Badbea Clearance Village.
Families evicted from the Langwell Strath reluctantly occupied this
deserted settlement precariously perched on the cliff edge. It is
said that children had to be tethered to prevent them falling over
the cliff! Some of the families eventually emigrated to New Zealand.
The remains of one of the houses have been used to build a memorial
cairn to the inhabitants
A lay-by north
of the Ord of Caithness is
the start of a footpath to the ruined crofts on the cliff tops.
Signposted from the A9
In this area: Caithness
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Beauly Priory. Remains of
thirteenth century priory.
In Beauly just back from the high street on A862
Open Mid June - Sept
Tel: 01667 460232
In this area: Firthlands
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Bettyhill & Farr:
Bettyhill museum tells
the story of Clan Mackay and the 19th century Clearnaces.
The Strathnaver Museum is
situated in what was the Parish Church of St. Columba, Farr. It is
steeped in local history and was built about 1700.
Farr
Beach is wonderful.
In this area: Caithness
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Brora Heritage Centre. Heritage
centre and archaeological exhibition. 'For adults and children
alike, we have a wide selection of exhibits on the local Whisky, Coal and Woollen
industry as well as a fabulous new display by our local Clyne
Heritage Society...'
See signs in Brora
Open Mon to Sat - May - Sept
Tel: 01408 622024
In this area: Firthlands
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Clan Gunn Heritage Centre.
Latheron on A9, south of Wick
Open June-Sept daily. July & Aug Sun 2-4pm
Tel: 01593 741700
In this area: Caithness
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Clansman Centre.
Fort Augustus. Heritage centre
of the Highlanders in reconstructed turf house. Traditional
clothes worn by very enthusiastic and knowledgeable Highlanders who
show you how their forebears lived in the 17thc. Well worth a
visit (even if only to be kitted out in a
proper kilt!). Also armoury
made by the owner.
On A82 in centre of Fort Augustus (next to swing bridge)
Open
April to October, seven days a week, from 10am till 6pm
Tel: 01320 366444/07798761456
In this area: Loch Ness
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Clava Cairns. by Culloden.
Dating from around 2000BC, these circular burial chambers are
surrounded by standing stones. The Cairns are amongst the most
outstanding Scottish prehistoric monuments.
Off A9 south of Inverness. or A96 Nairn road.
In this area: Loch Ness
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Corrimony
Cairn. A831
between Drumnadrochit and Cannich. Chambered burial cairn surrounded
by standing stones. 'A passage grave
constructed in the "Clava Cairn" style. It lies on the level flood
plain of the River Enrick. It was excavated in 1952, when a crouched
body was found in the floor of the chamber..'
Web
In this area: Firthlands
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Culloden Moor
The evocative
scene of the last major battle fought on mainland Britain. The final
Jacobite uprising ended here on 16 April, 1746, when the army of
Prince Charles Edward Stuart was crushed by the Government forces,
led by the Duke of Cumberland.
Visitor centre.
Five miles east of Inverness on B9006
Open All year
Visitor centre: all year
except 24.25.26 Dec. Times shortened off-season.
Tel: 01463 790607
National Trust
In this area: Loch
Ness
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Cromarty Courthouse Museum.
Cromarty's history with reconstructed trial in the18thc courtroom.
Audio tour of the old town. Excellent few hours entertainment.
Cromarty on A832. 22 Miles north east of Inverness
Open Apl - Oct
Tel: 01381 600418
In this area: Firthlands
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Craig Phadrig.
Remains of a Pictish Fort on the summit. Overlooking Inverness, the
Beauly Firth and Moray Firth. off A862 near Bunchrew.
In this area: Loch Ness
/
Firthlands
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Dingwall Museum.
'Stunning courtyard area with artefacts, flowers in abundance and
picnic tables now in place to complement this civic award winning
Highland town museum. Permanent displays include reconstructed
smiddy and kitchen and remarkable military room featuring the life
and times of Fighting Mac. Special exhibitions. All welcome!...'
In the High Street Dingwall
Open mid-May to Sept Mon-Sat
Tel: 01349 865366
In this area: Firthlands
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Farigaig
Forest Walks.
Farigaig a haven for wildlife. Red squirrels, badgers and
many other animals and birds thrive here. There are also several
viewpoints with wonderful views of Loch Ness and an iron-age fort
site on the rocky outcrop of Dun Dearduil
B852 on the south side of Loch Ness. 18 m from Inverness.
Farigaig forest surrounds the village of Inverfarigaig,
adjacent to the B852
Open all year
Tel: 01320 366322
In this area: Loch Nes
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Fort George. Ardersier. Eighteenth century
fort still used as a barracks. Built following the battle of
Culloden. One of the most outstanding artillery fortifications in
Europe. Well preserved, sitting on peninsular
not far from Inverness.
On B9006 about 10 miles from Inverness off Nairn road.
Open all year. Winter restrictions.
Tel: 01667 460232
In this area: Loch Ness
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Gairloch Heritage Museum.
Housed in a complex of
old farm buildings, Gairloch Heritage Museum is a record of life in
the area from pre-history to the present day
Next to Tourist Information at Gairloch
Tel: 01445 712287
In this area: Wester Ross
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Groam House Museum. Local Pictish
sculptures.
North east of Inverness on A832 at Rosmarkie
Tel: 01381 620961
In this area: Firthlands
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Grey Cairns of Camster. Well preserved Neolithic chambered cairns.'
The Camster cairns are probably the best
known of all the Neolithic sites in Caithness. Camster Round was
initially explored in the 1850’s and 1860’s, and its chamber was
found to be virtually intact (Davidson & Henshall 1989).'
Web
Map Ref:
ND260437 Landranger
In this area: Caithness
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Highland
Museum of Childhood. Strathpeffer.
Located in a restored
Victorian Station, the Museum tells the history of Childhood in the
Highlands of Scotland with evocative photographs, an award-winning
video and displays interpreting life at home, on the land and at
school
Located in restored Victorian station. Strathpeffer five miles west of Dingwall
on A834
Open Apl - Oct
Tel: 01997 421031
In this area: Firthlands
|
| Hill O' Many
Stanes: The best preserved example
of the Bronze Age stone rows, totalling over 200 stones, approx
4,000 years old. These stones are unique to Caithness.
'Also known rather matter-of-factly as Mid Clyth
Stone Rows, this unique arrangement of tiny stones (all less than
1m) is fascinating to see, if not as impressive as some of the
megaliths in Orkney just across the sea to the north. Originally
there were 250 uprights arranged in 22 rows aligned approximately
north-south...'
Web
In this area: Caithness
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Highland
Archives & Genealogy Centre. Inverness Library, Farraline Park,
Inverness. Research Highland history and trace your family tree.
Open all year.
01463 220330
E.mail.
archives@highland-gov.uk
In this area: Loch Ness
|
Nairn Museum.
Since 1858 Nairn Museum has fascinated generations of visitors and
locals alike of all ages. Located in a Georgian House set in
parkland, the museum tells the story of Nairnshire and the families
who had lived and worked in burgh or country
Nairn, off A96.
Open Apl - Oct
Tel: 01667 458531
In this area: Loch Ness
|
Northland Viking Centre. Museum
of Viking settlers.
Two miles north of Wick on A99, Auckengill
Open June - Sept
Tel: 01847 805518/ 01955 607776
In this area: Caithness
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Rossal pre-clearance township. Gives one an idea of how life was in
the crofting community before the Strathnaver Clearances of 1814-18
16 miles south of Bettyhill on B871.
In this area: Caithness
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Shandwick Stone near Balintore -
From the A9 take a turn
off on the left after Tain, follow signs
for Balintore on the B9165. Turn right near the coast for Shandwick,
go through the little village. Go uphill
beyond the village, the stone
is on a hilltop ahead.
In this area: Firthlands
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St Ignatious Well. A831 about 3
miles north of Cannich. Roadside well built in 1880 and restored in
1955.
In this area: Firthlands
|
Tain Museum.
Also children's activities and temporary exhibitions.
Tain town centre in Tower Street (fourteenth c church)
Open Apl - Oct
Tel: 01862 894089
In this area: Firthlands
|
Tarbat
Discovery Centre. Multimedia discovery. Discover the Picts.
On B9165, Porthmahomack. Off A9 before Tain
Open Mar - Oct
Tel: 01862 871351
Web
In this area: Firthlands
|
Timespan
Heritage Centre. 'Experience Helmsdale's highland
heritage, fashioned over centuries. From Picts and Vikings, through
murders at Helmsdale Castle, the last burning of a witch, the
harrowing highland clearances, the tranquil church, the 19 century
sporting scene, the Kildonan Gold Rush History of the Highlands from Pics to the
Clearances...'
Helmsdale off the A9
Tel: 01431 821327
In this area: Caithness
|
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Yarrow's Archaeological Trail. Archaeological trail visits chambered
cairns, standing stones and a ruined broch.
'This trail offers an opportunity to discover a landscape which has
been used by over three hundred generations of people. Sites to be
seen include a well preserved Neolithic Long Cairn (c 3000 BC) and
an Iron Age Broch (c. 200 BC to AD200), with evidence of later use
in the Pictish period (c. 300 to 800)...'
Ask at the TIC locally, they may have a leaflet.
Web
Follow signs from the A9 at Thrumster
In this area: Caithness
|
The Clearances.
Web
|
Pictish stuff:
Web
|
Historic Scotland
- Highlands
|
Caithness
archaeology:
Web
|
Scottish
National Heritage
Web
|
