Castletown Hotel
The Hotel is located in the picturesque village of Castletown within Dunnet Bay in the northernmost Highlands of Scotland. Situated just a short distance inland, this historic village features its own local harbour and heritage centre. The surrounding area is home to some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in Scotland, with miles of unspoilt beaches, craggy hills, and steep cliff faces. Here you can discover our three outstanding coasts and the vast open spaces of the Flow Country. Whether venturer or adventurer, Caithness offers you numerous unique leisure opportunities.
Diving – Diving in Caithness is available throughout the year. It is known to have some of the finest diving areas in the UK, particularly the popular scenic and wreck sites.
Kayaking – The Pentland Canoe Club is based in Thurso, where the club enjoys most forms of paddling due to the Caithness environment. Kayaking is a very popular activity, and is also available in Wick.
White Water Rafting – And white water tours in the Pentland Firth are an exciting adventure as you enjoy a scenic route and ride through standing waves and overfalls. This excellent pastime is made available through a state-of-the-art 11 metre RIB operating out of John O’Groats.
Climbing – The most frequented areas are at Latheronwheel and Mid Clyth, however there are other lesser known areas to climb such as Sarclet, Occumster, and Noss, amongst others. Most climbing points are found in the SMC guide to Northern Highlands.
Fishing – Probably one of the most popular pastimes in Caithness, there are a range of fishing areas waiting to be explored.For more on fishing visit Wick's local fishing shop, Hugo Ross.
Golf – There are many different golf courses to make the most of. All of which are thoroughly enjoyed by both tourists and the locals.
Surfing - The world famous reef break at Thurso East has become popular for surfers from all over the world. It is a sparsely populated area, meaning there is a good chance you will be surfing by yourself, or maybe even with a few seals.
Caithness Seacoast - For something different but lots of fun for all the family Wick offers you the chance to go on an exciting adventure around the seacoast. You will be taken out on their Geo Explorer to give you the opportunity to visit a vast array of ruined castles and learn about their dark histories, to see birds and marine animals up close, explore caves, visit Whaligoe steps, and other superb activities.
Aurora Borealis – Otherwise known as the Northern lights, if you're lucky you might see this natural phenomenon in our clear night skies. With less light pollution than anywhere else in the UK, you will come to no better place whether it's the Northern Lights or stars you're looking for. To view this beautiful sight, these videos were taken in Caithness.
Geopark - Explore Scotland’s three and a half billion years journey through time. Here you can discover old rocks and classic hills like Suilven and Stac Pollaidh. In amongst the wildest places in place, take a chance to breathe it all in. Bag a Munro by scaling Ben Hope and take in the magnificent view across the Kyle of Tongue and far west to Lochinver.
Walking – Take a chance to discover the stunning lands of Caithness, where you can view the remarkable coastline and delve into the history of the county thanks to our archaeological remains.
If you would rather a relaxing walk Dunnet Forest is a beautiful location, not only will you find lots of wildlife but you could also discover the Scottish Primrose, a flower native to Caithness, Orkney, and Sutherland. They flower in May but will often have a second flowering in July. Many botanists consider them to be one of the most attractive flowers with its distinctive bluish purple heart shaped petals and bright yellow centre. This does not mean they are easy to spot as they are only 8mm in diameter and are in danger of becoming extinct due to agricultural improvement, house building, fences blocking ​grazing cattle, and tree planting. Unfortunately this delicate beauty has disappeared from at least 75 areas where they once thrived. Promisingly, however, they have appeared in 19 new locations.
​
Nearby is Dunnet Head nature reserve located on the most northerly point in Mainland Britain. Its stunning sea cliffs and coastal grassland are home to a range of birds including puffins, razorbills, guillemots, cormorants, peregrine falcons, and much more besides. On top of the cliffs and in among trees there can occasionally be a large red deer and roe deer. A little further afield is John O’Groats, famous for being at the end of the longest distance between two inhabited points on the British mainland. There are also plenty of opportunities for day trips to the marvellous Orkney Isles as well as wildlife cruises across the Pentland Firth.
The wildlife cruises across the Pentland Firth are known to attract not just tourists, but the locals too. When you set off from Gills Bay you will be able to see the Stroma and Swona islands where common and grey seals can be seen lazing on the shore. If you look carefully at Swona island you might even be able able to catch a glimpse of the now famous feral cattle. Depending on the time of year, while passing through the Firth, you may be able to find porpoises, orca, dolphins, Minke Whales and on the rare occasion in the summer perhaps even a basking shark. Bird watchers will be able to enjoy the opportunity to see bird colonies close up. There are a variety of birds including puffins, fulmars, great skua, razor bills, guillemots, gannets, and many others.
More locally it has become common for otters to be seen in the rivers of both Wick and Thurso, although they are occasionally seen in Havens or beaches, near small streams. For more information on watching for wildlife please click here.
What’s more with free on-site parking, it is both convenient and accessible. The nearest city is Inverness, which is roughly a 2 hour 30 minute drive through some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Scotland. Thurso train station provides regular services to Inverness and the hotel is also located on the main bus route to and from the city. There are two car-ferry ports; one at Gills Bay and another at Scrabster, each just a 15 minute drive away. For those travelling by air, Inverness Airport offers flights to a range of national and European destinations whilst the regional Airport at Wick is just a 20 minute drive away and receives flights from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Kirkwall.
The old Viking town of Wick is just half an hour away and is home to the famous Old Pulteney Distillery. Here visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and even sample a dram of their distinctive ‘Genuine Maritime Malt’.
For history enthusiasts, the 16th Century Castle and Gardens of Mey is one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions and remains to this day a striking architectural achievement and a fascinating day out.
In Thurso there is a variety of different activities if the outdoors and wildlife adventures are not to your taste. If you would like to take part in sports there is golf driving range, swimming pool, fitness centre, regional rugby club, and squash and tennis courts. For a quieter but equally enjoyable day out the Thurso cinema offers a great range of new movie releases to watch, and there is also a bar and restaurant. There are also libraries, art galleries, and a selection of local shops.
Also on offer is a chance to get a taste of the thriving music scene that holds many genres of music for everyone to enjoy. Traditional music has deep roots within our northern culture, and there are plenty of venues across the county where you can visit to experience anything from break beat to bagpipes. Listening to our music will also give you the opportunity to get “the craic” with other visiting tourists and local residents. Whether you are looking for artists, galleries, cinemas, historical exhibition, or visitor centres, there is a wealth of activities available for you to enjoy.
Castletown Hotel
This privacy policy sets out how Castletown Hotel uses and protects any information that you give Castletown Hotel when you use this website.
Castletown Hotel is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.
Castletown Hotelmay change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from Monday February 23, 2015.
We may collect the following information:
We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:
We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.
We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.
Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.
You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:
We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen.
If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible, at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.
Castletown Hotel
Your use of the Castletown Hotel Web Site is subject to these terms and by using the Site you show your agreement to such terms. If you do not accept our terms, please do not use the Web Site.
Ownership of Web Site
This Web Site belongs to Castletown Hotel · Main Street · Castletown · Near Thurso · KW14 8TP.
Headings
Headings used in these terms and conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation.
Trademarks
The images, logos and names on this Web Site which identify Castletown Hotel or third parties and their products and services are proprietary marks of Castletown Hotel and/or the relevant third parties. Nothing contained in this Web Site shall be deemed to confer on any person any license or right on the part of Castletown Hotel or any third party with respect to any such image, logo or name.
Alterations
Castletown Hotel reserves the right, at any time and without prior notice, to remove or cease to supply any product or service contained on this Web Site. In the event that such removal takes place we shall not be liable to you in any way whatsoever for such removal.
Phone Calls and Emails
Telephone calls using the telephone numbers provided on this Web Site and email correspondence with Castletown Hotel at the email addresses accessible through, or discernible from, this Web Site may be recorded or monitored. By using such communication methods you are consenting to the recording or monitoring of the same.
Telephone charges
The price of calls may vary depending on your telecoms supplier. Please check with your operator for exact charges.
Commercial use
This Web Site is for non-commercial, personal use only. The services contained on this Web Site may be supplied on a commercial basis on payment to Castletown Hotel or its service or product suppliers of its charges from time to time. Please contact us on Tel: 01955 603344 | Email: [email protected]
In the event that you use any of the services contained on this Web Site for commercial use, Castletown Hotel shall be entitled to charge you at its applicable rates in respect of such commercial use.
Copyright
The copyright in the material contained in this Web Site belongs to Castletown Hotel or its licensed source. Any person may copy any part of this material, subject to the following conditions:
the material may not be used for commercial purposes;
the copies must retain any copyrights or other intellectual property notices contained in the original material;
the products and technology or processes described in this Web Site may be subject to other intellectual property rights reserved by Castletown Hotel or by other third parties with no license granted in respect of those intellectual property rights); images on this Web Site are protected by copyright as its text by IPR and may not be reproduced or appropriated in any manner without the written permission of their respective owner(s).
Changes to Terms and Records of Agreements
We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time by posting changes on the Web Site. It is your responsibility to review the Web Site terms and conditions to ensure you are aware of the latest terms and conditions. Your use of this Web Site after a change has been posted will be deemed to signify your acceptance of the modified terms and conditions. We recommend that you print off and retain for your records a copy of these terms and conditions from time to time and a copy of any terms and conditions relating to any product or service which you apply for online, together with any related application form completed and submitted.
Any amendment to terms and conditions must be agreed in writing by us, or, if appropriate, by the relevant company or individual supplier with whom you contract.
Disclaimers
Whilst Castletown Hotel has taken due care and attention in the preparation of the contents of this Web Site, this Web Site and the information, names, images, pictures, logos, icons regarding or relating to Castletown Hotel or our products and services marketed on the site (or to third party products and services), are provided on an 'as is' basis without any representation or endorsement being made and without any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to, any implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.
To the extent permitted by law, all such terms and warranties are hereby excluded. In no event will Castletown Hotel be liable, whether in contract or tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty) or otherwise for any losses sustained and arising out of or in connection with use of this Web Site including, without limitation, loss of profits, loss of data or loss of goodwill (in all these cases whether direct or indirect) nor any indirect, economic, consequential or special loss.
Castletown Hotel does not represent that the information contained in this Web Site is accurate, comprehensive, verified or complete, and shall accept no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Web Site or for any reliance placed by any person on the information.
Castletown Hotel does not warrant that the functions or materials accessible from or contained in this Web Site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected or that this Web Site or the server that makes it available are virus or bug free or represent the full functionality, accuracy, reliability of the materials.
If any of these Terms and Conditions (or any terms and conditions relating to a product or service referred to in this Web Site) should be determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of any state or country in which such terms and conditions are intended to be effective, then to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability, and in relation to such state or country only, such terms or condition shall be deleted and severed from the rest of the relevant terms and conditions and the remaining terms and conditions shall survive, remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude Castletown Hotel's liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence of Castletown Hotel.
Intellectual Property Rights
All Intellectual Property Rights (including, without limitation, all database rights, rights in designs, rights in know-how, patents and rights in inventions (in all cases whether registered or unregistered and including all rights to apply for registration) and all other intellectual or industrial property rights in any jurisdiction) in any information, content, materials, data or processes contained in or to this Web Site belong to Castletown Hotel or its licensed source. All rights of Castletown Hotel in such Intellectual Property Rights are hereby reserved.
Jurisdiction and Law
Castletown Hotel makes no representation that any product or service referred to on or through the Web Site is appropriate for use, or available in other locations. The information and other materials contained in this Web Site may not satisfy the laws of any other country and those who choose to access this Site from other locations are responsible for compliance with local laws if and to the extent local laws are applicable.
These Terms and Conditions and any terms and conditions relating to products or services described in this Web Site shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Scotland. Disputes arising in relation to the same shall, unless otherwise expressly agreed, be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Scotland.
Links to other Web Sites
Certain (hypertext) links, advertisements or suppliers promotion will lead you to Web Sites that are not under the control of Castletown Hotel. When you activate any of these links, you will leave Castletown Hotel Web Site by opening a new window and we have no control over and will accept no responsibility or liability in respect of the material on any such other Web Site. By allowing links with third party Web Sites Castletown Hotel does not intend to solicit business or offer any security to any person in any country, directly or indirectly.
Force Majeure
Every effort will be made to carry out the contract but its due performance is subject to cancellation by Castletown Hotel or to such variation as we may find necessary as a result of inability to secure labour, materials or supplies or as a result of any act of God, War, Strike, Lockout or other labour dispute, Fire, Flood, Drought, Legislation, or other cause (whether of the foregoing class or not) beyond the sellers control.
Castletown Hotel
We have tried to make this website as accessible as possible and easy to use for everyone, regardless of circumstance or ability.
All our page templates comply with the WCAG Priority 2 checkpoints as a minimum requirement. And we make every effort to ensure that all the content on our site meets this standard too. We are making every effort to ensure that we don't exclude any users. For example:
We try to publish all our text content as accessible HTML rather than in other formats such as PDF. Where we do publish PDFs or other formats our policy is to make them as accessible as we can.
