic waterfalls and the famous, natural Atlantic Salmon Leap can take your breath away.
Achany Glen, Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland, IV27 4EE,
Tel: 01549 402231
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Lairg archaeological trail

Cairns or stone burial tombs built by New Stone Age provide the earliest evidence of habitation in Lairg.
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Dunrobin Castle

The most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands. Dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland.
Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6SF
Tel: 01408 633177
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Dornoch Cathedral

The Cathedral is a 13th Century Parish Church set in the heart of the royal burgh of Dornoch. The setting for the wedding of Madonna and Guy Ritchie!
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Skibo Castle

Glorious Highland castle and estate.
Dornoch, Sutherland
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Tain Museum

Home to an extensive and varied collection of objects, photographs and archives of local, regional and national significance.
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Ferrycroft Countryside Visitor Centre

This purpose-built centre guides the visitor through the changes in land use in the area from the ice age to the present day.
Tel: 01549 402160

Eating and drinking

Carbisdale Castle Restaurant and Coffee Shop

Invershin Pub

The Takeaway

Home of the award winning Caledonian Curry Company!Fish & Chips, freshly baked pizza, curries to take away.
Open Tues – Sat, 5pm – 8pm
South Bonar Estate, Bonar Bridge, IV24 3AQ
Tel:01863 766766

The Crannag Bistro

Fully licensed restaurant serving delicious local seafood and steaks.Booking advisable.Open Tues – Sat from 6pm last orders 9pm.
Dornoch Road, Bonar Bridge, IV24 3EB
Tel:01863 766111

Families

• Excellent self-catering facilities
• Restaurant and coffee shop
• Family and private rooms
• Table tennis available
• Games room
• TV lounge
• Mountain Biking
• Walking

We understand better than anyone the implications of travelling with young children. That is why we are doing all we can to make your hostelling experience memorable for all the right reasons.

Children and families are welcome at all our hostels, although we have highlighted a number of hostels within our network as being “Family Hostels” as they are particularly well-suited to travelling with and entertaining younger children.

Family hostels not only have private rooms available, many with en-suite facilities, they also carry practical items such as travel cots, high chairs, microwaves and toys. In addition there is normally a TV and games room as well as extensive private gardens on site where the kids can let off some steam. Close to great attractions and activities, these family hostels offer a great base from which to explore the area. Our helpful staff are a great source of knowledge on places to visit and things to see and do.

Hostelling is a very friendly and relaxed way to travel and our ethos actively involves children.

Groups

Dunrobin Castle

The most northerly of Scotland's great houses, dating back to the early 1300s, and home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland.
Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6SF

Tel: 01408 633 177

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Timespan Heritage Centre

A vibrant meeting place between past and our future linking culture, heritage, the arts, people and their ideas.

Dunrobin Street, Helmsdale, Sutherland, KW8 6JX

Tel: 01431 821 327

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Boots n Paddles

Activities on offer include open canoeing, archery, climbing, abseiling, hill walking, orienteering, winter mountaineering, winter skills, mountain biking, gorge walking, canyoning and weaseling!

14 Cabrich, Kirkhill, by Inverness, IV5 7PH

Tel: 0845 612 5567

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Falls of Shin Visitor Centre

Watch in amazement as the Atlantic salmon battle their way upstream to return to their birth place. The centre also boasts a children’s adventure playground, mini golf, restaurant, gift shops and picturesque forest walks.

Achany Glen, Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland, IV27 4EE

Tel: 01549 402231

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Assynt Visitor Centre

Displays about the wildlife, history, geology and cultural heritage of Assynt as well as information about the North West highlands Geopark.

Main St, Lochinver, Sutherland, IV27 4LX

Tel: 01571 844 654

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Mountain Biking

We have excellent mountain biking trails (10.5 mls) at Balblair and Carbisdale Woods

Giant Terrago Mountain Bikes for hire at the Hostel

£12 for a full day
£8 for half a day
Special rates for family and multi day hire

Carbisdale & Balblair Trails

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The Far North West - Kyle of Sutherland

An easy start in wooded country - no difficult hills.
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Kyle of Sutherland

Quiet river valleys with natural woodland
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The Far North West

Mostly a gentle climb into wonderful scenery
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The Far North West

This final section takes in part of the National Cycle Network, Route 1.
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Difficult

The Far North West

190 miles in the wildest and most rugged scenery in Scotland. If you like hills to get your teeth into, this is for you!

Walkers

Moderate

Carbisdale Castle Walk

A pleasant walk in Sutherlandshire, overlooking the Kyle of Sutherland.
Distance: 4.43km/2.8miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 130 metres/429 feet
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Ferry Wood, Lairg

Two routes, including an all abilities trail through a forest on the shores of Loch Shin.
Distance: 2km/1.25miles Duration: 1 hour Height Gain: 20 metres/66 feet
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Shin Falls Forest Walk

Short and fun forest walk for all the family.
Distance: 2km/1.25miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet
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Achany Glen, Lairg

Two short forest trails near to the Falls of Shin - a famous salmon leap.
Distance: 1.5km/0.9miles Duration: 1/2 hour Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet
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Longer walks

Golspie's 'Wee Mannie' & 'Big Burn'

This walk rewards you with views along the Sutherland coast and across the Moray Firth.
Distance: 9.18km/5.74miles Duration: 2 1/2 hours Height Gain: 415 metres/1369.5 feet
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Disclaimer: All walking routes are hosted on external sites, therefore SYHA can hold no responsibility towards their accuracy. SYHA would also like to acknowledge the British Mountaineering Council Participation Statement: "The BMC recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions".

Wildlife

Osprey, Otters, Pine Marten, common seal, oystercatcher, wigeon, shelduck, single flowered wintergreen, twinflower, ptarmigan, raven, red deer, heather, knot, lapwing, redshank, bar-tailed godwit.

Loch Fleet

In summer rare and attractive flower species can be seen from scenic coastal walks through dune grassland and mature pine woods.
3 miles north or Dornoch and 2 miles south of Golspie, off A9
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Ben Wyvis

Panoramic views of the northern Highlands await visitors to this mountainous reserve.
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Fishing

Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association

River Fishing for Salmon, Sea-trout and Brown Trout and Loch fishing for Brown Trout. Permits available from the post office in Bonar Bridge
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Lairg Angling Club

Loch Shin open fro Sunday fishing
Season May to September
Tel: 01549 402309