The Firth is bridged for road traffic just south of Dornoch. This little town with its attractive honey-coloured stonework, is noted for its restored cathedral, originally founded in the 13th century. The story of the town is told in Historylinks Museum - from Viking Raids to Madonna's wedding! It is also strongly associated with golf (and is sometimes even called "the St Andrews of the north")

To the north, Loch Fleet is a national nature reserve, while the next little town, going north, is Golspie, where the Orcadian Stone Company has an exhibition of local rocks and minerals while a mile north is Dunrobin Castle with its beautiful gardens. Above Golspie the monument on Ben Bhraggie, is one of many sites associated with the Highland Clearances. (Others include the Badbea Clearance Village, north of Helmsdale, a walking trail round a deserted settlement; and also Croick Church near Ardgay where evicted Highlanders scratched messages on the glass of the local kirk's window.) Other coastal communities include Brora, with its Heritage Centre and Clynelish Distillery and Helmsdale with its Timespan Heritage Centre. From Helmsdale, there is also a chance to go gold panning inland in the Strath of Kildonan, scene of a gold rush after it was discovered there in 1868.

Other inland attractions include the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre (including a short walk to see salmon leaping in season); also the Ferrycroft Countryside Centre in Lairg, where there is plenty of advice on local walks from the countryside ranger service. Also starting from the centre is the Ord Archaeology Trail, over the Ord Hill, seeing Bronze Age house-sites, Neolithic cairns, a burnt mound and medieval cultivation.

In general, the area is especially good for anglers, while golf along the coastal fringe includes superb courses at Dornoch, Brora, Golspie and Helmsdale. Plenty of choice for walkers and wildlife watchers as well.