| In
this stressful world, we all need to rest, relax and recharge our
batteries from time to time. Durness is a "timeless"
place and has so much to offer visitors. 100
miles west of John o Groats on the north coast is Durness the most
northwesterly inhabited locality on mainland Britain. The corner of the
Scottish Highlands and is accessible by single tract
road
. The
A838 winds its way around this part. Keoldale is two miles south from the village of Durness.
Durness village
provides 2 grocery shops a filling station and post office. There
are 2 hotels a restaurant and a pub. Durness is a
remote and scattered crofting township in northwest Sutherland
that lies to the northwest of Loch Eriboll and 13 miles (21 km)
northeast of
Laxford
Bridge. A crofting village
spread out along the coast, Durness
is basically a string of hamlets. One of the
highlights of the year is the Durness Highland Gathering, which
takes place at the end of July.
Durness'
Tourist Information and Visitor Centre is open April-October. The
Durness
Visitors
Centre is set overlooking Sango
Bay
practically in the centre of the village
and
about 3oo metres from the village square. The building houses the
local service
point
for the Highland Council, tourist Information and Countryside
Ranger. Information
about the Durness local walking network can be obtained at the
office.
There area
has sandy beaches at Balnakeil, Sango, Sangobeg and
Ceannabeinne.
Balnakeil
Bay
is
glorious
and forms an inlet between
Cape Wrath
and Loch Eriboll. The
area offers unparallel sunsets. The
western side is a sandy beach, the dunes here are extensive, but
on the other side the land rises to modest cliffs with established
puffin colonies.
A
unique craft village, established over thirty years ago
is the Balnakeil Craft village, a post World War II military encampment that has
been converted into a
Craft
Village. These former military buildings have been taken over by a loose
collective of artists and crafts people. The Balnakeil Craft
village which was established in 1964 provides an outlet for the
sale of local arts and crafts.
Cape
Wrath lighthouse and the spectacular
Smoo
Cave
are well worth a visit.
For
further and detailed information about the area follow the Links
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