📌 Dunbeath, Highland
★★★
Dunbeath Strath is the broad valley through which the salmon-rich Dunbeath Water flows before emptying into the sea at Dunbeath. Among its highlights are an ancient broch, birch and hazel woodland, and several bridges. The walk terminates with a distant view of the Prisoner’s Leap, where the valley sides abruptly narrow to form a dramatic gorge. The story goes that a prisoner from Forse Castle, Ian Gunn, was offered release if he could jump the gap – which he apparently did successfully. Our last picture below is a photograph of the gorge from Dunbeath Heritage Museum; it surely suggests that the only leap taken here is one of the imagination.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish off minor road immediately north of Dunbeath old bridge
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: ND 160299
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.249938,-3.433311
🚌 Bus to Dunbeath
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 90 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 💧 Dunbeath Water; ⭕ Dunbeath Broch ★★; 🌊 Prisoner’s Leap
⬤ Easy | Clear riverside path, a few rockier spots which can be slippery when wet, plus a rougher ascent at the far end.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – path follows north side of Dunbeath Water – Dunbeath Broch (involves slight detour from riverside path) – Prisoner’s Leap viewpoint – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Small birds, not much else seen.
Weather: Quite foggy, light rain for part of the outward route. 12°C with a light sea breeze.
June 2026
