From the A9 near Dornoch, take the right turn A949 to Bonar Bridge. Part way along here you will come to the small halmet of Spinningdale.
You may have noticed signs along the road cautioning you to be aware of red squirrels, and along here are several woodland walks, including, Ledmore and Migdale, that allow you to delve into red squirrel territory. Whether you will spot one of these elusive cute creatures during a walk is all down to luck but it is exciting to know they are here and that it is a possibility. You may also be lucky enough to spot pine martens, deer, otters and even wild cats.
Also at Spinningdale is the ruin of the Spinningdale Cotton Mill. This is an impressive ruin with a grand view over Dornoch Firth but as yet no one seems to have seized on the opportunity of making this a tourist attraction. As such, there are no signposts to it, no car parks, and no footpaths, so it takes a determination to locate it and visit it.
The houses of Spinningdale are mostly dotted about along a sweeping curve to the road. If you are coming from the Dornoch direction, the curve is to the right. Just as you come out of the curve, you will see a small cottage with a red tin roof close to the road on the right and immediately beyond this is a turning off the road to a woodland. There is space enough here for a single vehicle to pull over and park without blocking access. On the other side of the road is a farm gate and if you go through here, you can follow the rough farm track through the field and soon you will see the mill off to the left. The track may be very muddy and wet so wellies are useful.
Spinningdale Mill was built 1792-4 for the Balnoe Company and was a four storey, six-bay building and was intended to give work to people brought to the area by the Highland Clearances. However, it was not economically viable and it was gutted by fire in 1806 so ultimately failed as a business venture.
Please be aware that it is a ruin with no maintenance or preservation and is potentially dangerous so keep a suitable distance away from the building itself.
Notes for visitors with limited mobility:
The mill is not suitable for visitors with limited mobility.