Seaview is the red marker.
Noss Farm is the yellow circle
From Inverness, follow the A9/A99 to Wick. At the first roundabout (at the hospital) turn right, past Mackay’s Hotel on the right and keeping the river on your left. Follow the road alongside the river, passing the swimming pool on your right. At the next roundabout, turn left over the bridge. At the T-junction turn right, signposted Staxigoe and Papigoe. Follow the road up through Scalesburn to next T-junction and turn right. Signposted Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss. Continue along this road for approximately 1.5 miles to Staxigoe.
At the bend in Staxigoe heading to the harbour, turn sharp left onto the single track road, signposted Noss Head. Follow this single track road for approximately 2 miles, passing Noss Farm on the left and The Lodge on the right. Seaview is the cottage just after that, on the left hand side on the bend. There is parking in front of the cottage on the tarmac area.
For satnav users, the postcode of Seaview Cottage is KW1 4QT
It is not a case of where do we start, but where do we stop. This corner of North East Scotland is home to so much. Caithness Community website has general information about the area.
Noss Head peninsula is renowned for its attraction to migrant birds. May and September-October have falls of north European migrants in easterly winds. The cottage garden has attracted species such as Red Backed and Great Grey Shrikes, Yellow Browed and Pallas’ Warbler, Bluethroat, Scarlet Rosefinch, Subalpine Warbler and Little Bunting. There has even been a Common Crane walking about the garden field. The Flow Country is one of the largest single expanses of blanket bog in the world, and at the heart of it is the RSPB’s Forsinard nature reserve.
The cottage is a little island of willows surrounded by insect friendly organic farmland. The potential for unusual moths is significant but much underexplored. Moths of Caithness.
Noss Head clifftops, coastal heath and boulder beaches nurture interesting plants – Scottish Primrose, Frog Orchid, Oysterplant, to name some.
Orca, Minke, and Humpback whales can be seen. Watch from the shoreline, do some wild sea watching, or take an exciting trip out with Caithness Seacoast.
Sit outside and watch the stars, with a tot or two or a hot water bottle and some thermals! For an astronomical What's On see Caithness Astronomy Group or North Highlands Night Skies, while Wild North Skies shows Maciej Winiarczyk's stunning photographs and videos.
Three miles from Seaview Cottage, Wick rose to international prominence in the 19th century by becoming Europe’s largest herring port (and don’t forget Staxigoe and Whalligoe Steps). At its peak, well over 1,000 fishing boats would set sail during the summer months to net the “silver darlings”. The history of Wick can be seen at Wick Heritage Centre. While the harbour today does not see many “silver darlings” it is still home to local fishing boats and recreational boats. Ebenezer Place is recorded officially as the shortest street in the world and has a good bistro at No 1. The Caithness Business Index shows other places to eat.
For the more energetic we have walking, cycling, and surfing. The beaches at Keiss/Reiss, Dunnet and Thurso are good for angling and dog walking. Flatfish and sea trout fishing can be done from the beach in Sinclair’s Bay with rock fishing off Noss Head for cod and pollock. Loch fishing for brown trout. Sea fishing boat trips available from Wick Harbour and fishing tackle and permits can be purchased from Hugo Ross in Wick.
Our nearest neighbours across the Pentland Skerries is Orkney which host several well renowned archaeological sites. To get there, car and passenger ferries are available from North Link and Pentland Ferries while John O' Groats Ferries offer passenger ferries plus wildlife and bus tours.
