Camping overnight on Balnakeil Beach is one of my favourite low-key adventures—there’s something elemental about sleeping to the sound of surf with the dunes behind you and the stars above. But the far north of Scotland can be unpredictable, and the stretch around Balnakeil demands respect:...
Feb 25, 2026
• by Élise Dupont
Latest News from Hillside Durness Co
I’m drawn to Croick for the way the sea stack holds the light at dawn—those first rays carve the rock into layers and the whole headland feels hushed. Over the years I’ve chased many sunrises here and learned the practical bits that make or break a shoot: where to park before it’s busy, which approach gives you solitude (and which funnels you straight into a crowd), how to time the tide...
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I didn't expect a paddle sport to become one of my favourite ways to stay active while travelling, but padel has a way of fitting into itineraries and landscapes: a quick coastal session before a ferry, a sunset match near a resort, or a friendly game after a long hike. Central to all of that is the right padel tennis racket — and choosing one has transformed how I play, how I pack for trips,...
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I’ve spent more than a few nights with sand under my mat and the roar of the Atlantic in my ears, and Balnakeil Bay remains one of my favourite spots to pitch for the night. It’s dramatic, remote-feeling and within reach of Durness village—but it’s also a place where tides, nesting birds, crofting land and rapidly changing weather all demand respectful planning. Below I share how I choose...
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I’ve walked the stretch between Hillside Durness Co and Camel Haugh more times than I can count, always hopeful for that quiet moment when an otter slips from sea to shore. If you want the best day route for spotting otters in this part of the far north, I’ll take you through a route I trust—complete with maps, realistic timing, gear notes, and a few on-the-ground tips learned from early...
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I still remember my first puffin sighting near Durness—a tiny triangular face popping out of a cliff-top burrow, bright beak gleaming against a slate sky. It was one of those small, stubborn moments that make you fall in love with the north coast all over again. Over the years I’ve chased puffins across sea cliffs, sat in hides until my knees complained, and learned the rhythms that make...
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Walking to the sea caves at Sango Sands is one of those coastal experiences that stays with you: sculpted cliffs, echoing caverns and tide-carved arches framed by pale sand and Atlantic surf. But it’s also a place where the tide makes all the difference. I’ve guided this route, timed crossings, and waited on the shore more times than I can count—here’s a clear, practical guide to which...
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I still remember the first time I unfolded an Ordnance Survey map on a wind-blasted beach in the far north and tried to make sense of the cluster of unfamiliar words around me. Gaelic place names felt like a secret code that locals read like weather charts — telling you where the cliffs were steep, where sheep grazed, where a burn met the sea. Learning to read those names changed how I move...
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I chase silhouettes. There’s something about a human shape or a jagged cliff cut stark against a soft sunrise or a stormy sky that makes a photograph feel like a story. Around Durness, the light and coastline conspire to create dramatic cliff silhouettes that change mood by the minute—and I’ve spent years finding the spots that reliably deliver those moments. Below I’ve collected the...
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I love wandering the tidal edges around Durness — those wind-scoured rocks, drifts of wrack and quiet little coves where the sea leaves gifts on the shore. Foraging for seaweed is one of my favourite ways to connect with this landscape: it’s immediate, sustainable when done right, and the flavours you bring back to a cottage kitchen can be extraordinary. Below I share practical advice for...
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Why a moonlit beach stay near Durness is worth planningThere’s something quietly magical about arriving at a remote Sutherland beach and pitching under a full moon. I’ve spent many nights listening to the surf, watching the light move across sand and rock, and waking to seabirds and distant croft smoke. Those moonlit hours feel like a secret the Highlands keep for those willing to walk a few...
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