Dornoch,Scotland

On one of my trips to the UK I travelled north with my mother and sister-in-law. It was her first visit to the UK and we wanted her to see a little of what Scotland has to offer. We were only there for a few days but  Dornoch Beach, the town of Dornoch and some of the places we visited  in the surrounding area were quite spectacular. My sister-in-law fell in love with Scotland as will you if you have the opportunity to visit.

 We stayed at Dornoch Hotel simply because of the location to the beach. From the hotel it is a short walk across the famous Royal Dornoch Golf Course to the stunning beach of Dornoch.
The hotel does have some history with many famous guests staying there over the years. The breakfast that was served was very good and the service overall excellent. The hotel itself-inside is a little dated but for us the location made up for this. There is a stunning sunroom which was perfect for relaxing in the evening.
In May hotels.com has rooms available for $81

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Other Options  Found on AirBnB

If you decide to stay in Dornoch you also have some options available through AirBnB.

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The Beach.......

Dornoch beach is simply put, quite beautiful. There are long stretches of sandy dunes, a stunning stretch of beach to walk and, the surrounding hills make for a scene right out of a travel magazine. I loved our time here. Yes, it was a tad chilly but certainly this did not prevent us spending many hours walking the beach or just sitting and relaxing. If you are so inclined you can sit on the beach reading a book at 10 pm at night as the days are wonderfully long in Scotland in the summer. 

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For The Golfer in Your Life

Royal Dornoch

Apparently if you golf then this is a must on your list of courses. I can only speak to the beauty of the course and the surroundings but from what I have read the course is impressive. Visit the website at:
​ https://royaldornoch.com

The Town

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​The town of Dornoch is as we say in America, quaint. It is so much more than that though. Adjectives that come to mind are tranquil, charming, ancient and striking. We strolled the streets, enjoyed the antique shops, old pubs, café’s, and my favorite, The Jail. The Jail is a unique shopping experience with lots to explore .I loved the quality of the items found here. I doubt you can walk away empty handed!
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Be sure to stop and shop here you won’t be disappointed!

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Dornoch Cathedral

The Cathedral in Dornoch can be found in the center of the town. It has been in use since 1239.The outside of the Cathedral looks solid and stoic but upon entering you are transformed by the brilliance of the inside. The twenty seven stained glass windows ensure that the light causes and ever changing mosaic of color changes. The Cathedral was brought to the forefront of the news when in 2000 Madonna christened her son here.
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Out and About

If you do opt to stay in Dornoch there are plenty of places to visit in the surrounding areas but I highly recommend a trip to Ullapool .This is an hour and 15 minute drive but the scenery is spectacular and the town well worth a visit if only to eat at the famous fish and chip shop –The Chippy- The Seaforth Bar and Restaurant.

​www.myvoyagescotland.com/things-to-do-hotels-in-ullapool

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Some of the Sights While Out and About.

One Last Stop.......

This is quite an unusual and some would say morbid stop and it is not for everyone but the story intrigued me.

​The story- In 1772 Janet Horne was accused of being a witch. She was accused of turning her daughter into a pony; both mother and daughter were arrested and jailed in Dornoch. The next day the daughter escaped but the poor mother was to face a very different fate. She was taken to a most brutal execution and is considered to be the “Last Witch” of Scotland to be executed. The full story can be read at:
 http://www.discoversutherland.co.uk

So intrigued was I with this story I went in search of the stone that marks the spot of the execution. I found it strangely positioned in a private lawn. If you are so inclined you can find it too. Happy Travels!
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Bernie Presta

Full time educator- wanna be travel blogger. Exploring our world one trip at a time.