Keiss Beach
The longest beach in Caithness popular with dog walkers and ramblers.
what3words Location
Distance
- Approx. 3km round trip if walking to SubSea7, at which point the beach comes Reiss Sands - there is a small burn here which needs to be crossed. The total length of Keiss Beach and Reiss Sands is just under 5km.
Parking
- Small public car park next to the beach (free).
Accessibility
- Fitness Level 1: Very Easy
- Not Wheelchair Accessible
Additional Information
A lovely, long beach - perfect to blow away the cobwebs and to enjoy North Sea waves lapping against the shoreline. This is a popular destination for walkers, runners, kite-surfers, and nature-spotters. A longer stroll across Reiss Sands can be had if you're prepared to cross a small and shallow stream - waterproof shoes or wellies will help you here!
WW2 defences can be spotted beside the parking, a reminder of the strategic importance of this beach.
The scant remains of 'Castle Linglas' or Wester Broch can be spotted just to the west of the burn which separates Keiss Beach from Reiss Sands. The broch was excavated by noted Caithness antiquarian Francis Tress Barry in 1908, where "Three rounded quartzite painted pebbles; various bone implements; stone discs; whorls; pebbles and implements; horn handles. Also found but seemingly not donated were an upper quern stone, a saddle quern, and fragments of very coarse pottery. Over top of wall of broch, and in sand which covered it, were four extended burials in cists. The bones of a child were found in one of outbuildings." were discovered.
Did You Know?
The sunken vessel in Sinclair’s Bay is that of the German destroyer V81, which was destroyed at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The V81 was understood to have been salvaged from Scapa Flow – where the German Fleet was scuttled in 1919 – and was under tow to a breakers yard in Rosyth when strong winds caused it to founder off Caithness. The wreck lies just below the surface and on occasion parts are exposed on the shore at low tide!