Watten combines nature at Loch Watten with a church history dating back to the early 13th century. Route 6 of the Northern Pilgrims’ Way also passes through the village as a stop. This gives you two distinct areas to focus on when planning your trip: the loch’s seasonal natural significance and historic traces along the church and pilgrims’ way. Choose which theme you’d like to spend more time on, depending on your travel dates and interests.

Loch Watten and its seasonal natural significance

Loch Watten covers around 385 hectares of naturally nutrient-rich loch habitat, often characterised by beds of pondweed. In Caithness, it is one of the two finest examples of a nutrient-rich loch. The seasonal nature theme includes overwintering greylag geese: from late September to late April, Loch Watten is an important roosting site for them every year. If you’d like to plan your trip around this recurring pattern, the relevant period runs from autumn through spring.

There are seven boats at Oldhall. Access to the shore of Loch Watten is from the A882. As access arrangements may change, check them before your visit. Parking is available in front of the old church and Watten village shop, as well as at Loch Watten. To reach the loch car park, take the turn-off from the main road towards Gillock on Station Road; there are picnic tables by the loch. Check parking arrangements locally.

Church and pilgrims’ way

Watten Church is mentioned in records dating from between 1223 and 1245 and was dedicated to St Magnus. Only the outer walls of the old parish church remain, standing at a uniform height of 0.5 metres. The early mention and the limited surviving structure thus represent distinct aspects of the church’s history.

Route 6 of the Northern Pilgrims’ Way passes through Watten as stop 48. In the Watten section, the route joins the B870; at a sharp bend, a narrow road branches off to the site of a chapel on the shore of Scouthal Burn. Check route information before setting out on foot.

Watten appears to have been a joint convent and monastery centre with a well dedicated to St Catherine. Near the village at the southeastern end of Loch Watten, there is evidence of a now largely submerged crannog. These traces add possible monastic significance and another historic connection by the loch to the themes of the church and pilgrims’ way.

Walks and getting around

Walks on paved roads in Watten are accessible and have no steep gradients. This gives you a practical way to explore the village on foot. Surfaces and accessibility may change, so check path conditions before setting out. If you’re interested in the cultural heritage, the old parish church with its remains of walls and Route 6 with the chapel site can be considered as distinct points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Portnalong, Polloch, Dunbeath, Muir Of Ord, Kincraig, Applecross, Ardgay, Fortrose

For the main travel overview: Highland.