Dornoch is one of the first stops you will come across on the NC500 road trip. There are many things to do around Dornoch from beautiful beaches to historical sights and outdoor activities.
In this post we share our favourites as well as recommending some great places to stay in Dornoch if you decide to spend the night here.
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Things to do in Dornoch
East Coast stop on NC500 road trip
You won’t regret making Dornoch a stop on your NC500 itinerary. The quaint town offers lovely places to stay and eat and drink and as a bonus, it is only a 10 minute walk from the beach!
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Where to Stay in Dornoch
Luxury – Links House at Royal Dornoch is a great place to stay in the centre of Dornoch. There is a restaurant and bar on site as well as free wifi. Private parking is also available. Included in your stay is a full English breakfast in the morning.
Book your stay at Links House at Royal Dornoch here.
Mid-range – Imagine staying at a 500-year-old converted Scottish castle on your NC500 adventure? Hotel goals right?! Dornoch Castle Hotel is set in the heart of Dornoch, across from a 13th-century cathedral. Many of the rooms have excellent views over the Dornoch Firth, Dornoch Cathedral and the hotel’s walled garden.
Book your stay at Dornoch Castle Hotel here.
Budget – Heartseed House Bed and Breakfast offers a continental or Full English/Irish breakfast with an overnight stay. In each room there is a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. There are also free toiletries.
Book your stay at Heartseed House Bed and Breakfast here.
If you are planning to camp around the Dornoch area, check out our suggestions for the best wild camping spots in Dornoch as well as the best campsite in Dornoch.
NC500 Motorhome and Campervan Scheme
The NC500 Motorhome Scheme, officially known as the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme, was launched by the Highland Council on July 1, 2024. This innovative initiative is designed to address the growing number of motorhomes and campervans traveling along the popular North Coast 500 (NC500) route, ensuring that their impact on the local environment and communities is managed sustainably.
The scheme offers a voluntary seven-day pass costing £40, inclusive of VAT. This pass grants motorhome and campervan users access to 12 designated overnight parking locations along the NC500 route, including scenic spots like Torvean Car Park in Inverness, Nairn Harbour, Dunnet Head Car Park, and Ullapool Latheron Car Park.
These parking spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 PM to 8 AM, with a 72-hour no-return policy at each location. This ensures that the facilities are used responsibly and that a larger number of travellers can benefit from them.
Overall, the NC500 Motorhome Scheme provides a structured and sustainable approach to motorhome travel in one of Scotland’s most scenic and popular areas. We think this is a great idea and encourage everyone to take advantage of it if you are looking to explore this road trip soon.
Read all about this new scheme in our complete guide to the NC500 Motorhome Scheme here.
For more information or to purchase a membership, travellers can visit the Highland Council’s official website.
Watch the Salmon Leaping at the Falls of Shin
Hidden just off the main route of the NC500, the peaceful Falls of Shin is a must-visit attraction on Scotland’s Route 500. This small collection of waterfalls has an easily accessible viewing platform, toilets, a visitor centre and cafe, and is also the perfect place to watch the annual migration of leaping salmon.
Linking Loch Shin and the Kyle of Sutherland, River Shin is a common commute for the Atlantic salmon as they make their annual migration to breed.
If you are wanting to stay at the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre for longer, there is a huge choice of nature walks to enjoy or you can simply relax with a coffee while the kids enjoy the outdoor adventure area.
Visit the best chocolate cafe – Cacao Mountain Cafe
There are two of these amazing cafes on the NC500 route, one in Dornoch and one in Durness. They serve delicious hot chocolate, cakes and homemade chocolate bars. It will most likely be one of the more expensive places you will visit at £4.70 for a hot chocolate, but when it is pure melted chocolate it is well worth it!
Play Golf at Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Golf is a popular activity in Dornoch and with views over the Dornoch Firth, there is no better place for an 18 hole golf course in the area than Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
There is also a driving range and from here there is a great view of the Dornoch Castle Hotel sitting over the town.
Destination North Coast Map
If you are planning an adventure to the North Coast of Scotland, make sure you have all the resources you need to make the most of your trip. Our Destination North Coast Map is the perfect addition to any traveller’s toolkit. With detailed information on all the best spots, along the NC500, this map is your ultimate guide to exploring the rugged beauty of Scotland’s north coast.
Go for a Paddle at Dornoch Beach
By following the road back towards the sea before continuing north, you will eventually reach Dornoch. We decided to pull in here and explore the beach to decide where we would stay for the night. The beach itself stretches for miles along the coast, with the softest sand I have felt in a long time! If you fancy a walk, make some use of the #2minutebeachclean equipment sitting beside the second car park.
If you are wanting a bite to eat, head back into town and take a walk along to the Eagle Hotel. With free wifi and top-notch hot chocolates, it’s highly recommended! PLUS it makes use of paper straws, so you can have a guilt-free cocktail if you fancy.
If you are looking for a good bag for your time exploring Dornoch, we can highly recommend the Wandrd Bag PRVKE 41L if you are carrying camera equipment around. If you are looking for a smaller backpack, The Nest by Tropicfeel is one of the most comfortable bags I have ever owned and perfect for exploring.
Snap some photos of the beautiful Dornoch Cathedral
Dornoch Cathedral sits proudly in the heart of the Royal Burgh of Dornoch. Built in the 13th century, this former cathedral is now a Church of Scotland Parish Church. It is a beautiful building to photograph, make sure you look out for the gargoyles on the front!
Marvel at the beauty of Dunrobin Castle
The beautiful Dunrobin Castle sits about 20 minutes north of Dornoch and will cost you £14 to go inside the castle to have a look around. Dunrobin Castle is known as one of Scotland’s great northerly castles, dating all the back to the 13th century.
Resembling a beautiful French Chateau, with is conical spires and quaint architectural details, this castle has been kept in pristine condition throughout the years. It is one of Britains oldest continually inhabited houses and has been host to a wide range of roles over the years, from a First World War Naval Hospital to a boarding school for boys.
The castle is open for tours between 1st April and 31st October annually.
Read more about the castles of the North Coast 500 in our full guide.
DON’T FORGET
Your trip to Scotland will be a lot more comfortable with a midge net and midge spray. These little biting bugs can be enough to ruin a trip if you don’t have the equipment to protect yourself from them. A repelling candle can also be helpful if you are sitting oustide.
Pay a visit to Dornoch Jail
The county of Sutherland’s 19th century jail was transformed in 2000 into a shop selling gifts, clothings and accessories. The historical structure of the building combined with the new design is a pleasurable sight to experience. A lovely place to visit for some take home gifts of your trip to Dornoch.
Struggling to plan your North Coast 500 road trip?!
Learn about the History at Dornoch Museum
The Dornoch Historylinks Museum shares the history of the town of Dornoch displaying information about the burning of Scotland’s last condemned witch, the impact of the Picts and the Vikings as well as a golf professionals workshop. As well as reading about the history, there are also quizzes, puzzles and the option to dress up. In addition there are translations in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Swedish.
This is one of Scotland’s few 5* star museums so it is worth a visit when you visit Dornoch.
Before You Leave on the North Coast 500
Before you head off on your trip around the NC500, there are certain things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth trip. These include how to get around the route, including being aware of single track roads, etc., what to pack for Scotland, where to stay along the route and what travel insurance to book.
Read more planning tips for the North Coast 500 in our full guide.
How Do I Get Around the NC500?
Given the remote location of the NC500 and the majority of the sights along the route, the best way to get around this road trip is by driving. There are of course other methods that are still popular, such as cycling and hiking, however, if you have a short amount of time on the route, neither of these are very suitable.
As for public transport, the use around the NC500 is understandably difficult due to how remote each location is, however, with the increasing problem of congestion along the route, this is a good option to research if you have time. If it is something that interests you, you can read a public formed itinerary of how to get around the NC500 by public transport over here.
If you are looking to rent a cosy, reliable and luxurious campervan for your trip along the NC500, we recommend hiring through Spaceships Rentals.
Browse the full range of vehicles on offer at Spaceships over here.
What Should I Pack for the NC500?
When it comes to packing for a trip along the NC500 there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your 7-day NC500 road trip you will probably experience at least a drizzle of rain. Due to this, the number one item on any Scotland packing list is a good waterproof jacket.
As for the rest of the year, the temperature in Scotland and the central heartlands is reasonably mild for most of the year. During the winter months, you will most likely experience snow, however, temperatures usually sit around freezing, so it is not too cold. For your reference, the average temperatures in Scotland are listed below during each season.
Spring (March, April, May) – 5-10 degrees C
Summer (June, July, August) – 15 degrees C
Autumn (September, October, November) – 5-10 degrees C
Winter (December, January, February) – 0-5 degrees C
As you can see, the weather never really gets above the teens, with anything over 25 degrees C considered a heatwave. The best way to pack for your trip to the highlands is with layers that can be added and removed as you need them. You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the colder months and will most likely need sunscreen to protect you on the long days in the open.
It is also important to stay hydrated, especially if you are out exploring in the marvellous landscape of Scotland. We use Water to Go water bottles to fill up with water from running streams when we are hiking.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around Scotland, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance?
We know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, all of the best things to do in Dornoch. If you have visited the NC500 recently, let us know what you thought of the sights listed above, or if you have any suggestions let us know in the comments below.
As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this photo guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own North Coast 500 adventure. If you are planning the trip for yourself, make sure you have a look at the rest of our Scotland content for more inspiration to our beautiful home country.
When you set off on your own adventure, be sure to tag us in your photos on Instagram and we will share them with the rest of our community. In the meantime, why not follow us over there to see what we are currently up to and keep up with us on our Instagram Stories.
Now Read:
- Unmissable Things to do on the NC500 Route
- North Coast 500 Packing Guide – What You Will Need for the NC500
- 7-day North Coast 500 Itinerary – FREE, Detailed and Unforgettable!
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