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Immediate Local Area around Brora and East Sutherland

There is much to see and do in this lovely area.  We have fantastic historic buildings and sites, diverse wildlife, birds and a coastal and dramatic inland habitats.

Estuary View Self catering makes a great base for many activities including golf, pony trekking, swimming, sea and river fishing, walks in forests and hills, with ‘Munros’ in easy distance.  Some adventurous visitors take advantage of the swell to go surfing outside the cottage (worth a watch even if you don’t take part!).

You can take in amazing vistas over hills, glens and sea (photography is popular). The Orkney Isles and the spectacular West Coast are within the scope of a day’s outing from Brora.

Here are a few suggestions in the immediate area…

  • Shops, facilities and food!:  With a well stocked supermarket, tourist shops and several eateries (to eat in and out) you are well supported within a short stroll from Estuary View.  For eating out, in your view across the Estuary from your self catering accommodation you can see the Marine Hotel, based on a 1900 mansion house with its own beautiful views and surroundings. You can eat also out at the Sutherland Hotel or Sid’s for great Indian food, Cafes, a Chinese, Scottish and Braid’s Bistro at the Golf Club are all in the village.
  • Carn Liath: A sophisticated Iron Age settlement accompanied by the rare survival of an associated village and earthworks a mile south of Brora.
  • Dunrobin Castle: 2 miles further down the coast lies this stunning great house to visit dating to 1300 [Dunrobin Castle website]
  • Timespan:  Our local Museum and Art Gallery in Helmsdale up the A9 provides a glimpse into the past when industry needed the sea.
  • Wildlife – A wide variety of habitats make Brora an ideal location for observing all types of wildlife with salmon in the Brora River and overflown by eagles by the seaside where seals, dolphins and occasionally whales cruise by.  Nearby Loch Fleet offers very diverse birdwatching and wildlife with ospreys, seals and otters.  Dolphin tours to get closer up  closer up are few miles further south down the Moray Firth at Cromarty.  Red deer and Highland cows frequent the local glens.
  • Whisky Distilleries:  Our famous Clynelish is on the outskirts of the Brora village (does tours when open and is Brora Malt’s home). To the South Tain hosts Glenmorangie and to the North the Old Pultney Distillery in WIck, distills the most Northerly dram!

For more things to see and do in Brora as a visitor or tourist go to Brora Visitor Website

Estuary View in the Old town with Golf Course in Background

North Coast 500 and Wider North Highlands Attractions

Brora 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 Inverness, John O’Groats to  Durness and the magnificent beaches and rugged coastline of the West Coast.

Castle of Mey is one of many local visitor sites on the North Coast.   With Thurso, Wick, Durness and Ullapool 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.

Tourism is supported enthusiastically by local businesses, eateries, pubs, shops and hotels across the Highlands of Scotland and from Dornoch to the famous John O’Groats!

Orkney is a short ferry trip from Scrabster, in Thurso.  A day trip with ancient history to see from several millennia back from the Standing Stones of Stenness to the unique Skara Brae and much more! Other Orkney ferries and day trips from Jogferry, Pentland Ferries from nearby Gills Bay offers competitive rates.

Walking, Bike riding or just appreciating the wonderful Mountains and Glens and Lochs, for example, only a few miles inland, a fitting compliment for the dramatic coastal setting.  Or Wildlife Cruises from a few miles up the coast take in Puffins as well!

Durness Sango Sands along the coast to the West

Some more useful links

Castle of Mey, www.castleofmey.org.uk :: Orkney, the Island, www.visitorkney.com :: Orkney Ferry – Northlinks, www.northlinkferries.co.uk :: Pentland Ferries, www.pentlandferries.co.uk :: Boat Tours, www.jogferry.co.uk :: Timespan – Highland History, www.timespan.org.uk

Golf in & around Brora


There are 57 Golf Courses in the Highlands to suit all.  Why not make your stay a few days longer and take in some.

With many historic courses that set the standards for the game from the North Coast and all around our Moray Firth you will also find some exceptional new courses.  Not least of which is the Castle Stuart course just across the Firth which often hosts the  Scottish Open.

For the historically interested, Tom Morris and James Braid’s original designs are still played today in flourishing clubs up and down the East Sutherland coast and Moray Firth supported by tourists and local members all the year around.

Brora Links is a James Braid course.

And, of course, 15 miles away Royal Dornoch is consistently rated within the top 10 in the World  Championship courses (currently number 6).  Dornoch also has the Struie 18 hole and Carnegie close-by at Skibo castle.

Here are a few that shouldn’t be missed if you have the time.

Other noteable courses include Nairn, Fortrose and Rosemarkie a short drive onto the Black isle (by Channory Point Lighthouse where Dolphins are often spotted).

Closer to hand there is Bonar Bridge and fabulous Golspie 5 miles away (also a James Braid course).

But if you tour across the North Highlands you are never far from a clubhouse – even if it is a modest building with an honesty box and nine holes to have a crack at! A great example of this is Durness, the most Northerly, where the nine holes are played from alternative tees to make up a ‘unique’ 18 hole experience – beautiful views of the Pentland Firth too!

25% OFF Golf at Brora

Golf Pass – Discount Prices for Golf at Brora, Golspie, Tain, Dornoch Struie and The Royal Dornoch Golf Club get the Dornoch Firth Golf Pass

www.broragolf.co.uk

Our classic links course was established in 1891 and the current layout was designed by James Braid in 1923 with the clubhouse and first tee in full view of the self catering lounge, kitchen and garden – it is very popular with many of our guests.  Genuinely a test for ALL levels of golfer and not too onerous for the higher handicap or even occasional player.  In 2017 we were pleased to welcome multiple Open Winner Tom Watson over when on Holiday – he really loved it!

www.royaldornoch.com

Dornoch Golf Club was formed in 1877 and is 15 miles from Estuary View Self Catering.  It became Royal in 1906 courtesy of King Edward VII.  Currently ranked 6th in World.  This championship course can be busy so book in advance – there is another 18 hole course served by the same clubhouse called the Struie.

www.castlestuartgolf.com

One of our new courses and already on the World Championship map as the home of the Scottish Open in recent years – superb!

www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

A traditional Scottish Highland links course designed by Old Tom Morris, situated 22 miles south of Brora – a delight to play.