The Royal Burgh of Dornoch is an historic small town on the edge of the Dornoch Firth, a designated National Scenic Area in the Highlands of Scotland. Its tranquil location, scenery and climate have attracted visitors for decades. Some come to test their golfing skills on Royal Dornoch's championship course, or to walk and view wildlife in the National Nature Reserve at nearby Loch Fleet. Others simply want to relax and enjoy our unhurried way of life.

Once the spiritual and administrative capital of Sutherland, Dornoch remains a thriving community today. Small in population (under 2500) but large in hospitality, Dornoch offers visitors and residents a wide range of shops and businesses, five hotels, two golf courses, two schools, a further and higher education college and an award-winning sandy beach. Its fine buildings include the 13th Century cathedral, a bishop's palace (now a hotel), courthouse and old town jail. Sandstone cottages and town houses line its peaceful streets and lanes.

Dornoch might feel off the beaten track, but it's only an hour from Inverness Airport, five minutes from the A9, and now has 8MB BT Broadband internet access.

In 2005 Dornoch became the first 'Fair Trade Town' in the Highlands and one of the first 100 in Britain. Many of our shops, hotels, businesses, churches and schools offer Fair Trade products.

Come and hear our Pipe Band play on summer Saturday evenings, or choose Dornoch as your Wedding location - Madonna did! Take a tour around our website and find out more.

DORNOCH IN THE NATIONAL PRESS! The Scottish "Sunday Herald" newspaper invited people to nominate an entry in their 99 Things We Love About Scotland list, published in April. Fiona Hampton, director of Highland 07, suggested the only community nominated: Dornoch. She said: "For me, it's the historic town of Dornoch in the highlands. It's where I was married, in the cathedral. It's also the place where my son was christened and where you have one of the best golf courses in the world, Royal Dornoch. I love the fact that you can experience the best of Highland culture and heritage in the town and feel you are really part of things at the same time. And the surroundings are among the best in the world: a mixture of fantastic coastal scenery and the typical Highland countryside. I can't think of enough great words to describe it." Thank you, Fiona!