Sutherland County
Sutherland is a vast county but very sparsely populated. The following is a short overview of Mid and East Sutherland and in particular the village of Brora and surrounding area. All the places mentioned are very easily accessible from our cottages and log cabins.
East Sutherland divides simply into 2 different landscapes - coast and glen and is defined to the south by the long bite of the Dornoch Firth and the Kyle of Sutherland. The Firth is bridged for road traffic just south of Dornoch. This little town with its attractive honey-coloured stonework is noted for the restored Dornoch Cathedral, originally founded in the 13th century. The story of the town is told in the History links 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 the 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 Helsmdale there is also a chance to go gold panning inland in the Strath of Kildonnan, scene of the gold rush after it was discovered there in 1868.
Other inland attractions include the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre (including a short walk to 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 good for anglers, while golf along the coastal fringe includes superb courses at Dornoch, Brora, Golspie and Helmsdale. There is an abundance of choice for walkers and wildlife watchers as well.
Brora
At the beginning of the 1900's Brora was a thriving industrial village. Industry included crofting, boat building, fishing, salt mining, fish curing, lemonade factory, distillery, wool mill, coal, bricks, briquettes and stone quarrying. Stone from the quarry was used in the construction of London Bridge, which was reconstructed in Arizona and is a present day tourist attraction. The stone was also used to build Liverpool Cathedral and Dunrobin Castle. The first electricity in the north was generated from a plant in the Wool Mill, thus earning the village the name "The Electric City". Sadly by 1974 most of he industry had disappeared, only the distillery survived. The Clynelish Whisky Distillery was built in 1819 by the Duke of Sutherland so that local crofters would not be selling their grain to illegal whiskey makers. It still makes very fine malt called Clynelish.
We live in a peaceful environment with very little crime. The community is still a caring society so the trend is good. Sport in the village is abundant with golf, fishing, sea fishing, football, badminton, billiards, tennis and bowls being available.
Please try any of the banners to navigate through our site
We are Hugh and Jennifer Haggarty, Highland Holidays and we offer self catering holiday cottages, log cabins & Falconry courses in this wonderful part of the UK. CONTACT TEl No 01408 622865 or e-mail us highlandholidays@tiscali.co.uk ^ top