Gotten Càm

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Caithness

Scotland

Gotten Càm

Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney
Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney Credit: sylvia duckworth

Gotten Càm is a prominent coastal feature located in the county of Caithness, Scotland. It is a headland that extends into the North Sea, forming a distinctive point along the rugged coastline. The name "Gotten Càm" is derived from the Scottish Gaelic language, with "gotten" meaning "rocky" and "càm" referring to the curved shape of the headland.

The headland is characterized by its dramatic cliffs, which reach heights of up to 100 meters (330 feet) in some areas. These cliffs are composed of sedimentary rocks, including sandstone and limestone, which have been shaped and eroded over millions of years by the relentless forces of the sea.

Gotten Càm is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The headland offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including sweeping vistas of the North Sea and the distant horizon.

The area surrounding Gotten Càm is rich in biodiversity, with a variety of plant and animal species inhabiting the headland and its surrounding coastal areas. Visitors may encounter seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, and fulmars nesting on the cliffs, as well as seals basking on the rocky shores.

Access to Gotten Càm is facilitated by a network of footpaths and trails that wind their way along the headland, providing opportunities for hiking and exploration. The headland is also a popular spot for rock climbing, with its sheer cliffs offering a challenging and exhilarating experience for climbers of all levels.

Overall, Gotten Càm is a striking coastal feature that showcases the raw beauty of Caithness' rugged coastline, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking natural wonders and outdoor adventure.

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Gotten Càm Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.294256/-3.2926906 or Grid Reference ND2434. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney
Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney
Old bridge at Reisgill
Old bridge at Reisgill
Oldest bridge at Reisgill
Oldest bridge at Reisgill
Caithness Oil drilling rig
Caithness Oil drilling rig
MOD Leftovers Caithness is littered with reminders of the Second World War.  Its proximity to Scapa Flow meant that there was much activity in this area.
MOD Leftovers
Caithness is littered with reminders of the Second World War. Its proximity to Scapa Flow meant that there was much activity in this area.
Quatre Bras From Norland Road Lybster's main road junction with the A99 has a French connection.
Quatre Bras
From Norland Road Lybster's main road junction with the A99 has a French connection.
Lybster Village The Commercial Hotel, a disused church and a bank looking north.
Lybster Village
The Commercial Hotel, a disused church and a bank looking north.
Lybster View Over the fields for a morning view of the village.
Lybster View
Over the fields for a morning view of the village.
The Stonemason's House The mason showing off his work to advantage with the fine work on the walls.
The Stonemason's House
The mason showing off his work to advantage with the fine work on the walls.
Harbour View Lybster Harbour from the picnic spot on Shore Road, Lybster.
Harbour View
Lybster Harbour from the picnic spot on Shore Road, Lybster.
Lybster Station Now the clubhouse for Lybster Golf Course, this was originally the end of the line of the short lived Lybster and Wick Light Railway, opened 1903 and closed 1944. Within are photos of the old station.
Lybster Station
Now the clubhouse for Lybster Golf Course, this was originally the end of the line of the short lived Lybster and Wick Light Railway, opened 1903 and closed 1944. Within are photos of the old station.
Lybster Harbour The inner harbour was completed as recently as 1950. The harbour is still used mainly for fishing, but the number of working boats is down to twenty or so.
Lybster Harbour
The inner harbour was completed as recently as 1950. The harbour is still used mainly for fishing, but the number of working boats is down to twenty or so.
Peak of the cliff Facing westwards back towards land with the sheer cliff behind and on either side, I was definitely not tempted to take a step back to get a better view!
This is the northernmost of the two fingers pointing from Achastle-shore.
Peak of the cliff
Facing westwards back towards land with the sheer cliff behind and on either side, I was definitely not tempted to take a step back to get a better view! This is the northernmost of the two fingers pointing from Achastle-shore.
Ruins at Achastle-shore Not sure what the history of this property is.  There is a track leading to the main road although it is quite overgrown.
Ruins at Achastle-shore
Not sure what the history of this property is. There is a track leading to the main road although it is quite overgrown.
Remains of Swiney Castle This may appear to be a few mounds in the grass, but it is probably the remains of Swiney Castle <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>.  To my back, left and right are some precipituous cliffs leading down to the sea.  An ideal location for a defensive position.
Remains of Swiney Castle
This may appear to be a few mounds in the grass, but it is probably the remains of Swiney Castle LinkExternal link. To my back, left and right are some precipituous cliffs leading down to the sea. An ideal location for a defensive position.
North of Swiney Castle Strata and cliffs marking the northern edge of the ruins of Swiney Castle. <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
North of Swiney Castle
Strata and cliffs marking the northern edge of the ruins of Swiney Castle. LinkExternal link
South of Swiney Castle Inlet and promontory to the south of the ancient monument known as Swiney Castle <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>.
South of Swiney Castle
Inlet and promontory to the south of the ancient monument known as Swiney Castle LinkExternal link.
East of Swiney Castle Nowhere else to go apart from down  The grounds of Swiney Castle <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> come to an abrupt end at Creag an Eich.
East of Swiney Castle
Nowhere else to go apart from down The grounds of Swiney Castle LinkExternal link come to an abrupt end at Creag an Eich.
Show me another place!

Gotten Càm is located at Grid Ref: ND2434 (Lat: 58.294256, Lng: -3.2926906)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///riverboat.probe.blush. Near Dunbeath, Highland

Related Wikis

Swiney

Swiney is a small village on the east coast of Scotland, 1 mile west of Lybster along the A99 road, in Caithness, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish...

Lybster

Lybster (, Scottish Gaelic: Liabost) is a village on the east coast of Caithness in northern Scotland. It was once a big herring fishing port. The Waterlines...

Lybster railway station

Lybster was a railway station located on the Wick and Lybster Railway in the Highland area of Scotland. The station building now serves as the clubhouse...

Parkside Halt railway station

Parkside Halt was a railway station located between Ulbster and Lybster, Highland. == History == The station was opened on the Wick and Lybster Railway...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.294256,-3.2926906
Lybster
Man Made: beacon
Lat/Long: 58.2954003/-3.2899297
Cairnfield
Place: hamlet
Lat/Long: 58.2959526/-3.2976965
Hunting Stand
Lat/Long: 58.2917462/-3.2940702
Tourism: information
Lat/Long: 58.2963022/-3.2918386
Lybster Harbour Lighthouse
Man Made: lighthouse
Seamark Light Character: Oc
Seamark Light Colour: red
Seamark Light Height: 10
Seamark Light Period: 6
Seamark Light Range: 3
Seamark Light Reference: A 3522
Seamark Status: occasional
Seamark Type: light_minor
Source: US NGA Pub. 114. 2011-05-26.
Wikidata: Q17827352
Lat/Long: 58.2952019/-3.2895287
Man Made: mast
Lat/Long: 58.2935682/-3.3001212
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2920961/-3.2990014
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2929701/-3.2991811
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2938334/-3.2992329
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2947137/-3.2992654
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2952761/-3.2992735
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2961799/-3.29984
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.294495/-3.2981547
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.2943669/-3.2970807
Bench
Description: In memory of David Gunn
Lat/Long: 58.295373/-3.2932549
Bench
Lat/Long: 58.2958048/-3.2934945
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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