Home >> Where to go >> Castle of Old Wick

Click here for accommodation in Wick

The coastline south of Wick offers some exceptionally rugged coastal scenery with the locally famed 'Brig O'Trams' an amazing sea arch and the Brough, which is a large sea stack known locally as 'Scorries Island' - Scorry being the local word for seagulls. On the south side of this stack is a large seabird city with the range of seabirds for which the East Caithness cliffs are famed - fulmar, guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake, black guillemot, puffin, rock doves, black-backed and herring gulls. You might also see great skua, raven, peregrine falcon and elder duck. 

The coastline is indented with numerous 'gees', which are sheer sided inlets of the sea often ending in sea caves. The sea cave to the south of the castle of old wick, which you cross when following the cliff top path, serves as a large communal roost site for starlings. This makes a fantastic sight on a still evening in the early autumn as the birds swarm around the remains of the castle prior to taking up their noisy residence for the evening beneath your feet. 

The cliffs are also a great vantage point in late summer for spotting cetaceans with reports of porpoises, pilot, sei, minke and northern bottlenose whales.

Patience and a calm sea are vital ingredients for successful cetacean watching.

The coastal path is unfenced and close to the cliff edge, great care is advised. The location can be dangerous in high winds, fog and heavy rain. The path is largely un-surfaced and is unsuitable for those with mobility problems.

Sturdy shoes / walking boots essential.

Best time to visit; May - August.

Castle of Old Wick under the guardianship of Historic Scotland.