Focus North is delighted to hear that our friends over at the Caithness Broch Project have pulled off a fantastic feat – securing planning permission to build the first broch in Scotland for more than 2000 years.
Yes, you read that correctly. A broch is an tall, round structure built during the Iron Age both as a dwelling and a status symbol. They’re pretty much unique to the north of Scotland and Caithness is home to more brochs than any other region in the world.
Caithness Broch Project has always taken a bold and unique approach to archaeological conservation and promotion, and their ambitious Big Broch Build project at Latheron is a case in point. Once built, it will offer a fantastic opportunity to inspire and educate locals and visitors about the history under our feet. It’s quite literally bringing the past to life – and we can’t wait to see it take shape.
Slow, authentic experiences
Tourism is one of the North Highlands’ quiet success stories – an industry that supports communities, sustains jobs, and celebrates the region’s unique identity. In Caithness and Sutherland, tourism isn’t just about welcoming visitors – it’s about building a vibrant, diverse economy that works for local people.
Tourism is a growing industry in North Highland, backed by £365k investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and ably represented by our destination management organisation Venture North.
Of course, Scotland is a bucket-list favourite with international visitors, bringing in over £4 billion a year to the national economy. Make no mistake, our global reputation is predicated on our unspoilt landscapes and unique heritage. It’s no surprise then, that archaeology and heritage tourism are one of the fastest growth areas. Scotland’s historic environment now generates around £6bn annually and supports 81,000 jobs. Many areas have seen visits to archaeological sites double in the past five years – a clear sign that visitors are drawn to places with deep history and authentic stories.
There’s plenty of that in North Highland – from clifftop castles and cairns to award-winning museums and lovingly restored historic buildings. See Venture North for a small selection. All this feeds into the growing appeal of slow tourism. Yes, we are right here on the popular North Coast 500 and we love to welcome responsible visitors looking for new experiences on our coasts and glens. But what’s even better is when people decide to put the brakes on. To get out of their cars and spend several days exploring our beautiful part of the world, hearing our stories and getting to know the diverse communities dotted across our landscape. We know that our visitors value the chance to reconnect with nature and embrace a more reflective style of travel.
Academic tourism
Looking ahead, the newly designated Flow Country World Heritage Site adds another exciting dimension to our tourism sector. As one of the world’s most important peatland landscapes, it has huge potential for academic and research tourism – attracting scientists, students and environmentalists from across the globe to study its ecosystems, carbon storage and cultural heritage. Our globally-respected UHI and Environmental Research Institute are right at the heart of that effort.
In all these ways, our tourist industry is rooted in our people, our place, and our role in building a sustainable future.
- Broch visualisation provided by Caithness Broch Project. Copyright Bob Marshall and Barry Scollay.