Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Hill o'Many Stanes, 2 miles beyond the Camster turn-off on the A99, is a curious,
fan-shaped arrangement of 22 rows of small stones that probably date from around 2000
BC. Staggeringly, there were 600 in the original pattern. On a sunny day, the views from
this hill are stunning.
Getting There & Away
Stagecoach buses between Thurso and Inverness run via Lybster and Dunbeath. There's
also a coastal service from Wick to Helmsdale stopping at these places.
Wick
POP 7300
More gritty than pretty, Wick has been down on its luck since the collapse of the herring
industry. It was once the world's largest fishing port for the 'silver darlings', but when the
market dropped off after WWII, job losses were huge and the town hasn't totally re-
covered. These days Wick is an important local service centre and transport terminus. It's
worth a look, particularly for its excellent museum, which puts everything in context, and
its attractive, spruced-up harbour area.
Sights & Activities
A path leads a mile south from town to the ruins of 12th-century Old Wick Castle , with
the spectacular cliffs of the Brough and the Brig , as well as Gote o'Trams , a little further
south. In good weather, it's a fine coastal walk to the castle, but take care on the final ap-
proach. Three miles northeast of Wick is the magnificently located clifftop ruin of Castle
Sinclair .
MUSEUM
Wick Heritage Centre
( 01955-605393; www.wickheritage.org ; 20 Bank Row; adult/child £4/50p;
10am-5pm Mon-Sat Apr-Oct, last entry 3.45pm) Tracking the rise and fall of the herring
industry, this great town museum displays everything from fishing equipment to complete
herring boats. It's absolutely huge inside, and is crammed with memorabilia and extensive
displays describing Wick's heyday in the mid-19th century.
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