Beaches and coastal walks

The closest beach is at Portmahomack, just a two-minute drive away. The Port Stores rents out paddleboards and kayaks. Fish for crabs off the harbour wall.

The expansive sands of Shandwick beach are a twenty-minute drive away. Visit as part of a trip around the Seaboard Villages and Pictish Trail.

Walk along the two-mile stretch of golden sand at Dornoch as part of a day trip to Dornoch and Dunrobin castle.

The peninsula offers lots of opportunities for coastal walks. The Mandrel lies just inland from the magnificent Tarbat Ness lighthouse and there is a short walk around the tip of the headland from the lighthouse car park which is ideal for an early morning or evening stroll.

For longer walks:

1. Drive to Portmahomack to follow the Tarbat Ness Circuit. Or you can split this walk into two separate coastal walks directly from The Mandrel:

- for the northern side of the headland, walk out of the house, turn left and walk up the road to Tarbat Ness Lighthouse. Take the coastal path to the north side of the peninsula to Portmahomack and then back up the road to the house. It's about 7 miles in total and makes for an ideal Sunday activity if you stop in The Castle Inn in Portmahomack for lunch.

- for the southern side of the headland, walk out of the house and turn right to walk down the road to Portmahomack. Walk past the golf course and school and follow the sign to Rockfield. Walk down into the village and turn left along the coastal path. At Tarbat Ness Lighthouse car park walk back to The Mandrel along the road.

2. Walk along Portmahomack beach and carry on towards the village of Inver.

3. If you are a party with two cars, leave a car at Balintore, drive back to Rockfield and walk along the south side of the peninsula to Balintore where you can stop for a drink or a meal in the Balintore Inn before picking your car up in Rockfield on the way home.