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Natural Monuments

Duncansby Stacks

Natural Monuments

Duncansby Stacks

Highlight • Natural Monument

Duncansby Stacks

Recommended by 204 hikers out of 205

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Location: Dunnet And Canisbay, Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Duncansby Stacks

4.8

(148)

545

hikers

1. John O'Groats to Duncansby Head loop

8.91km

02:23

100m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(29)

294

hikers

2. Duncansby Head Lighthouse – Geo of Sclaites loop from John o' Groats

2.85km

00:49

70m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.8

(25)

213

hikers

3. Duncansby Head Lighthouse – Duncansby Stacks loop from John o' Groats

4.05km

01:09

100m

90m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Mark Saunders

December 11, 2023

Duncansby Stacks are one of Scotland’s best natural phenomena - and they are easy to view during a hiking tour close to John o’ Groats!

Duncansby Stacks are two visually-impressive 60 m high sea stacks (offshore pinnacles of steep-sided rock) located to the immediate south of Duncansby Head (the most northeasterly part of the British mainland) in Caithness. A third rock promontory called Thirle Door is in the process of becoming a stack but still remains attached to the mainland.

The offshore stacks are remnants of where the coastline used to be. They were formed by sea and storm weathering and have existed for at least 6000 years. The stacks are made of a coarse-grained sandstone rock that dates from the Devonian geological era 385 million years ago. The tallest stack is called the Great Stack and is actually higher than the nearby mainland.

The grassy path that descends south from Duncansby Head and the Geo of Sclaites provides superb views of the Duncansby Stacks and of the Thirle Door arch! The two stacks and Thirle Door will appear nearly-aligned in a row.

An additional highlight of viewing Duncansby Stacks is that - depending upon season - you may see them covered by large seabird colonies.

Marion

August 22, 2017

From the lighthouse you can walk along the coast and have a great view.
In the parking lot at the lighthouse you can stay overnight with the motorhome.

Translated by Google •

Uwe

October 2, 2017

In the morning, the stacks are well in the light.

Translated by Google •

Details

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Elevation 10 m

Weather

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Monday 19 January

8°C

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Max wind speed: 36.0 km/h

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Dunnet And Canisbay, Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Geo of Sclaites

View of Duncansby Head Lighthouse

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

John O'Groats Signpost

Café Groats

View of Duncansby Head and Coast

View of Duncansby Stacks

John O'Groats

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe Entrance

Duncansby Head Lighthouse

Paddington Bear Statue, John O' Groats

Duncansby Stacks

1. John O'Groats to Duncansby Head loop

2. Duncansby Head Lighthouse – Geo of Sclaites loop from John o' Groats

3. Duncansby Head Lighthouse – Duncansby Stacks loop from John o' Groats

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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