Fringed by towering cliffs, etched with white-sand beaches and overlooked by rugged, footprintless mountains, it’s the natural beauty that is the real draw of Durness. Remote and sparsely populated, you can often enjoy landscapes all to yourself, walking along empty beaches of world-class beauty with your dog and following little-trod paths over hummocky hills. A real must-see, Smoo Cave is a gaping sea cave set into limestone cliffs around a mile from Durness. Revealing one of the largest entrances to any sea cave in Britain, the chamber-like interiors can be explored on foot or boat.
Pay homage to the legend that is John Lennon with a visit to his memorial garden in the town, or trace sandy footprints along the area’s many beaches, including Balnakeil Beach, Ceannabeinne Beach, Durness Beach and Rispond Beach. At Cape Wrath incredible views await, while at Sango Bay afternoons are best spent sheltered by the dunes, reading books, playing games and gazing at the horizon. If you are into surfing, you can catch good waves here on the right day, or if golf’s your thing then you’d be hard pushed to find a more stunning location than Durness Golf Course.