My Highland Haven

Saturday 30th September 2023

For weekend number two in our new home, we knew we had to crack on with the ever growing number of household jobs and DIY tasks. As lovely as last weekend was and exploring Tarbat Ness Lighthouse, we had to get on with house stuff this weekend.

On the other hand, the weather was still completely lush, the dogs do still need a walk and spending all week tied to a computer kind of negates the point of moving somewhere so beautiful in the first place.

So we head up the road to Golspie. It’s the next main town above us on the coast and one I can see the lights twinkling from in my room when it’s dark. I love a good waterfall and saw the Burn Waterfall and Gorge marked on Google maps and really wanted to check it out.

All in all, it was only 2.5miles and it took us one hour and ten minutes which included lots of stopping to take pictures.

Unfortunately, the A9 was closed in Golspie due to an accident nearer Dunrobin Castle so we had to wiggle round the back roads to get there. There’s a free car park right at the start of the walk just off the A9 next to The Golspie Inn, there’s also another free car park nearer the top off the road towards Backies. We decided to start at the bottom and walk up then back down rather than starting the walk with a large downhill descent only to have to finish with a climb back up.

As it happens, it wasn’t an especially steep climb either way. We had a few steps coming back down from The Old Skating Pond, but given how much Ben Bhraggie dominates the view from almost any direction for miles around, we were expecting it to be more challenging. Where is does get steep, there were well maintained steps and a handy rail just in case you’re being pulled up or down whilst tethered to a 50lbs of Husky or Aussie Shepherd.

In the end, we enjoyed a nice gentle meander up a clearly marked path. Despite being the end of September, the sun was shining, we were both walking in t-shirts and enjoying a very pleasant temperature. Had it been a degree or two warmer, I’d have been very tempted to have a play in the more gentle, misty waterfalls.

The photo above was about 30ft high, very tranquil and gentle.

The waterfall below was much more ferocious and we heard it long before we saw it. After crossing one of the bridges, we followed a wooden decked path for a few hundred meters. It resulted in a dead end and viewing platform looking at this amazing waterfall. We had had quite a bit of rain the few days previous but given how gentle the other smaller falls were, this was quite a contrast.

Once we got to the top and turned to come back down, the views through the trees showed glimpses of the Duke of Sutherland Monument and the sea.

The top car park had a handy bin to drop off the bagged deposits left by the dogs.

Given how much power was in some of the waterfalls and given how fast the water was rushing in some parts and give how many steep drops and cliff edges there are, I personally wouldn’t let anything but the best recall dogs off lead here. One interesting scent or missed paw could prove disastrous.

Despite walking on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and there being a couple of motorhomes parked in the bottom carpark (which might have had more to do with the A9 being closed for several hours), we only came across one other family on this walk.

Whilst the dogs thoroughly loved it for the most part, Osric was unsure crossing the bridges. We’ve always known he’s a little apprehensive walking across bridges or up stairs where he can see the ground below him. He’s not scared of heights (he loves a good cliff), but he flattens himself down and refuses to walk if he can see the ground a long way beneath him. We crossed about half a dozen wooden bridges, all very well maintained and secure but with gaps between the planks of wood. Osric needed a bit of encouragement/edible incentives to cross them.

Despite the bridge worries, they both enjoyed the walk. They’re not proper swimmers but they both love a good paddle and enjoyed the more gentle waters. They loved the woodland sniffs (woods are always their favourite walkies spots) and despite being on the shorter side, they were both suitable tied that evening.

I’m not sure how muddy and flooded some of the paths get in the winter but I think we’ll definitely be adding this to our list of regular walkies.