Local Attractions & North Coast 500
Immediate Local Area
The village of Tongue is an ideal base for trips into the heart of Sutherland but it also has plenty of amenities and attractions close by to keep visitors busy. There are two hotels with restaurants and bars, a shop, a café and gift shop, a playpark and 24 hour fuel pump. Although by the sea, Tongue is surrounded by expansive grassy peatland, peppered by lochs, bordered by hills, mountains and those magnificent beaches.
Some noteable local visits include:
- Castle Varich the Castle can be seen from Kyle of Tongue Hostel and Holiday Park. There is a path leading up to the Castle which starts in the middle of the village. It is a medium standard walk uphill towards the Castle, which has recently undergone stabilisation work and the construction of a viewing platform.
- Moine House and The Flows – originally a ‘Bothy’ (effectively free accommodation for travellers to escape the elements) Moine House has some interesting graffitti art on its walls inside and is well worth a visit to take a few pictures. Moine House sits in the Flows region of Sutherland. This is the largest Peat Bog in Europe covering around 4,000 square kilometers. It is considered the best habitat of its type anywhere in the world. The peat throughout this remarkable ecosystem records the history of plants, animals and people who have made this region their home for thousands of years. Beautiful to walk/ride through.
- Beaches – there are a number of stunning beaches in the local area which can be enjoyed whatever the weather!
- Ben Loyal – known as the Queen of the Scottish mountains, Ben Loyal stands proud over the village of Tongue and is a popular mountain climb for visitors.
These are just a few of the things that visitors to Tongue can enjoy. With its geological variety there are endless opportunities for activities such as cycling, hillwalking, fishing and kayaking.
Castle Varich (Bharrich) – 30 mins walk
Ben Loyal
More Local Attractions
Some notable attractions slightly further afield (with approx. driving time) are:
- Strathnaver Museum (27 mins) – located in the village of Bettyhill, 15 minutes drive east of Tongue, find out about the history, the people and industry of the area.
- North Coast Leisure Pool (25 mins) – also located in the village of Bettyhill, the North Coast Leisure Pool has a pool, spa, sauna and gym and is ideal for family fun.
- Smoo Cave (45 mins) – in our ‘Geo- Park’ there are many unique geological features with some of the oldest rock on the Earth making up our impressive surrounding geology – Smoo cave in Durness is well worth a visit with it’s underground waterfall.
Moine House – there are surprises within!
The North West around Kyle of Tongue & NC500
Hiking
Tongue is dominated by the mountains and hills around the Hostel and Campsite. It is a fantastic location to base your walking holiday. With the hills nearby and the most Northern Munro Ben Hope only a short drive away this fabulous location gives hill walking enthusiasts have plenty of scope for adventure. For those who prefer a little less uphill, the coastal paths offer peace and wonderful views, and Ranger Walks run in the summer.
Culture and History
Evidence of the long history is shown in the ruins and buildings of the area, and in the culture of today. There are traces of mankind in this area dating back 6000 years.
Highland Gathering
On the last Friday in July, Durness a few miles away, hosts the Highland Gathering, where you watch traditional competitions such as tossing the caber and highland dancing. Events are open to anyone who fancies a challenge
There’s also less traditional events such as tug of war, tip the bucket and the pillow fight for those who want a laugh.
Kayaking/Surfing
With the number of inlets, bay and coves in the area, Sea Kayaking along the North Coast is popular in summer. Tongue makes an ideal base for this sport with many good Pentland Firth beaches a short drive away.
Geo Park
All the way from Tongue to Ullapool the coast is designated the North West Highlands Geopark. Scotland’s first Geopark, it forms part of a global network of territories with exceptional geological features.
The area surrounding Tongue offers an amazing opportunity to explore the landscape in the most sparsely populated corner of Europe.
Cape Wrath
This is the most North-Westerly point in mainland Britain. A passenger ferry across the Kyle drops you at a road and from there you could walk, cycle or catch a bus along this remote corner of the country
Cycling
As the North West corner of the British road system, cycling through and around Tongue is very popular.
Durness Golf Course
Peter Aliss was most impressed by the nine greens with eighteen different tees, that make up this golf course. It has spectacular views over Balnakeil Bay and Cape Wrath. Not to be missed by golfing enthusiasts, guests are welcome.
Day Trips from Kyle of Tongue: The NC500
The North Coast 500: Discover more about one of the top coastal routes in the world
The North Coast 500 (NC500) was originally identified as Scotland’s answer to Route 66 in the US, the route brings together just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery in the far north Highlands of Scotland. The NC500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips.
Whether you want to explore wonderful castles and historic buildings, sample a dram of whisky, take to the water on an exhilarating wildlife safari, or just take in the stunning scenery the North Coast 500 offers a truly diverse range of experiences.
Tongue has always been a fabulous location to spend a few days exploring the sights and scenes and many activities mentioned above. But as typified by the North Coast 500 initiative we are now finding increasing numbers of you using us as a stopping place to investigate the wider highlands. In this section there are some attractions to visit from Ullapool to, Durness to John O’Groats and the magnificent beaches and rugged coastline here on the West Coast.
The North of the Highlands is rich in history with Dunrobin Castle & Castle of Mey as two of many local visitor sites on the North Coast on the NC500. With Thurso, Wick, Durness and Ullapool on also on the main coastal 500 mile tourist road as day trip destinations each with their own history and sites of interest such as Pulteney Distillery in Wick.
