Scrabster is famous for its tremendous sea angling off the Caithness and Orkney coastline. A number of charter boats for sea fishing trips are available from Scrabster. Haddock, cod, mackerel and pollock can be caught by chartering a boat from Scrabster Harbour.

The River Thurso is one of the best salmon rivers in Scotland, and is currently enjoying very good numbers of grilse and salmon with catches average in excess of 1700 salmon per year. The season starts on the 11th January and runs through to 5th October, although fish are taken in January and February, the season really starts to get underway in the middle of March when the spring run starts. The spring run peaks in May but continues through to Mid June. The grilse start to arrive in late May with the peak of the run in late July/ early August. In September there is a small run of larger summer salmon. Ghillies can be arranged. There is also fishing on other rivers nearby.

The famous ‘limestone’ lochs of Caithness contain wild brown trout which grow quickly due to the abundant fly life. St John’s Loch in the village and Loch Calder nearby are very good options. There is also the famous Loch Watten, wild browns to around the one pound size but with plenty up to 3lb. In Sutherland the lochs of Durness, Lochs Lanlish, Croispol, Borralaidh and Caladail hold hard fighting, wild brown trout averaging 1 1⁄2 lb but can be caught up to 5lb.

You can shoot grouse, pheasant and woodcock and snipe. Not in as high numbers as some of the more well known shoots in Scotland and probably ‘walked up’ rather than driven. The smaller bags are more than made up for by the scenery and atmosphere of the area. Stalking is available for both red and roe deer. Roe Deer stalking is more abundant in Caithness. The area has a number of estates offering game shooting, wild fowling and stalking catering for a range of experience. It is best to book in advance. A good place to contact is Thrumster Estate: https://www.thrumster.co.uk/ Best times to shoot Game and Wild Fowl: Grouse | mid August to mid September Duck | September to December Geese | November Rough Shooting | late September to December Best times to Stalk: Red Deer Stags | mid September to late October Red Deer Hinds | November to early December and February Roe Deer Bucks | August to September Roe Deer Does | November to early December

Kaithness Clays offers a great day's shooting from novice through to experienced shooters. The ground has a purpose built Skeet Range which can also do Compak Sporting and Down The Line. They have a picturesque backdrop of the Pentland Firth.