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GROUP BOOKINGS

We welcome groups of walkers and cyclists and can accommodate up to seven guests in the bed and breakfast, with a further three in the fully equipped caravan.  We can arrange for your bicycle to be transported to Inverness if you have difficulty getting it booked on Scotrail.  Brian and Tina are both experienced walkers and can advise on the type of equipment required, maps, areas for walking .........etc. 

There is some superb walking in the area - Dunnet Head, cliff top paths, forests including Forest Enterprise land, beaches.  The scenery is stunning and there are surprises around every corner.  The variety of birdlife and wildlife knows no bounds.  The hinterland around Loch More and Morven is probably one of the last wildernesses in Europe.  Before you set off to walk this area though, you will need to contact Estate Braemore & Langwell Estates. Braemore Keeper 01593 731371, Langwell Keeper 01593 751225.  The Highland Ranger Service has guided wildlife walks throughout the summer.  

We can also organise a professional guide who will take you up Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, Scaraben at 2055ft, Ben Loyal "Queen of the Scottish Peaks", Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the UK mainland, and Morven, the highest mountain in Caithness at 2313ft.  Optional lower level walks may be made dependant on weather, such as Bein Griam Beigg, the highest hill fort in Scotland, or a moorland walk using the train station at Altnabreach .  

We can provide drying facilities for wet clothing and boots, as well as secure storage for bicycles.  If you are interested in booking a party in for a few days, we can offer the following:

  1. Packed lunch 

  2. Guided walks with a qualified guide

  3. Evening slide shows

  4. Advice on what to see and do in the area

  5. Contacts with the local cycle shop 

  6. Information on walking/cycling tracks 

Catering:

Breakfast is a choice of cooked (bacon, egg, haggis, tomato, or bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, scrambled egg, poached egg), or fruit and yoghurt and pancakes, with orange juice, toast, tea or coffee. 

Evening meals served between 7.30pm and 9pm by arrangement.  We offer a set menu of the day with a choice of two starters, two main courses plus a vegetarian option, choice of two desserts and coffee.  Price in 2003 will be approx. £12 per head.

Packed lunches by arrangement. If you have any special dietary requirements please ask and we will do our best to accommodate you.

How to book:

Contact us by email or phone to check availability.  
We normally ask for a 10% deposit on the room rates, this is payable by cheque (drawn on a UK bank) or credit card.
We can give a 5% discount on our normal rates for parties of 4 or more who stay three or more nights.

Our top ten tips for walking are:

  1. Wear good footwear.  Proper walking boots are best with at least two pairs of socks.  The ground can be very rough, even on the easy paths, and it is easy to twist an ankle.  Proper boots will give support to the ankles and multiple pairs of socks rub against each other instead of rubbing your feet and cause blisters.

  2. Do not  go walking while there is a mist (haar) as you can easily get disoriented

  3. Do not walk too close to the cliff edge, especially in windy conditions

  4. Keep to designated paths

  5. Follow the Country Code

  6. Tell someone at base where you are going and about what time you expect to return

  7. Take water, food, spare socks, tee shirt, waterproofs and local map, at least 1:50000 scale

  8. Dress appropriately, the weather can change very quickly

  9. Do not rely on the weather forecast - we have our own ecoclimate in this area and often does not show up on weather maps

  10. Take high energy snacks such as  bananas, Mars Bars or Kendall Mint Cake!

There is more information on walking in Caithness on the County web site, http://www.caithness.org/geography/walksincaithness/index.htm

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