Inver Park Campsite

Inver Park Campsite is a small site at Dunbeath on the east coast of Caithness, on the North Coast 500 driving route. Its 10 hardstanding pitches and five smooth grass pitches keep the scale modest, with electric hook-ups, toilets and showers available. Campervans and tents are welcome, as are dogs. The site normally opens all year, although tent camping is restricted to summer, and pitches can be booked online. A pub within walking distance is a useful option for an evening away from the camping stove.

Dunbeath’s landscape offers a contrast between coastal cliffs and a wooded river strath. The Dunbeath Strath walk begins at the old Telford bridge in the village, rather than at the campsite, and follows Dunbeath Water past historical sites. Along the way are Chapel Hill, associated with a medieval monastery, and an Iron Age broch reached after crossing the Houstry Burn. Birch and hazel woodland give this inland walk a different character from the exposed coastline. Dunbeath Heritage Centre adds context through collections relating to local history and the village-born novelist Neil M. Gunn.

For longer coastal walking, Dunbeath is a stage endpoint on the John o’ Groats Trail. The section from Berriedale follows clifftops for much of its course, with narrow passages between fences and cliff edges, burn crossings and potentially tall vegetation. It is a more demanding outing than a casual coastal stroll, making route planning and suitable footwear important.