Stacks of Duncansby.

Start. Duncansby Head.

Route. Duncansby Head - Geo of Sclaites - Stacks of Duncansby - Geo of Sclaites - Duncansby Head.

Notes. John o’ Groats with all it’s tourist attractions takes the fame, but Duncansby Head is actually the northeastern tip of the mainland, many people miss the head for the more commercial end of the road, they also miss the immense rock pinnacles of Duncansby Stacks and the spectacular east coast of Caithness. This was a flying visit, we had time to kill before catching the ferry across the Pentland Firth to Orkney, so why not re-visit the Stacks of Duncansby.

The car park at Duncansby Head was busy, we found a space and slotted the car in, no need for a map, we just followed the path south into stunning coastal scenery. The stacks aren't visible from the car park but as you climb the low rise tilt into view, we passed a geo, a massive cleft in the face of the sea cliffs, honed out by wave driven erosion, one of two on Duncansby Head.

With the stacks in view it would be rude not to take a closer look, so keeping an eye on the time we descended to get close up and personal. There’s a couple of good view points (if you have a head for heights), after checking them out we re-traced our steps. In a few hours we’d be on Orkney, more geos, sea stacks and bloody dizzy views from massive sea cliffs, with a bit of pre history thrown in.

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First view of the Stacks of Duncansby.

Moody looking slit cutting deep into Duncansby Head, the fearsome Geo of Sclaites.

Stunning views down the east coast of Caithness.

The Stacks of Duncansby like jagged daggers rising from the North Sea.

The most northerly point in the British Isles, Dunnet Head.

Viewing The Knee from the cliff top above Thirle Door.

Hazy views down the awesome Caithness coast.

Views over the moorland of Duncansby to the small communities of Duncansby and John o' Groats, on a hazy horizon the Island of Stroma.

Jutting out into the Pentland Firth, Dunnet Head.

Sometimes fearsome seas, always infinite horizons and superb rock architecture, Caithness.

Teeth of rock gnawing at the sky.

Flashing white every 12 seconds, guarding the headland since 1924, constructed under the supervision of David Alan Stevenson to replace a fog signal, Duncansby Head Light House.

Views along the north coast from Ducansby Head.

Melting into the haze Muckle Skerry the largest of the Pentland Skerries.

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