Travel Guide Tongue

Tongue is beautifully situated in the heart of the eponymous kyle, its romantic and grandiose bay. The bridge that joins the two shores is a beautiful sight in itself and crossing it is one of the highlights of a North Coast 500 road trip. The seawall provides stunning views of Ben Hope and Ben Loyal to the south and the sea to the north. The village seems more bucolic than its neighbor Durness, perhaps because of the surrounding meadows and gentle coastline. It is a small village with a few shops and accommodation facilities. It also has its castle, Castle Varich, which is particularly photogenic and emblematic of the Highland imagination. Push on to the charming port of Talmine: it is also worth a stop.While in the Tongue area, don't miss the short walk to Castle Varrick hill, which dominates the surroundings. Its remains provide beautiful views and a glimpse of their former glory when this Clan MacKay fortress was built in the 14th century. The trail begins beside the RBS bank at the corner of the A838. It is less than 2 miles round trip. Heading west on the Durness Road, you can also take a detour to Loch Hope and its wild shores. The road along it leads to Broch Dun Dornaigil, a ruined Iron Age tower that is very photogenic. For beautiful beaches between the cliffs, go to Bettyhill, in the north-east, and more particularly to Far Bay.