Make your heart flutter in the far north Scottish Highlands this Valentine’s Day

Romantic couples in search of breathtaking natural scenery and world-class beauty spots to make their hearts flutter this Valentine’s Day are being encouraged to ‘Venture North’ to Caithness and Sutherland in the far north Scottish Highlands.

From some of the best opportunities to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in the UK, to secluded beach walks, quiet woodland trails and winter wildlife spotting, there’s a whole range of activities for couples to get off the beaten track and explore together.

Romantic couples can also look forward to a range of cosy retreats on the coast or in the countryside with a heart-warming menu of Highland food and drink, rustic charm and real log fires.

Northern Lights – Noss Head, near Wick, Caithness

The far north Highlands of Scotland have some of Europe’s darkest skies. Noss Head near Wick in Caithness can be one of the best places in the UK to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis on a clear winter’s night or early spring. This spectacular natural phenomenon is certain to get hearts racing.

This small headland is easily accessible and has sites of both wildlife and historical interest. Seabirds and other migrating birds, such as pink footed geese, can be found near the lighthouse and the ancient Sinclair Girnigoe Castle. Noss Head also forms part of the popular coastal walk to John O’Groats.

UK’s highest waterfall - Eas A’ Chual Aluinn, near Kylesku, Sutherland

At 200 metres high, Eas A’ Chual Aluinn is the UK’s highest waterfall and the ideal spot for more hardy couples to make the long trek and listen to the soothing sounds of cascading falls or taking an invigorating dip beneath them.

A short detour, near the start of the walk, takes you to the hauntingly-named Wailing Widow Falls, at the outflow of Loch na Gainmhich.  The walk continues on along increasingly rough terrain, beyond the loch, leading to the top of the Eas a’ Chuil Aluinn. Absorb the dramatic views over the falls and down Glen Coul to lochs Beag and Glencoul. When this cascade is in full flow, especially after heavy rainfall, it dwarfs Niagara Falls, which are only 51 metres in height.

Other more accessible and romantic waterfall walks include Inverclassely, near Lairg, and Big Burn Walk in Golspie, which is one of the finest woodland walks in Sutherland.

The most beautiful and most remote beach in the UK – Sandwood Bay, Cape Wrath, Sutherland

The beaches in the far north of Scotland around Sutherland and Caithness are some of the cleanest, most scenic and most Instagram-able in the country, offering romantic couples miles of open spaces to relax and refresh.

The ultimate goal for the beach lover has to be Sandwood Bay, reputedly the most beautiful and most remote beach in the UK, which is accessible by foot from Oldshoremore.

The beaches around Dornoch, Golspie and Brora are easily accessible, surprisingly secluded and sandy. Sinclair’s Bay to the North of Wick is well known for its wide sweep, while the beaches of the North Coast around John O’Groats and Murkle are perfect for beachcombing.

Dunnet Bay and Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the British mainland, is a dramatic and beautiful bay. West of Thurso the landscape gives way to a more rugged, wild moorland scene, but the beaches are some of the most romantically beautiful in Europe, including Melvich and Bettyhill.

Most romantic scenic location to pop the big question – Dunnet Head, Duncansby Head and the Stacks of Duncansby, Caithness

Located at the most northerly point on the UK mainland, Dunnet Head is one of the most popular scenic locations for romantic couples to pop the big question and get engaged. The drive of a few miles from the sweeping sand dunes and beach at Dunnet village to the lighthouse rewards the visit with magnificent cliff-top views of Orkney and west along the coast to Cape Wrath.

The nearby Duncansby Head offers a dramatic experience from the coastal path, with views of the spectacular Stacks of Duncansby, some of the most impressive in the British Isles. These imposing pyramidal stacks have been isolated by the retreat of the cliffs.

Venture North, the destination management organisation that promotes responsible tourism in the far north Highlands of Scotland, has now devised a series of suggested themed itineraries to help visitors explore Caithness and Sutherland over the winter months, which are now available on the Venture North website https://www.venture-north.co.uk/plan/itineraries

Venture North has also launched a series of five short films to showcase Caithness and Sutherland to visitors across the UK and beyond this winter, including ‘Venture North to Caithness & Sutherland’ https://vimeo.com/734728453

For more information and to plan your Valentine’s visit to Caithness and Sutherland, head over to www.venture-north.co.uk.

People can also follow Venture North on social media, including Instagram www.instagram.com/venture_north; Facebook www.facebook.com/venturenorthscotland; and Twitter https://twitter.com/VentureNorthSco

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