Durness on the North Coast 500

Durness marks the point where the North Coast 500 turns the far north-western corner of the mainland, and it packs a lot into a small, scattered village. It has some of the finest beaches on the route, a spectacular sea cave, a quirky craft village, and one of the best hot chocolates in Scotland.

Because it sits at a natural turning point and has a decent range of places to eat, drink and stay, Durness makes an excellent overnight stop before the long, empty run east along the north coast.

Smoo Cave

Smoo Cave is the headline attraction, a huge combined sea and freshwater cave set into the cliffs a short walk from the village. You can walk into the vast main chamber for free, and in suitable conditions take a short guided boat and walkway tour to see the inner waterfall chamber. It is one of the most dramatic and easily accessible caves in Britain.

Balnakeil and Cocoa Mountain

Just outside Durness, the Balnakeil Craft Village occupies a cluster of former military buildings now home to artists, makers and a famous chocolatier. Cocoa Mountain serves what many people rate as the best hot chocolate in the country, a rich, molten cup that is worth the detour on a cold day.

• Smoo Cave, free to enter with optional boat tours
• Cocoa Mountain hot chocolate at Balnakeil
• Balnakeil Beach, a huge sweep of pale sand
• The Golden Eagle Zip Line for a shot of adrenaline

Beaches and the far coast

Durness and its surroundings have some of the best beaches on the whole route, including the enormous Balnakeil Beach. This is also close to Cape Wrath, the remote north-western tip of the mainland, reached by a passenger ferry and minibus rather than by car.

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