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Castles and Dwellings
FROM the lonely ruin of the “Old Man of
Wick” to the pristine-white stronghold of Dunbeath, Caithness is a
land of castles. Some have stood the test of time better than others
but each can claim to have played its own part in shaping the
history of the county.
Buchollie, south of John O’Groats, was
built around 1160. It was originally known by the Viking name
Lambaborg and the sagas tell us that it was once the stronghold of
the notorious pirate Sweyn Asliefarsson.
The ruin now stands gauntly on a grim and inaccessible promontory.
Keiss Castle, which still stands spectacularly on a low cliff to the
north of the village, belonged to the earls of Caithness – the
Sinclair family. It dates back to the end of the 16th century. Close
by is the 18th-century “new” Keiss Castle.
Ackergill Tower stands on a low shore close to the east coast at
Sinclair’s Bay. The tall building is still complete and has walls
some three metres thick.
For hundreds of years it was the main local stronghold of the Keiths.
It then passed to the earls of Caithness and, after a short spell of
occupation by a branch of the Campbell clan in the 17th century, it
passed to the Dunbars in 1699.
In more recent times Ackergill Tower has taken on a new role as a
prestigious function facility and centre for up-market breaks
following a major renovation scheme which preserved the building’s
original character.
Dirlot Castle, in a picturesque location overlooking the River
Thurso, features in many stirring tales of Caithness history. It is
believed to have been built by Sir Reginald de Cheyne, a nobleman of
Norman descent, in the 14th century but little now remains.
Other Caithness strongholds associated with de Cheyne include
Berriedale, Forse and Oldwick.
Scrabster had a castle which was the seat of the bishops of
Caithness. It was built by Gilbert de Moravia, 4th Bishop of
Caithness, in the 13th century.
The ruined Dounreay Castle (within the UKAEA site) dates back to the
late 16th century. It had a succession of owners and at one point
Cromwell’s troops were billeted there. The castle was occupied until
1863, its last tenant being a formidable character called Mrs
Sinclair who travelled around the district in a coach pulled by two
oxen.
The ancient Braal Castle at Halkirk, on the banks of the River
Thurso, has been described as the best-preserved of the area’s Norse
strongholds. In the 13th century it was the principal seat of John,
24th Earl of Caithness.
Other Caithness castle sites include Achastle, Knockinnon, Latheron,
Halberry, Clyth and Freswick on the east coast and, on the north
coast, Brims, Haimer, Brough and Thurso East.
Buchollie, originally known by the Viking name Lambaborg – once the
stronghold of the notorious Sweyn Asliefarsson, known as ‘Sweyn the
Pirate’.
Castle of Mey
THE Castle of Mey, much-loved holiday home of the Queen
Mother, has become the jewel in the crown of Caithness tourism.
Her Majesty turned a crumbling ruin into a much-loved
retreat that she visited annually for half a century until her death at the age
of 101 in March 2002. Tours of the castle and gardens have since become
immensely popular, with thousands of people taking the opportunity to visit the
historic fortress which, for the best part of 50 years, had a special place in
the Queen Mother’s heart.
"From my first sight of the Castle of Mey I fell in love
with this district," she once said. Much more than just a holiday home, it was
the focal point of the Queen Mother’s close association with the local community
spanning half a century.
Girnigoe
DARK deeds of oppression and cruelty, treachery and bad faith
– and, indeed, murder –
are said to have occurred within the now ruinous walls of Girnigoe Castle.
The castle, erected about the end of the 15th century, is
situated on a massive rock at the eastern end of Sinclair’s Bay, to the west of
Noss Head lighthouse.
In the 16th and 17th centuries this was the stronghold of
the earls of Caithness, probably the most important of the castles in the North
of Scotland. Until the advent of gunpowder and the availability of cannon, it
was virtually impregnable.
Over the turbulent period of its occupation of rather less
than 200 years, the castle has witnessed many stirring events as well as being
the scene of some quite extraordinary and horrible happenings.
Crofting
MARY-Ann’s Cottage is a small homestead with outbuildings
just a few miles from Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the mainland. The
cottage was built in the middle of the 19th century and occupied by the members
of one family, the Youngs.
It remains as an almost perfect example of the way in which crofters lived and
worked before mechanisation. Visitors are given a guided tour and told the story
of the family.
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