Keiss Castle in Caithness

The ruins of Old Keiss Castle stand on the cliffs overlooking Sinclair’s Bay in Caithness. Although the castle is no longer safe to explore, it is a wonderful landmark on the coastline. It’s a great destination for a local walk while staying with us at the Ulbster Arms Hotel. It’s around a half-hour drive away from our hotel, making for a perfect trip out.

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Keiss Castle walks

Head to Keiss village, where you’ll find parking on the High Street or at the harbour. From there, you can take a footpath along the coast, for picturesque views of the ruins of the old castle ruins. There are also two Iron Age brochs near the start of the path. Take care, as the surface is quite rugged and uneven. If you’d like to take a longer walk, you can follow this walking trail from Nybster to Keiss, which takes around 3 hours to complete. This longer route will also take you past Nybster Broch, the fascinating remains of an Iron Age settlement.

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Old boat on the banks near Keiss Harbour

History of Keiss Castle

Old Keiss Castle was built around 1600 by George Sinclair, the 5th Earl of Caithness. Perched high and overlooking Sinclair Bay, it served as a strategic coastal stronghold. It remained in the Sinclair family, but eventually was abandoned and replaced with a newer residence in 1755, which was known as Keiss House. This was extensively renovated to look more like a castle in 1860, and today, it is often referred to as New Keiss Castle. The old castle is not safe to enter, due to years of decay, but it has become an imposing sight on the clifftops, popular with walkers, photographers and history lovers.

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Keiss village, harbour and beach

Whilst in Keiss, you can visit the small village, where you’ll find the friendly Village Inn for refreshments. You can also take a look around the harbour, which was built in 1820. There is also a lovely sandy beach with views over to Sinclair’s Bay and Noss Head Lighthouse.

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Lobster pots in the harbour at Keiss

Keep exploring

There is so much more to see and do around Caithness in Scotland. Explore our things to do guide for more ideas, from outdoor adventures to travelling the North Coast 500. Base yourself at the Ulbster Arms Hotel and all this is on your doorstep!

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Book your stay in Caithness

Book your stay at the Ulbster Arms Hotel in Halkirk. It’s the perfect base for walking and hiking in the far north of Scotland. Call us today on 01847 831 641 or contact us for more information.

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Testimonials

My wife and I while backpacking had camped along the banks of the Thurso. We were awaken by a fisherman after a very cold, wet and windy night. He recommended we visit the Ulbster for lunch and a warm drink. The staff had gotten word from the fisherman that my wife and I had slept in the storm that night and were kind enough to put us up in a room at a very discounted price. We were able to shower which had been quit a while and it allowed us to dry out our clothes and equipment. The following morning the staff let us leisurely hangout and even suggested several things we see and do while we finished our tour of scotland. I can not speak highly enough of the staff at the hotel. Dinner was amazing as well !!! If you ever want to hear some amazing fishing stories just take a seat and enjoy. Cant wait to return.

A fantastic stay yet again for a short fishing break.||Jess and the team looked after us tremendously well as always, and a special thank you to Holly for sorting out a last minute room for me thanks to a booking error on my part.||Steaks in the bar arrived just as ordered.||Looking forward to returning again soon

This place is great!! We had the best meal here tonight, delicious dishes and beautiful presentation, and the deserts were 5 star!! The service we received from the staff was first class, would highly recommend the ulbster arms.
Can’t wait to return.

Very cosy and spacious rooms with large bathroom and hall. Value for money is one of the best on NC500 – nice stay with breakfast included are less than for a hundred pounds. The hotel also has a bar, a restaurant and lobby & library, where you can rest after trip. The off street parking area is large and very convenient.

The breakfast was exceptional. Well-cooked full breakfast. A very good selection of fresh fruit was particularly notable. Service was very efficient and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable about the local area.

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