The north coast of Sutherland stretches from Cape Wrath in the west to Strathy Point and Melvich in the east. it is a gentler coast than that of the west, with three large indentations, the Kyle of Durness, Loch Eriboll and the Kyle of Tongue. Apart from Ben Hope (927m) and Ben Loyal (764m) in the west, much of the hinterland is relatively low lying with blanket peat bog. The landscape is dotted with many lochs, large and small. Strath More, Strathnaver and Strath Halladale were all formerly inhabited. Evidence can be seen of this in the form of chambered cairns, brochs and more recent ruined farmsteads and settlements. Most of this area made up the former Pictish and Norse province of Strathnaver. It was MacKay or Reay country and was for centuries the scene of disputes between the MacKays and their neighbours, the Sinclairs, Sutherlands, MacLeods, and MacKenzies. Eventually it was nearly all bought up by the Sutherland Estate, which introduced large scale sheep farming in the 19th century. The north of Sutherland is an ideal place for nature lovers, its varied habitats harbouring many interesting species of birds, mammals, insects and plants. Perhaps the diversity of wild flowers is the most remarkable feature of this landscape.
BettyhillBettyhill is said to take its name from the countess of Sutherland who created the village to accommodate evicted tenants. it occupies the peninsula between the estuary of the river Naver and Farr Bay. For many years there was a large Salmon netting fishery at Navermouth. Today only an icehouse, pier, and ruined buildings remain.
DurnessDurness is the most remote and least populated parish in the UK, with only 2.4 people per square mile. Despite this it has a vibrant community and a long history. Most of the coastline is cliffs, reaching 190m at clo Mor. The major inlets of the Kyle of Durness and Loch Eriboll are different in character. [...]
MelvichMelvich lies on the west side of the estuary of the Halladale river. This fertile crofting township includes a large areaof machair links. In former times Salmon were netted in large numbers with nets set across the rivermouth and in the bay. Bighouse (ON Bygdh hus, Village House) on the east shore dates from the [...]
StrathnaverSTRATHNAVER The Province of Strathnaver originally stretched from Kylesku to Caithness. There is evidence of long settlement here from ancient times with Neolithic chambered cairns, stone circles, Bronze Age cist burials and Iron Age brochs. A mixture of Gaelic and Norse placenames as well as many ruined farmsteads and settlements evoke more recent times. The [...]
TongueTongue (ON Tonga, Tongue) is a sheltered village on the east side of the Kyle of Tongue. For long this was reay territory, which stretched from Kylesku to Bighouse, but by 1830 all this land belonged to the Sutherland Estate. Kyle of Tongue A causeway and bridge across the Kyle was opened in 1971 as [...]
