Example seven day itinerary

With a full week, guests tend to fall into a natural rhythm of energetic days exploring balanced with time for relaxed mornings, unhurried walks, cosy fires and intimate meals.

Some guests plan everything in advance; others decide what to do each morning. We’re happy to help either way. We can arrange:

Private chefs and catering (from relaxed to fully hosted)
Drivers and transfers
Surf guides, boat trips, fishing
Tours with local experts
Sauna hire, massage and beauty treatments
Detailed itineraries
Reservations for local restaurants

Staying at House of the Northern Gate works particularly well when days are allowed to unfold. Guests often arrive with ideas and lists of things they would like to do, fitting these in as the weather and tides allow.

What follows is not a fixed schedule, but a suggestion for how to spend seven days.

Day 1

Arrive, settle in and unwind

Guests usually arrive from Inverness or Wick airports, with transfers arranged if helpful. You are met on arrival, we can help you with your bags and show you the views across the Pentland Firth and the estate.

The first evening is often deliberately simple:

A relaxed dinner at the house (self-catered or prepared by a chef)
The fire lit in advance for you according to the weather
A quiet evening settling in, and perhaps a wee dram

Day 2

Orient yourself around the estate and Peedie Sands beach

Guests normally prepare their own breakfasts while staying but these can also be catered. We can help you with your food order if required. Start the day with a good coffee and enjoy fresh bread from the bread machine with local jam.

Mid-morning, take a walk from the house down to the beach on the estate, Peedie Sands, or explore further along the estate paths.

In the afternoon: drive to Dunnet Head (the northernmost point of the mainland United Kingdom) to see the views, the World War 2 history and the birds (including puffins at the right time of year). Stop at Brough Harbour on the way back to catch a glimpse of the local seals.

Dinner at the end of your first full day might be cooked by a private chef or enjoyed as a shared meal at the house. Maybe let us book a piper or a display of Highland dancing to welcome in dinner?

Day 3

Surf and explore the Atlantic coast

Head to Dunnet Bay for surfing with North Coast Watersports. For non-surfers, Dunnet Bay offers pleasant walking.

On your return, perhaps book the local sauna on site.

In the afternoon you could go on a local excursion:

John O’Groats, for its coastal walks, tourist shops and a photo by the famous sign
Duncansby Stacks, a short but striking walk to towering sea stacks
Castle of Mey, bought by the Queen Mother while staying at the house and still used by the King each year
Scotland’s Haven, a sea pool with a glorious approach.

Day 4

Boats, fishing and distilleries

On your third full day, you could:

Take a boat trip to see local scenery, wildlife or to fish.
Visit one of the excellent distilleries nearby, including Old Pulteney, Wolfburn, North Point, Dunnet Bay Distillers, Stannergill (serves food) or Eight Doors.
Enjoy a massage, sauna or beauty treatment at the house

Enjoy peace and quiet at the house

Maybe enjoy lunch at the new restaurant at Stannergill distillery in the newly renovated Castletown mill with a view across the bay to the house.

Day 5

Orkney: an extension of the stay

Some guests choose to take a day trip to Orkney, travelling via the 60-minute car ferry from nearby Gills Bay.

We can help arrange:

Private guided tours of Orkney’s Neolithic, Viking, and wartime sites
Highlights such as Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Italian Chapel

Guests usually return to the house tired, exhilarated, and full of stories — ready for a quiet dinner.

Day 6

Drive west or a round of golf

You may want to drive west along the NC500, one of Scotland’s most dramatic coastal roads. You could head to Forsinard to get a feel for the Flow Country or for a longer outing, head to Tongue, Durness or to Ben Hope for a hike up Scotland’s most northerly Munro. The 2hr climb is steady rather than technical, and the views from the summit stretch across lochs, hills, and out to the sea.

Other guests may opt for a relaxed round of coastal golf.

Return to the house for dinner together and maybe some games.

Day 7

Wrapping up

On your final day, try one of the excursions listed under Day 3 or revisit what you loved most:

Another swim at Peedie Sands
A return to a favourite beach or café
A final distillery visit or coastal walk

The next morning it will be time to leave. We will see you on your way with a firm "haste ye back".