The colder days and longer nights don’t stop the fun in Caithness and Sutherland! Check out 15 of our great local events happening this winter and get them in your calendar.
LIVE MUSIC
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
NATURE WALKS
VOLUNTEERING
NEW YEAR EVENTS
LIVE MUSIC
It’s no secret that everyone loves a bit of live music and we’re fortunate to have enormously talented artists and events in the Scottish Highlands. Here are some of the live music events you can attend this winter:
Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich and Emma Macleod
Lochinver Village Hall, 25th November, 7.30pm
Gaelic, Scots and Irish song duo, Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich, along with their family, will perform at Lochinver Village Hall on 25th November as part of this year’s Blas Festival.
Singing songs from the Gaelic and Irish traditions, as well as newly composed material, drawing inspiration from music and cultures primarily from the North Atlantic fringe, this will be an evening of beautiful harmonic singing.
Also performing is Emma Macleod, Gaelic singer from Scalpay, who won the Traditional Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd in 2021.
For full details and tickets, please visit www.blas.scot
Norrie MacIver and HECLA
Strathy Village Hall, 27th November, 7.30pm
As part of this year’s Blas Festival, a festival celebrating Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scene, Norrie MacIver, singer/songwriter from Isle of Lewis and lead singer of folk band, Skipinnish, will perform at Strathy Village Hall on the 27th November. Norrie will be joined by Mhairi Marwick (Fat Suit) on fiddle and Alistair Iain Paterson (Skipinnish) on piano.
Also taking to the stage that night will be trio, HECLA, showcasing the intricacies of pipe and fiddle music in true Highland style putting their own winningly fresh spin on traditional melodies. Ilona Kennedy (fiddle), Caitlin McNeill (guitar/vocals) and Ailis Sutherland (pipes/flute/vocals) sew together a tapestry of melodies and lyrics echoing the places which have shaped their musical characters.
For full details and tickets, please visit www.blas.scot
Poür Me/Justboy/Keisha Sutherland/Kane Cameron
Mr C's Bar, Thurso, 27th November, 8pm till late
Free entry to this great live music night with a range of artists. Enjoy a drink at the bar while you discover your new favourite sound.
For more details, please visit Mr C's Facebook event
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
There’s no better place to shop local and find special gifts than at a Christmas market! Enjoy the festive feel of the day and indulge in some warm winter treats and drinks as you browse all the wonderful stalls.
Christmas Craft Market – Made in Assynt
Lochinver Village Hall, 27th November, 10am – 4pm
Discover the many fantastic crafters, artists, producers and creatives at the Made in Assynt Christmas Craft Market. Prepare for a great day out with lots to see!
For more details, please visit www.madeinassynt.co.uk
Dornoch Christmas Festival
Saturday 4th December
Come and enjoy a Day in Dornoch to launch the Christmas season! Do some Christmas shopping, enjoy our festive events and explore the town with its wide range of independent shops and cafes. You could even visit the museum before watching the Christmas lights ‘switch on’ and getting in festive voice with Carols in the Cathedral.
* The St Andrews fair is back at the Dornoch Social Club! Taking place from 10am until 4pm, with its fantastic raffle and stalls; arts, crafts, food items, clothing, bric a brac, photography, woodworking and lots more, it is the perfect place to find some unique presents! There will also be delicious home baking and refreshments to keep everyone warm and cosy.
* Santa has installed his grotto at the Dornoch Hub Christmas fair this year. Warm up with a bowl of soup before making some Christmas cards and having your (physically distanced!) photo taken with Santa! And don’t forget to get ready for Christmas with nail stickers from Cute-lckles by Tracey and glitter tattoos! Open from 10am until 2pm.
* The Outdoor Christmas Market, on the Cathedral Green, will take place from 10am until 2pm. It boasts a wide range of food and craft stalls showcasing products made locally. Food stalls include Cullisse Rapeseed Oil, charcuterie from Bogrow Farm, Christmas cakes and goodies from White Cottage Bakes and tea from Just Herbal Teas. On the craft stalls you will find many Christmas present ideas, from jewellery, paintings, textiles to candles, body care products, home accessories. Hot teas and coffees will be available on the day to keep you warm!
Lights Switch on: 3.30pm
Carols in the Cathedral: 4pm
For more details, please visit www.visitdornoch.com
Christmas Thurso Town Market
Olrig Street Gardens, 4th December, 12pm – 4pm
Our Town Markets began earlier in the year, and quickly became a popular success in Thurso, allowing crafters to interact with the community again after lockdown due to Covid-19, and renewing that feeling of togetherness that we had been sorely missing.
Now in December, we’re focusing on giving the stage to incredible fundraising groups in Thurso that similarly struggled due to restrictions, and we’re delighted to be able to support them going forward.
We hope to see the community out and about supporting these brilliant charities and local groups on December 4th, it’ll be a fab day out!
For more details, please visit www.thursocdt.co.uk
Golspie Inn Christmas Market
Golspie Inn, 12th December, 12:00pm
Our very first Christmas Market at Golspie Inn is gearing up to be a great day out featuring lots of local crafters, makers and producers from the Highlands. Enjoy discovering unique and special gifts for all ages, and maybe even treat yourself to an early Christmas present or two!
We’ll be serving tasty hot food and drinks to go along with your shopping experience and you can even take an afternoon stroll to the beautiful Big Burn Falls which are just around the corner. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday 12th!
For more details, please visit the Golspie Inn Facebook event
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
If you just can’t get enough of Christmas and are looking for more Christmas events to get involved with we have some brilliant fun festive events in the local area!
Thurso Christmas Fun Day
Thurso, Saturday 4th December
Looking forward to a great day out shopping in Thurso as the local shops and traders fill the town with festive cheer! Caithness FM will keep things dancing and there will be a competition for Best Dressed Window and Best Dressed Staff. So pop on down, pick up your Christmas pressies and enjoy the day!
For more details, please visit the Thurso Christmas Lights Facebook event
Rumplestiltskin
Wed 8th - Fri 10th & Fri 17th - Sat 18th December @ 7pm
Sat 11th December Matinee @ 2pm
Mill Theatre, Thurso
(livestreams available, please see website for details)
Thurso Players’ traditional family pantomime is back this year with the tale of Rumplestiltskin, by author Gareth Preston. Director Kane Cameron and his cast have been enjoying rehearsals back at the Mill and have been working hard to bring the magic back to Thurso.
The peaceful kingdom of Cheeseboardia is suddenly suffering from greedy monarchs thanks to an evil goblin, there's fun with a cow-llama, good jokes and we couldn't be happier to return to the Mill Theatre for an intimate Christmas show!
For more details, please visit thursoplayers.org.uk
Santa Brunch
Mackays Hotel - Wick, 11th December, 11:30am – 2pm
Santa's coming to Wick and you can join him for a tasty brunch at Mackays Hotel!
We have a fantastic menu lined up that's sure to satisfy both the little kids and big kids (adults) and there's no better way to kick off the festive season than with food, fun and friends. So get ready for a great day out with lots of memories to be made!
Saturday 11th December
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
To book your place please call 01955 602323
Please note: Santa apologises that his reindeer can't all fit into the dining room at Mackay's Hotel but promises they are having a great time at the North Pole and enjoying their own Christmas treats.
For more details, please visit Mackays Hotel Facebook post
Tea with Santa
The Central Hotel – Thurso, 12th December, 12:00-2pm & 2:30-4:00pm
Join Santa and his elves for a tea party at The Centre Hotel, Thurso. Booking is essential and you can contact Thurso Festival Lights at [email protected] or via Facebook Messenger.
For more details, please visit Thurso Christmas Lights Facebook event
NATURE WALKS
If you’re looking for an activity where you can get out and about and meet others in the local area this winter then High Life Countryside Rangers run a great series of walks year-round for you to enjoy!
High Life Countryside Ranger Led Walks
Armadale Burn Loop Walk, 2nd December
Sletell Settlement Loop Walk, 16th December
Ben Dorrery & Beinn Freiceadain Loop Walk, 22nd December
High Life Ranger service run a variety of guided walks and events. We try and cater for all ages and abilities by providing a combination of short walks and longer more arduous walks. We aim to help people reconnect with the natural world, to see and learn things that they might not otherwise have seen or appreciated.
On our walks we want folk to enjoy some exercise, friendly company, great views, and fresh air. All the details of our guided walks can be found on the High Life Highland website where you can find details on where to book.
All walks are free but would ask for a donation. All proceeds are used to further the work of the Ranger service in promoting and protecting the wildlife in the Highlands.
There are four High Life Highland Rangers in Caithness and Sutherland. Paul Castle covers North Sutherland and north Caithness, Donald Mitchell covers NW Sutherland based at Durness and Andy Summers (Senior Ranger for North Highlands) covers Assynt.
However we have a new member of staff who started last week covering Wick and East Caithness. Roz Summers will be our new full time Ranger covering the maternity leave for Kirsty Rosie.
Details on how to contact the rangers is on our website and you can also follow us on our Caithness and Sutherland Facebook.
The Armadale Burn loop walk on the 2nd December will be a chance to discover this wonderful glacial meltwater gorge at Armadale in north Sutherland, passing a broch and on to a moorland loch for our packed lunch. There may be some rough/wet ground and a shallow river ford to cross.
Meanwhile on the 16th December, we will visit the atmospheric deserted settlement of Sletell. It is a longer hill walk (8.5km) over some rough ground with stunning views of Ben Loyal, Ben Hope and the Rabbit Islands.
Then if you want a lovely pre-Christmas hill walk on 22nd December why not join Paul on the Ben Dorrery & Beinn Freiceadain Loop Walk in Caithness. It will assure wonderful views across the interior of Caithness from these low hills.
VOLUNTEERING
If you want to spend some time giving back this winter season and meeting others with a heart for improving our communities and landscapes then you could join the John Muir Trust for one of their volunteering days.
John Muir Trust Volunteering Days
Little Assynt Tree Nursery, 6th & 20th December
John Muir Trust run year-round volunteering opportunities on Quinag in Assynt. These days run fortnightly on Mondays and the next one is 6th December. Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills and help us work towards habitat improvement.
Volunteer days run from 10am -3pm. We always meet in the morning at the Little Assynt Tree Nursery. Little Assynt Field IV27 4HB near Lochinver. This is nearly 5miles from Lochinver on the A837. Work at the tree nursery involves weeding, moving trees around and grading trees.
In the afternoon we head out to Quinag and do some work on John Muir Trust land. This could be bracken bashing, footpath repairs or surveying. We meet in the afternoon at 1pm at Quinag Carpark.
Please bring lunch if you are staying all day, drink, waterproofs, sturdy boots and work gloves. If you are interested in coming along to help please email Romany at: [email protected]
For further information, please visit www.johnmuirtrust.org/support-us/volunteer
NEW YEAR EVENTS
So you’ve partied all night and now you want to jump in to the New Year with a splash? Luckily for you we have just the thing!
Click on the image above to watch the video!
Dornoch Loony Dook
Dornoch Beach Car Park, 1st January 2022, 10.45am for 11.00am splash
The Loony Dook, is a traditional Scottish event which takes place each New Year’s day. People gather together on beaches around Scotland and dive into the freezing water! What an invigorating way to bring in the New Year!!! The name “Loony Dook” is a combination of “Loony” (Crazy!) and “Dook”, a Scots term meaning “dip” or “bathe”.
Join us on Dornoch Beach this New Year’s Day at 10.45am for an 11.00am splash! If you don’t fancy joining in yourself then come and watch the brave souls taking part! There is soup and porridge available to keep warm.
For more details, please visit www.visitdornoch.com
Thurso New Year Soakin’
Thurso Beach, 1st January 2022, time TBC
It’s been a while since we’ve managed to get the town together for a good soak at New Year, but we’re very excited to be able to hold it again this year!
We missed out on doing it last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, but we’re looking forward to welcoming in 2022 with a chilly dip on Thurso’s stunning beach!
Our last New Year Soakin’ raised money for the harbour restoration project, and involved lots of hot food and drinks to share afterwards, with some help from the RNLI and Pentland Canoe Club to make sure we didn’t float off!
For more details, please visit www.thursocdt.co.uk
We hope you enjoyed reading about all the fantastic events happening this winter around Sutherland and Caithness. Don’t forget to check out our What’s On calendar for more great local events and keep your eye on local social media as there’s always lots going on!
Did you know that you can add your own events to our What’s On calendar? Simply click here and fill in the online form.
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