Guide to The Flow Country World Heritage Site

We’ll make a promise to you – by the time you’ve read this Guide to The Flow Country World Heritage Site, you’ll look at blanket bogs in a different light!

The Flow Country, Scotland’s wild heart, is a mesmerising expanse of peat bogs and wetlands rich in biodiversity. It is a sanctuary for rare wildlife and a vital carbon sink. With its tranquil beauty and untamed landscapes, the Flow Country attracts explorers eager to experience Scotland at its purest form. Read on to discover more.

Where is the Flow Country?

In Northern Scotland lies a blanket bog covering vast areas of land – 400,000 hectares (1,500 square miles) - including the counties of Caithness and Sutherland.

Also known as the Flow Country, this bog plays an essential role in protecting the environment, wildlife and even history (some archaeological sites have been uncovered here).

After a long campaign by supporters, The Flow Country was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 26 July 2024.

Joining iconic sites like Neolithic Orkney, The Forth Bridge and Edinburgh’s Old and New Town, Scotland now has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We previously wrote a blog post about what a UNESCO World Heritage Site is. You can take a look at this here.

So why would a blanket bog be granted such a title? The answer requires us to first understand what these bogs actually are…

What are blanket bogs?

Blanket bogs thrive in areas with cooler weather and plenty of rain – so it figures that Scotland is home to such a significant piece of land! An area of peat, pools and often a lack of trees makes a blanket bog easy to spot.

The Flow Country is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to rare and stunning species. From the haunting call of the red-throated diver to the elegant flight of the hen harrier, its wetlands and peat bogs provide a safe haven for nesting birds.

It would be prudent to keep your wits about you, though - snakes also call the Flow Country their home, including Adders, which also happen to be the only venomous snake to live in the UK.

We also mentioned that the blanket bog has environmental benefits, which come down to a method called carbon sequestration and storage.

This means that carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, which in turn reduces the amount emitted and is thought to be important in our fight against global warming.

Becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Flow Country’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination journey started in 2017, in an effort to preserve its unique peat bog ecosystem. A submission to UNESCO was made in 2021, with the award being made three years later, when this unique region of Scotland was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, confirming the Flow Country’s status as a natural treasure of international importance.

Caithness Tourist Attractions

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that we told you the blanket bog covers a large area, including Caithness. That region has many tourist attractions worth mentioning, and we are going to explore some of them here.

Dunnet Head

From stone monuments to castles and now to nature reserves, you won’t be short of things to do and places to explore in Caithness.

Dunnet Head is situated at the tip of the UK, offering visitors views, luscious landscapes and some brilliant birds, including Puffins, Guillemots and Kittiwakes.

It also has an important history – due to its location, Dunnet Head played a role during the Second World War, as evident in the disused military buildings you can see today.

Achavanich Standing Stones

If you are a fan of stone monuments, you are in luck – Caithness is home to its very own monument: standing stones that resemble a horseshoe and are a mighty 4000 years old.

The stones are thought to date from The Bronze Age, but their purpose remains a riddle. If you visit, keep an eye out for the nearby Loch Stemster - it’s our top tip!

The Whaligoe Steps

From Dunnet Head to the Whaligoe Steps – both landmarks that reside by the water, both a haven for birdlife and each boasting distinctive monikers!

The Whaligoe Steps are said to consist of 330 steps (although this number can vary slightly depending on the source you’re looking at) that, when walked down, will take you to a harbour built by Captain David Brodie.

Once used by fisherwomen as a route to transport their wares, it is now more likely to see seabirds on your journey than sea creatures!

The Grey Cairns of Camster

The neolithic Grey Cairns of Camster are Scottish stone structures said to have acted as burial tombs over 5000 years ago.

There are two cairns - The Long Cairn, which is nearly 60m long by 20m wide and the smaller Round Cairn, which is around 18 m in diameter.

Internal investigations have revealed that chambers exist inside these cairns, which indicates their preservation state.

The cairns have a remote location, which adds to their mystery. They were first excavated in the 1800s when human remains, rudimentary flint tools and pottery items were found.

John o’Groats

Somewhat ironically, we end at John o’Groats, found at the topmost part of mainland Scotland (and the UK). This remote village is renowned as being one end of the famous Land’s End to John O’Groats journey.

In addition to its location, John o’Groats is a picturesque village that is a must for keen walkers, wildlife fanatics, and birdwatchers, especially those who appreciate beautiful Scottish scenery.

Castles of Caithness

Caithness is also home to two castles, both of which have a rich history and are featured on one of our latest blogs, 10 North Coast 500 Castles.

Castle of Mey

The Castle of Mey has a rather gruesome history that involves the murder of one brother by another - it takes the saying “keep it in the family” to a whole other level! The Castle of Mey acted as the seat for the Earls of Caithness, although it masqueraded as Barrogill Castle during this time.

Eventually, the castle was sold to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in 1952, when its name was changed back to the Castle of Mey.

The castle is now owned by a trust supported by King Charles III through The King’s Foundation.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

The second castle in Caithness is Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, which, although now a ruin, was once coveted by the Sinclairs, the Earls of Caithness, dating back to the late medieval/early modern era.

Interestingly, the ruins were once believed to be the remains of two castles, although it is now known they originated from a single building.

An incident involving cannon fire in 1690 resulted in Castle Sinclair Girnigoe no longer being occupied… and that has lasted to this day. A trust has been set up for this castle to ensure it doesn’t fall into disrepair, although certain features have remained despite its precariously close proximity to the water.

Despite being in a ruinous state, Castle Sinclair Girnigoe has been added to the World Monuments Watch list, which has enabled some work to be carried out to hopefully ensure the castle's survival.

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Picture credits: VisitScotland and Shutterstock