Reiss Bay

KW1 4RW
Sandy Beach
Free Parking at Wick Golf Club
Food and Drink available at Golf Club
Dog Friendly Beach
No Public Toilets
No ATM nearby

The beach at the southern end of Sinclairs Bay, known locally as Reiss Beach, is spectacularly beautiful. The long stretch of pure, white sands alongside the azure waters of the North Sea will take your breath away. Take a walk along the endless beach, or amongst the gentle sand-dunes.

Come here in summer to experience the amazing light- in June the sun does not set until almost midnight, Come here in winter and you might be lucky enough to see an unforgettable display of the Northern Lights.  The waters are supposed to be too cold for swimming bu I doubt that would stop my youngest. The occasional surfer can be seen enjoying the waves in the more sheltered part of the bay.

The village of Reiss, about 15 miles south of John O’Groats, has an 18-hole golf course.

Opposite the golf course is a free car park and from here visitors can make their way down to the beach beautiful sandy beach. There are no facilities open to members of the general public here.

Walking south along the coast will bring the you to the 600 year old Ackergill Tower, which is now a discreet, luxury hotel, and further round the bay are the ruins of 15th Century Sinclair Castle, and a little further on, a former lighthouse.

The Clan Keith, under John Keith of Inverugie, inherited the lands of Ackergill in 1354 from the Cheynes family. Ackergill Tower may have been built by his son, and was first mentioned in 1538. A legend tells the tale of a young woman by the name of Helen Gunn, who was abducted by John Keith. She flung herself, or fell, from the highest tower to escape her abductor's advances. Supposedly her ghost is still seen. This was in the late 14th or early 15th century and is said to have been the true beginning of a feud between the Gunns and the Keiths. 

Visitors are welcome at Wick Golf Club and, with a few exceptions, can play immediately particularly on weekdays. On the days when open competitions are taking place the tee is reserved for part of the day. Golf clubs can be hired by prior arrangement with the club. Bar hours are dependent on the weather but in Summer hot and cold snacks are available.  If you would like more information please click on the link and contact Wick Golf Club for details.




The next beach on the anticlockwise route is Keiss Bay