Fiddlers Green

You can start exploring right from the shepherd’s hut. Badninish (five minutes’ walk) is a small crofting community surrounded by majestic hills and teeming with nature – get out and about on foot in Clashnagrave Wood (20 minutes’ walk). A little further afield, jump in the car and drive part of the North Coast 500 trail to majestic Dunrobin Castle and Gardens (20 minutes’ drive) or to the pretty settlement of Helmsdale (40 minutes). Seaside Dornoch (10 minutes’ drive) has seemingly endless sandy beaches to meander along, as well as a medieval cathedral. Find out about local traditions at the Historylinks Museum. Golfing addicts can play on a links or championship course, and cyclists can set off on a circular route taking in Loch Buidhe (an hour’s cycle) from the town. Budding naturalists stand a very good chance of spotting seals banking on sandbanks at Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve (10 minutes’ drive), where ospreys can sometimes be seen too. Anglers keen to catch salmon in season will need to book ahead to fish on the River Helmsdale (40 minutes).