Duncansby Head

The Duncansby Stacks are three sea pillars of old red sandstone rising sheer from the water just off the headland near John O'Groats. Among the most photographed sights in the far north, they're best seen from the clifftop walk of about a mile from the lighthouse car park.

Duncansby Head is about 2 miles east of John O'Groats, a short drive followed by a mile's walk out to the clifftop viewpoint over the stacks. The two go together on any trip to the far north, and Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point, is a short drive west.

It's straightforward. From the lighthouse car park it's roughly a mile along the clifftop path to the viewpoint over the stacks. The path is mostly flat but exposed, and can get muddy after rain, with the return trip taking about 45 minutes at an easy pace.

It's a good spot for seabirds, with puffins, razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs from spring through summer. Grey seals often appear in the water below the stacks, and the strong tides of the Pentland Firth draw in gannets and skuas. Your Hopscotch guide will know where to look.