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Natural Monuments

View of Duncansby Stacks

Natural Monuments

View of Duncansby Stacks

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

View of Duncansby Stacks

Recommended by 111 hikers out of 114

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

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Best Hiking Routes to View of Duncansby Stacks

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1. 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

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2. 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

4.8

(27)

116

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3. Duncansby Stacks – View of Duncansby Stacks loop from John o' Groats

9.88km

02:42

150m

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

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Moderate

Tips

Gerald Friedrich

May 19, 2025

Good hiking trail with views.

Translated by Google •

Willem VS

January 17, 2024

Duncansby Head is the most northeasterly part of both the Scottish and British mainlands, slightly northeast of John o’ Groats1. It is marked by a lighthouse built in 1924 and a site of special scientific interest for its wildlife and sea stacks. You can visit it by walking along the coast from John o’ Groats and enjoy the stunning views of the North Sea and the Orkney Islands.

Mark Saunders

December 31, 2023

Duncansby Head is the most northeasterly point of the Scottish and British mainlands. It is a 64 m (210 ft) high headland that protrudes into the North Sea with the Pentland Firth to its north and west and the Moray Firth to its south. Duncansby Head is a ‘must-see’ for hikers who enjoy dramatic natural scenery.

One of the best places to view Duncansby Head is from the south atop the grassy sandstone cliffs near to the Duncansby Stacks. From here on a clear day you will see the whole headland including its lighthouse, the gully called the Geo of Sclaites, and the offshore sea stack called The Knee. The stunning view may also be enhanced by sights of the island called Muckle Skerry (8 km distant) and its Pentland Skerries Lighthouse, and by distant views of the Orkney Islands.

An additional highlight of viewing Duncansby Head from this location is that it offers - by looking east and south - fine close-up views of the Duncansby Stacks and their large seabird colonies.

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Details

Informations

Distance 200 m

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 20 m

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Thursday 11 December

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Max wind speed: 44.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Bay of Sannick

Duncansby Stacks

Geo of Sclaites

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End of the John O'Groats Trail

Approach to John O' Groats Harbour

View of Duncansby Stacks

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

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

3. Duncansby Stacks – View of Duncansby Stacks loop from John o' Groats

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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