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Caithness

Caithness is a historic county located in the far northeastern corner of mainland Scotland.^[1] It extends approximately 43 miles in length and 30 miles in breadth, encompassing an area of 618 square miles.^[2] Bordering only Sutherland to the west, with the Moray Firth to the south, the North Sea to the east, and the Pentland Firth—separating it from the Orkney Islands—to the north, the county features low-lying, predominantly flat terrain shaped by Old Red Sandstone deposits, contrasting sharply with the rugged mountains of the adjacent Highlands.^[3] This geology supports agriculture and historically facilitated flagstone extraction, while the coastal cliffs and inland peatlands known as flow country define its distinctive landscape.^[3] The principal settlements are the towns of Wick, the traditional county seat, and Thurso, with a current population in the Caithness area estimated at around 25,000, concentrated along the coast amid sparsely populated interiors.^[4] Renowned for its prehistoric archaeological density, Caithness hosts unique Bronze Age stone rows and Iron Age brochs, reflecting continuous human occupation since Neolithic times.^[5] Economically, it transitioned from herring fisheries and quarrying to nuclear research at Dounreay, operational from 1955 until decommissioning in the 2010s, alongside ongoing renewable energy developments and tourism drawn to sites like Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of mainland Great Britain.^[6] Since local government reorganization in 1975, Caithness forms part of the Highland unitary authority, preserving its cultural identity tied to Norse heritage and remote Highland character.^[7]

Etymology and Name

Origins and Historical Usage

The name Caithness derives from the Old Norse Katanes, first attested around 1200 AD in the Orkneyinga Saga, where it denoted the northern mainland territory under Norse control; the term combines nes ("headland" or "promontory") with Kata-, likely referencing a pre-existing Pictish tribal group known as the Catti.^[8]^[9] This etymology reflects Norse adaptation of indigenous nomenclature, as the region lacked surviving pre-Scandinavian place-names despite Pictish occupation prior to the 9th century.^[10] Prior to Norse dominance, the area encompassing Caithness and eastern Sutherland bore the Gaelic designation Cattadh or Cattey, rooted in the same Catti tribal reference, indicating continuity from Pictish to Gaelic usage before Scandinavian settlement reshaped toponymy around the 9th–10th centuries.^[9] In modern Scottish Gaelic, the region is termed Gallaibh ("place of the strangers" or "among the foreigners"), a designation emphasizing Norse incursions and cultural displacement of Gaelic speakers, with the term originally applied more broadly to Norse-held coastal enclaves in northern Scotland.^[8] Historically, Katanes served as the administrative label for the Norse earldom centered at Duncansby or Wick from the late 9th century, evolving into the anglicized Caithness by the medieval period for feudal sheriffdoms and, from 1154, the Diocese of Caithness, which extended beyond the later county boundaries to include portions of Sutherland until its suppression in 1688.^[9] The name persisted through the 16th-century integration into the Kingdom of Scotland, formalizing Caithness as a distinct shire by 1587 under Acts of Parliament, while local Scots dialect rendered it as Caitnes.^[10] This Norse-derived form supplanted earlier Gaelic variants in official records, underscoring the lasting impact of Viking governance on regional identity.^[9]

Geography

Physical Landscape

Caithness comprises a low-lying plain covering 618 square miles (1,600 km²), extending roughly 30 miles (48 km) north to south and east to west, with an average elevation of 79 meters above sea level. The terrain is notably flat, shaped by ancient rock structures and glacial erosion, resulting in expansive horizons and big skies comparable only to Buchan in Scotland. Inland areas feature gently undulating peat moors and blanket bogs, especially in the western Flow Country, a vast expanse of deep peatlands interspersed with bog pools that spans much of Caithness and adjacent Sutherland and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 26, 2024.^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15] Eastern and central regions include rolling farmlands and low hills, drained by rivers such as the Thurso—which originates in the Flow Country and flows northward to the Pentland Firth—and the Wick, which empties into the North Sea. The landscape contains numerous small freshwater lochs, including Loch Watten, Loch Calder, and Loch More, contributing to a mosaic of wet moorlands and scattered settlements. The highest elevation is Morven at 706 meters (2,316 feet), a conical peak in the southwest near the Sutherland boundary, rising prominently amid the otherwise subdued topography.^[16]^[17]^[18] The northern and eastern coastlines contrast sharply with the interior, presenting dramatic scenery of high cliffs and rocky shores. Dunnet Head marks the northernmost point of mainland Great Britain, with sheer sandstone cliffs plunging up to 90 meters (300 feet) to the sea along the Pentland Firth. East Caithness cliffs, formed of Old Red Sandstone, display horizontal banding and erosional features such as caves, stacks, arches, and occasional sandy bays contained by headlands.^[19]^[20]

Climate and Natural Environment

Caithness possesses a cool oceanic climate influenced by its northern latitude and proximity to the North Atlantic, resulting in mild winters moderated by the Gulf Stream, cool summers, persistent winds, and moderate precipitation. In Wick, the annual mean temperature averages 8.6 °C, with July highs reaching 15.0 °C and January lows around 3.3 °C; the growing season is short, spanning May to September.^[21] Annual rainfall measures approximately 789 mm, distributed fairly evenly but with peaks in autumn and winter, lower than western Scotland due to orographic effects from surrounding highlands.^[22] Strong northerly and easterly winds, often exceeding 20 knots, exacerbate the exposed conditions across the low-lying terrain.^[23] The natural environment features vast blanket peatlands comprising the Flow Country, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2024 for its intact mire systems covering nearly 2,000 km² in Caithness and adjacent Sutherland.^[14] These peatlands, formed over millennia in waterlogged basins, store twice the carbon of global forests per unit area and host specialized flora such as sphagnum mosses, cotton grasses, sundews, and scarce orchids like the northern marsh orchid.^[24]^[25] Fauna includes waders like red-throated diver, greenshank, and dunlin breeding on the mires, alongside raptors such as hen harrier and merlin; degradation from historic drainage affects up to 20% of the area, though restoration initiatives aim to enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity.^[15]^[26] Coastal ecosystems along the rugged northern and eastern shores include sea cliffs, dunes, and machair grasslands supporting seabird colonies in the North Caithness Cliffs Special Protection Area, with species like guillemots, razorbills, and fulmars nesting on sheer faces up to 120 m high.^[27] Inland lochs and rivers sustain salmonids and otters, while moorland edges harbor heather-dominated heath with associated insects and small mammals; conservation efforts by local groups prioritize habitat management amid pressures from agriculture and renewable energy developments.^[28]^[29]

Resources and Geology

The geology of Caithness is dominated by the Caithness Flagstone Group, a Middle Devonian (approximately 392–380 million years ago) sequence of the Old Red Sandstone Supergroup, comprising finely laminated siltstones, mudstones, flagstones, and minor sandstones deposited in a vast lacustrine system known as Lake Orcadie.^[30] This group reaches thicknesses exceeding 2,000 meters and forms the low-relief platform characteristic of the region, with its even bedding and durability resulting from subaqueous sedimentation in a subsiding basin flanked by eroding highlands.^[30] Underlying these are older Precambrian Moine Supergroup metasediments and Lewisian Gneiss, exposed sporadically along the southern margins, while the surface is capped by Quaternary glacial tills and drift from the last ice age, which sculpted streamlined ridges, low hills, and a subdued coastal plain through repeated advances of the British-Irish Ice Sheet.^[31]^[32] Fossiliferous horizons within the flagstones, particularly the Achanarras Fish Bed, preserve exceptionally abundant and well-articulated Devonian fish remains, including species like Dipterus, offering key insights into early vertebrate evolution in a stable, anoxic lake bottom environment.^[33] The sequence's cyclic nature, with intercalated limestones and unconformities marking lake level fluctuations, underscores a continental depositional setting amid the Acadian Orogeny to the south.^[34] Glacial modification during the Devensian stage (ca. 115,000–11,700 years ago) overlaid complex till stratigraphy, evidencing multiple ice flow phases from local Caithness ice caps interacting with the mainland ice sheet, which eroded pre-existing topography into a featureless, peat-blanketed expanse.^[32] Natural resources in Caithness are closely tied to this geological foundation, with flagstone quarrying representing the primary extractive industry since at least the late 18th century, yielding durable, thinly bedded stone prized for paving, roofing, and flooring due to its consistent lamination and resistance to weathering.^[35] Major quarries, such as those at Spittal and Achanarras, exploited the Middle Old Red Sandstone's uniform beds—often spanning hundreds of meters horizontally with minimal dip—enabling large-scale export; production peaked around 1902 before declining with synthetic alternatives, though revival occurred post-1949 for heritage and modern applications.^[36]^[37] Minor historical exploitation included lead and zinc ores in veins cutting the flagstones, with sporadic mining reported from the 16th century onward, but these deposits proved uneconomic at scale compared to the abundant flagstone.^[38] Peat, accumulated in post-glacial mires over the lowlands, served as a traditional fuel source, while the sedimentary sequence's fossils support paleontological research rather than commercial extraction.^[31] No significant metallic or hydrocarbon resources have been developed onshore, with offshore potential in adjacent waters remaining exploratory.^[32]

History

Prehistory and Pictish Era

Caithness contains abundant evidence of Neolithic activity, primarily in the form of chambered cairns constructed between approximately 4000 and 2500 BC. These monuments, often of the Orkney-Cromarty type, served as communal burial sites and reflect early agricultural communities. Notable examples include the Grey Cairns of Camster, long cairns measuring up to 60 meters in length with multiple chambers, radiocarbon dated to around 3000 BC, and Cairn o' Get, a well-preserved structure amid a landscape of prehistoric features.^[39]^[40] Excavations have yielded human remains, pottery, and tools, indicating prolonged use and ritual significance, though interpretations of their exact social functions remain debated due to limited artefactual evidence.^[41] Bronze Age activity (c. 2500–800 BC) is attested by stone rows and alignments, particularly in upland areas. The Hill o' Many Stanes near Ulbster comprises over 200 small stones arranged in parallel rows, likely dating to the late third or second millennium BC and associated with ritual or astronomical purposes near prehistoric settlements.^[42] Similar alignments, such as those at Battle Moss in the Loch of Yarrows complex, suggest ceremonial landscapes integrated with domestic sites, though erosion and lack of extensive excavation limit precise dating and purpose attribution.^[43] The Iron Age (c. 800 BC–AD 400) saw the construction of brochs, dry-stone towers unique to northern and western Scotland, with Caithness hosting the highest density—over 100 examples, more than any other region. These structures, typically 10–15 meters in diameter with walls up to 4 meters thick, were built primarily between 600 BC and AD 100, functioning as defended homesteads or status symbols amid a landscape of increasing social complexity.^[44] Prominent sites include Nybster Broch, excavated to reveal internal cells and hearths, and clusters along rivers like the Thurso, indicating nucleated settlements vulnerable to inter-community conflict.^[45] Usage extended into the early centuries AD, with some brochs modified or reused. During the Pictish era (c. AD 300–900), Caithness formed part of the northern Pictish territories, with continuity from Iron Age traditions evident in souterrain-like structures and wheelhouse settlements. Rectangular dwellings known as "wags," uncovered at sites like Pool in Sanday (though analogous forms exist in Caithness), represent the best-preserved Pictish domestic architecture in Britain, dating to the fifth–seventh centuries AD and featuring cellular layouts for storage and living.^[46] Pictish presence is inferred from linguistic and historical records rather than abundant symbol stones, which are scarcer here than in southern Pictland; the region transitioned to Norse control by the ninth century following Viking incursions. Archaeological evidence, including metalwork and continuity in settlement patterns, supports Picts as indigenous Iron Age descendants rather than invaders, though debates persist on ethnic origins due to sparse written sources.^[47]

Norse Settlement and Viking Age

Norse Vikings initiated raids on Scottish shores in the late 8th century, transitioning to settlement in Caithness by the early 9th century, where the mainland's densest Norse colonization occurred, extending south to Strathoikel as a frontier.^[48] This expansion formed a bridgehead from the Earldom of Orkney, granted circa 875 to Sigurd the Mighty by Harald Fairhair of Norway, encompassing Caithness alongside Orkney and Sutherland under Norwegian overlordship.^[49]^[50] Place-name distributions provide primary linguistic evidence of pervasive Norse settlement, dominated by farmstead generics such as bólsstaðr (yielding -bster forms like Bilbster, Lybster, and Scrabster) and proprietorial elements (e.g., Duncansby from personal name Dungal), with over 200 such names indicating mid-9th-century inception later than in the Northern Isles.^[10] The lack of hybrid Norse-Gaelic compounds or significant pre-Norse Gaelic layers implies direct Norse overlay on Pictish substrates, with Gaelic names confined to later western incursions post-12th century.^[10] Archaeological corroboration includes pagan Viking burials from the mid-9th to 10th centuries, such as the Reay cemetery in Caithness featuring single graves with weapons and grave goods akin to Scandinavian rites, alongside rural settlement traces at coastal sites.^[51] Earls like Thorfinn Skullsplitter (10th century), who married into local Celtic nobility, and his grandson Thorfinn the Mighty (d. circa 1065), who ruled Caithness and repelled rivals at Thurso circa 1065, consolidated Norse authority amid feuds chronicled in the Orkneyinga Saga.^[49] These dynamics reflected hybrid Celto-Norse kindreds, with Norse control persisting beyond the Viking Age proper until Scottish encroachments intensified in the 12th century.^[49]

Medieval and Feudal Period

The Earldom of Caithness, long held by Norse jarls of Orkney with divided loyalties to Norway and Scotland, underwent gradual feudalization as Scottish kings extended authority northward from the 12th century. Harald Maddadsson, Earl from 1139 to 1206, exemplified this dual allegiance, inheriting Caithness through his Scottish mother while maintaining Norse ties.^[52] Following the great division of earldom lands around 1239, southern Caithness passed to Scottish families such as the Cheynes, who subdivided holdings among Keiths and Sutherlands, introducing feudal tenures like knight's service and heritable baronies amid ongoing Norse customs.^[53] The establishment of the Diocese of Caithness around 1150, formalized in 1224 under Bishop William, aimed to integrate the region ecclesiastically, with its cathedral at Halkirk serving as a focal point for tithe collection and royal oversight.^[54] However, resistance to these impositions manifested violently; in 1222, Bishop Adam was stoned to death by parishioners at Thurso while enforcing tithes, prompting royal intervention and the burning of the bishop's residence, underscoring the persistence of local autonomy and Gaelic-Norse traditions against centralized feudal and church reforms.^[54] By the 14th century, Scottish influence intensified post-1266 Treaty of Perth, which neutralized Norwegian threats, leading to earl John Magnusson (d. 1301/3) aligning loosely with Scottish magnates like the Bruces during the Wars of Independence.^[53] Malise, Earl of Strathearn from 1331, further embedded Caithness in Scottish politics through marriage to the Ross heiress, though his female successors fragmented holdings until Alexander of Ard's resignation of the earldom to the crown in 1375, facilitating grants to families like the Sinclairs.^[52] Local clans, including the Norse-descended Gunns who held estates like Clyth under feudal tenure, began consolidating power, setting the stage for inter-clan feuds within the emerging Scottish feudal framework.^[53] ![Keiss Castle, a 15th-century feudal stronghold associated with the Sinclairs][float-right]

Clearances and 19th-Century Transformations

The Highland Clearances in Caithness, though less extensive than in western counties like Sutherland, involved systematic evictions from the late 18th century onward to facilitate the introduction of commercial sheep farming on consolidated estates. Landowners such as Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster pioneered this shift around 1793 by evicting approximately 80 tenants from 12 families on the fertile inland areas of the 30,000-acre Langwell estate, reallocating the land to Cheviot sheep flocks that required over 1,000 animals for economic viability.^[55]^[56] These evictions were driven by post-Napoleonic Wars market demands for wool and mutton, which outcompeted the traditional Highland economy of small black cattle herding and reiving, rendering small-scale tenant farming unprofitable.^[55]^[57] Displaced families were often resettled on marginal coastal lands, such as the clifftop village of Badbea near Berriedale, where settlement expanded from the 1770s and accelerated after 1792 with arrivals from Langwell, Ousdale, and Sutherland estates.^[58] Living conditions there were severe, with residents tethering children, livestock, and even furniture to prevent them from being blown off sheer 200-foot cliffs by Atlantic gales; families subsisted on fishing with up to 13 small boats, limited arable plots for potatoes and oats, a few cows or pigs, and occasional illicit distilling.^[58] Further evictions followed, including those at Ousdale (Ausdale) in 1804 under James Anderson and at Auchencraig in 1830 under Donald Horne, clearing entire straths like Berriedale by 1802 to expand sheep walks, with some landlords offering assisted emigration to North America via free passage from ports like Glasgow.^[59]^[60] Badbea's population peaked during this period before declining through the 1850s due to emigration and hardship, leaving 24 ruined structures by the time the last inhabitant departed in 1911.^[58] By the mid-19th century, Caithness's agricultural landscape had transformed from communal runrig systems and dispersed cattle townships to large, enclosed sheep farms, reflecting broader Scottish improvements that prioritized commercial efficiency over subsistence tenancies.^[57] This shift, spanning roughly 1750 to 1850, caused significant social upheaval, including impoverishment, homestead abandonment, and emigration, as tenants unable to adapt to the sheep economy—requiring substantial capital for fencing, drainage, and stock—faced clearance.^[55] The 1846–1857 potato blight exacerbated vulnerabilities for remaining coastal crofters, prompting further consolidations, though Caithness saw relatively fewer violent resistances compared to western Highlands due to earlier adoption of sheep farming and proximity to markets.^[57] These changes entrenched a sheep-dominated rural economy, with wool exports and mutton production integrating Caithness into industrial Britain's supply chains, while reducing the pre-clearance population density of inland glens.^[55]

20th-Century Developments and Recent Events

During the early 20th century, Caithness's economy remained dominated by agriculture and fishing, but agricultural employment fell sharply from 33% of the workforce in 1931 to 8.3% by the late 20th century amid mechanization and rural depopulation.^[61] The herring industry in Wick, once a major port, continued to wane after its 19th-century peak, contributing to economic stagnation.^[62] World War II transformed Caithness into a strategic military hub due to its northern position, with RAF bases at Wick, Castletown, and Skitten hosting squadrons for coastal patrols, anti-submarine operations, and secret missions to disrupt Nazi Germany's atomic program and naval threats.^[63]^[64] Wick Airport became a key facility for fighter and bomber operations, while coastal defenses, Y-stations for signals intelligence at Noss Head, and anti-invasion preparations fortified the area against potential German incursions.^[65]^[66] Postwar, these installations were demobilized, but remnants like wartime radiation from discarded aircraft instruments have recently complicated infrastructure projects.^[67] The mid-20th century saw a pivotal shift with the 1955 establishment of the Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment near Thurso, selected for its remote location to pioneer fast breeder reactor technology as part of UK civil nuclear policy.^[68] The Dounreay Fast Reactor achieved criticality in 1958 and operated until 1977, followed by the Prototype Fast Reactor from 1974 to 1994, employing thousands at peak and positioning Caithness as Britain's fast reactor research center until operations ceased in 1994 amid policy changes and safety concerns.^[69] Decommissioning began thereafter, with ongoing legacy issues including the discovery of radioactive fuel particles on beaches as recently as 2025, the most active in three years, stemming from 1960s-1970s experimental releases.^[70] Into the 21st century, Caithness has faced persistent population decline, with the working-age cohort shrinking faster than national averages, exacerbating economic fragility in this peripheral Highland area.^[71] The economy has pivoted toward renewables, with the region generating 12.5 times its consumed energy through wind farms like Halsary (operational since 2006) and Camster, supported by community funds that awarded grants for local empowerment in 2025.^[72]^[73] Proposed expansions include large-scale solar arrays and battery storage on marginal lands, alongside marine wave, tidal, and offshore wind projects anticipated in Caithness and North Sutherland.^[74]^[75] However, rapid proliferation of schemes has sparked local concerns over planning process weaknesses and landscape impacts, as voiced in Halkirk in 2025.^[76] Initiatives like Focus North aim to leverage this for a green energy hub, while cultural projects, such as the first new Iron Age-style broch tower in 2,000 years approved in 2025, seek to diversify tourism and bolster fragile employment.^[77]^[78]

Administration and Governance

Historical Shires and Counties

Caithness initially formed part of the sheriffdom of Inverness after its incorporation into the Kingdom of Scotland in the 13th century.^[79] In 1455, William Sinclair, the first Earl of Caithness from the Sinclair family, received a grant of the justiciary and sheriffdom of Caithness from King James II, initiating its administrative distinction from Inverness.^[79] The region was formally erected as a separate shire by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland on 17 November 1641, establishing it as an independent sheriffdom and administrative unit responsible for judicial and local governance functions.^[79] Prior to this, oversight had been shared, but the 1641 act solidified Caithness's status, with commissioners appointed soon after to handle military supplies and shire affairs.^[79] From the 17th century onward, Caithness functioned as one of Scotland's traditional counties, administered by commissioners of supply who managed finances, roads, and poor relief until the late 19th century.^[7] Elected county councils were introduced under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, taking effect in 1890 and assuming most prior functions, including education and public health. The county's boundaries encompassed approximately 686 square miles (1,780 km²) and included parishes such as Thurso, Wick, and Latheron.^[80] Caithness remained an administrative county until its abolition under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, effective 16 May 1975, when it was integrated into the Highland Region as the Caithness district. This reform eliminated county-level governance, replacing it with regional and district councils, though Caithness persisted as a lieutenancy area and registration county for certain records.^[7] The district structure lasted until 1996, when unitary authorities were established, subsuming Caithness into the Highland Council area.^[81]

Modern Local Government Structure

Since the implementation of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 on 1 April 1996, Caithness has formed part of the unitary Highland Council authority, which amalgamated the former Highland regional and district councils into a single tier responsible for delivering services including education, housing, roads, planning, and social care across approximately 25,650 square kilometers. This structure replaced the short-lived Caithness district (1975–1996), emphasizing centralized administration with decentralized elements to address the region's vast geography and sparse population of around 23,000 in the Caithness area as of the 2011 census.^[82] Electoral representation for Caithness occurs through two multi-member wards within the Highland Council's 21-ward system: Ward 2 (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) and Ward 3 (Wick and East Caithness), each electing four councillors via the single transferable vote proportional representation method.^[83]^[84] The most recent elections took place on 5 May 2022, yielding eight councillors in total who serve on the full council and contribute to policy formation at the regional level.^[85] These councillors convene as the Caithness Area Committee to handle localized governance, including monitoring council services, Police Scotland, and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service performance; supporting community planning partnerships; approving functions such as road traffic orders; and promoting heritage and community engagement initiatives.^[86] Operating under the council's Scheme of Delegation, the committee—led by joint chairs and vice chairs—facilitates tailored decision-making while aligning with Highland-wide strategies, though critics have noted challenges from the authority's scale, prompting discussions in December 2024 about potential subdivision.^[87]^[88] Community councils, numbering over a dozen in Caithness parishes, provide non-statutory grassroots input to supplement this framework.

Parishes, Communities, and Representation

Historically, Caithness was divided into approximately ten civil parishes for administrative, judicial, and statistical purposes, including Bower, Canisbay, Dunnet, Halkirk, Latheron, Olrig, Reay, Thurso (encompassing the burgh of the same name), and Wick.^[11] These parishes formed the basis for local governance and record-keeping until the abolition of counties in 1975, with records covering events like births, marriages, and deaths maintained from the 16th century onward in many cases.^[7] In the present day, ecclesiastical parishes under the Church of Scotland organize worship and community activities, often linking multiple historical sites; for example, Central Caithness Churches unites congregations in Bower, Canisbay, Dunnet, Olrig, Halkirk-Westerdale, Keiss, and Watten, while Pentland Parish serves Canisbay, Dunnet, Keiss, and Olrig.^[89]^[90] Local communities in Caithness are represented by community councils, statutory voluntary bodies established via the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to voice resident concerns to Highland Council and facilitate grassroots initiatives.^[91] There are twelve such councils covering the area, including Berriedale and Dunbeath, Bower, Caithness West, Castletown, Dunnet and Canisbay, Halkirk, Latheron Lybster and Clyth, Sinclair's Bay, Thurso, Watten and District, and Wick; these are supported by the Association of Caithness Community Councils for coordination.^[92] Political representation occurs through Highland Council's multi-member wards: Ward 2 (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) and Ward 3 (Wick and East Caithness), each electing four councillors to address local issues like planning and services, with members also serving on the Caithness Area Committee for region-specific decisions.^[93]^[83] At the national level, Caithness falls within the UK Parliament's Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency, held by Liberal Democrat Jamie Stone since June 2017 and reaffirmed in the July 2024 election, and the Scottish Parliament's Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency, represented by Scottish National Party MSP Maree Todd since May 2021.^[94]^[95]

Settlements

Major Towns and Urban Centers

The principal urban centers in Caithness are the towns of Thurso and Wick, which together account for over half of the area's population.^[96] Thurso, situated on the northern coastline near Dunnet Head, serves as the northernmost town on mainland Great Britain and functions as a primary hub for transportation and services. With an estimated population of around 7,850 residents, it supports local commerce, education, and connectivity via road, rail, and ferry links to the Orkney Islands.^[61] The town's economy historically revolved around fishing and trade, evolving to include nuclear-related activities at the nearby Dounreay site and tourism drawn to its beaches and proximity to coastal landmarks.^[97] Wick, located on the northeastern coast along Wick Bay and straddling the River Wick, was the traditional county town of Caithness and remains a key administrative and commercial center. Its population stands at approximately 6,798, reflecting a slight decline in recent decades amid broader rural depopulation trends.^[61] ^[98] The harbor at Wick has long facilitated fishing operations, particularly during the 19th-century herring boom, while the town also hosts the Wick John O'Groats Airport, providing air links to mainland Scotland. Modern development includes retail, light industry, and support for renewable energy projects in the region.^[97] Beyond Thurso and Wick, Caithness lacks other significant urban centers, with the majority of settlements classified as small towns, villages, or remote rural communities under Scotland's urban-rural classification. This distribution underscores the area's sparse urbanization, where economic and social services concentrate in these two towns to serve the wider population of approximately 25,000.^[96]

Rural Villages and Hamlets

Rural villages and hamlets in Caithness consist of small coastal and inland settlements, typically supporting crofting, small-scale fishing, and tourism, with many featuring historic harbours or archaeological sites. These communities, often under 1,000 residents, contribute to the 46% of Caithness's 25,347 population (2021) residing in very remote rural areas.^[99]^[99] John o'Groats, a scattered hamlet at the northeastern extremity, serves as a key tourist hub due to its position facing the Orkney Islands and as the traditional northern terminus of Britain's end-to-end walking route.^[100] The settlement includes basic amenities like a hotel and visitor centre, drawing crowds for views across the Pentland Firth.^[101] Castletown, the principal village in Olrig parish approximately 5 miles southeast of Thurso, historically prospered from flagstone quarrying, which supplied paving stones across Britain until the early 20th century.^[102] With an estimated population of around 900, it retains a harbour used for small fishing operations.^[102] Other notable coastal hamlets include Lybster and Dunbeath, both featuring traditional fishing harbours amid dramatic cliffs, supporting seasonal tourism and heritage trails.^[103] Inland examples like Reay and Strathy emphasise agricultural crofts amid peatlands, with sparse populations fostering community reliance on nearby towns for services.^[2] Auckengill, near Wick, hosts the Caithness Broch Centre, dedicated to Iron Age brochs prevalent in the region.^[104]

Economy

Traditional Sectors: Agriculture and Fishing

Agriculture in Caithness has long been characterized by relative productivity compared to other Highland regions, with surplus grain production enabling exports that contributed to economic wealth during the Norse era.^[105] By the eighteenth century, barley cultivation dominated, with farmers exporting crops to Leith or Norway; yields were reliable, as failures were rare due to the county's fertile lowlands and moderate climate.^[106] Agricultural improvements accelerated in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, including better crop rotation, enclosure, and drainage, as documented in John Henderson's 1815 General View of the Agriculture of the County of Caithness.^[107] These reforms supported mixed farming systems featuring oats, bere (a hardy barley variety), potatoes, and livestock. Commercial sheep farming expanded in the early nineteenth century, often at the expense of small tenants through evictions, shifting emphasis toward extensive grazing on upland moors while arable farming persisted in coastal plains.^[108] Traditional practices included runrig systems in earlier periods, evolving into consolidated holdings; sheep breeds like Cheviots and Blackfaces predominated, alongside hardy cattle suited to the terrain.^[109] Arable viability remains, with modern yields of spring barley reaching 2.5 tonnes per acre on suitable soils, though livestock—primarily sheep and beef cattle—now forms the core of traditional operations amid a broader decline in agricultural employment from 33% of the workforce in 1931 to 8.3% by 1981.^[110]^[61] Fishing, centered on Wick and to a lesser extent Thurso, emerged as a pillar of the Caithness economy from the mid-eighteenth century, with herring curing beginning in 1767 when local entrepreneurs like Alexander Miller established operations at Staxigoe.^[111] The industry boomed in the nineteenth century, fueled by European demand; by 1862, over 1,100 vessels operated from Wick during the summer season, temporarily inflating the town's population from a few thousand to around 15,000 with migrant workers, curers, and coopers.^[112] Wick supplanted Thurso as Caithness's primary fishing hub, becoming Scotland's leading herring port by processing vast quantities—often described as the "chief seat" of the trade—supported by harbor expansions and a workforce drawn from displaced crofters.^[113] Herring dominated traditional fisheries, with secondary activities like boatbuilding, salting, and barrel-making employing thousands seasonally; the boom peaked in the late nineteenth century before overfishing and market shifts led to decline, prompting local prohibition from 1922 to 1947 amid social disruptions like alcoholism.^[114] Planned villages such as Sarclet, developed in the late eighteenth century by estates to foster herring stations, exemplify early investments in the sector.^[115] While herring waned, whitefish and shellfish pursuits endure as echoes of tradition, rooted in Wick's natural harbor advantages.^[116]

Energy Production and Renewables

Caithness has historically been a center for nuclear energy research and production at the Dounreay site, where the United Kingdom's first full-scale fast breeder reactor operated from 1959 until its closure in 1994 as part of broader fast reactor development efforts spanning 1955 to 1994.^[68] The site, Scotland's largest nuclear clean-up project, generated electricity through experimental reactors including the Dounreay Fast Reactor, but production ceased with the end of operations, transitioning to decommissioning managed by Nuclear Restoration Services as of 2023.^[117] Residual activities include waste management, with a highly radioactive particle detected in beach monitoring on October 23, 2025, marking the most significant find in three years.^[70] Renewable energy now dominates production in Caithness and adjacent Sutherland, with the region generating 12.5 times the electricity it consumes, primarily from wind and tidal sources, contributing significantly to UK green energy goals.^[118] Onshore wind capacity exceeds 430 MW across the area, accounting for the vast majority of the Highland Council's output, which represents over 46% of Scotland's total onshore wind generation.^[72] Notable facilities include the Halsary Wind Farm, operational since 2015 with 15 turbines delivering up to 30 MW south of Spittal village.^[119] Offshore wind and tidal resources leverage the Pentland Firth's strong currents and coastal exposure. The Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm, located 13.5 km from the Caithness coastline and operational since 2019, comprises 84 Siemens Gamesa turbines each rated at 7 MW, yielding a total capacity of 588 MW.^[120] In tidal energy, the MeyGen project in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth—between Caithness and Orkney—operates the world's first commercial-scale tidal stream array, achieving a milestone of 50 GWh cumulative generation by February 2023, with Phase 1A alone producing 6 GWh from initial turbines.^[121] By 2025, four turbines contribute approximately 6 MW combined, with one unit setting a record for over six years of continuous underwater operation, demonstrating reliability in harsh marine conditions.^[122] Infrastructure enhancements, such as the proposed Orkney-Caithness 220 kV subsea link, support exporting up to 220 MW of additional renewable output.^[123]

Tourism, Manufacturing, and Emerging Industries

Tourism in Caithness centers on its rugged coastline and prehistoric sites, drawing visitors to Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of mainland Great Britain, for panoramic views and puffin colonies.^[124] Duncansby Head features dramatic sea stacks and stacks accessible by coastal walks, while the Grey Cairns of Camster, Neolithic burial chambers dating to around 3000 BCE, attract archaeology enthusiasts.^[125] Whaligoe Steps, a 365-step descent to a natural harbor carved in the 1790s, offers insights into 18th-century herring industry operations.^[126] The North Coast 500 route enhances accessibility, boosting visitor numbers through Wick and Thurso for heritage centers and castle ruins like Keiss Castle.^[127] Manufacturing in Caithness includes engineering fabrication, with firms like Forsyths Ltd specializing in carbon and stainless steel production across a 3500 m² facility since establishing operations in the area.^[128] Subsea 7 and Imenco maintain facilities in Wick for pipeline bundles and equipment serving offshore oil and gas platforms.^[129] Food and drink processing features local producers such as Caithness Biscuits Ltd and Caithness Chocolate, contributing to regional specialty goods.^[130] Glass manufacturing persists through historical operations, though scaled down, alongside joinery and battery component firms like Denchi Group and LionVolt Ltd.^[131] Emerging industries focus on advanced manufacturing and supply chain roles for renewables and space sectors, with Caithness positioned for growth in battery technology and offshore equipment by 2030.^[129] Seven local companies, including those from Caithness, joined a 2024 Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult program to develop capabilities in wave, tidal, and wind technologies.^[132] Engineering firms are investing in productivity enhancements, such as a family-run Caithness operation planning job creation through expanded contracts in 2024.^[133] Proximity to North Highland projects supports diversification into high-tech fabrication for energy transition and aerospace supply chains.^[134]

Infrastructure

Transportation Systems

Caithness is primarily accessed by road via the A9 trunk road, Scotland's longest classified road at 273 miles, which extends northward from central Scotland through the county to its terminus near Scrabster Harbour outside Thurso.^[135] The A9 in Caithness traverses moorland and coastal areas, connecting key settlements like Latheron, Wick, and Thurso, with ongoing maintenance including surfacing works that occasionally require closures.^[136] Secondary routes such as the A99 link Wick to the east coast, while the A836 provides inland connections.^[137] Rail transport is provided by the Far North Line, a 161-mile scenic route operated by ScotRail extending from Inverness to terminals at Thurso and Wick stations in Caithness.^[138] Trains complete the journey to Thurso or Wick in approximately 4.5 hours, serving passengers and facilitating connections to the Scrabster ferry terminal via local bus links from Thurso.^[139] Air travel centers on Wick John O'Groats Airport, located 1 nautical mile north of Wick, which handles scheduled passenger flights primarily to Aberdeen, alongside general aviation and occasional charters.^[140] The airport, a former RAF base, supports regional connectivity but features limited commercial routes.^[141] Maritime transport includes the Scrabster Ferry Terminal, offering daily vehicle and passenger services to Stromness in Orkney via NorthLink Ferries, with crossings taking about 90 minutes across the Pentland Firth.^[142] Scrabster Harbour also accommodates fishing vessels and cruise ships, serving as a key port for Caithness's northern gateway.^[143] Wick Harbour supports local fishing and small-scale operations but lacks scheduled inter-island ferries.^[144]

Energy and Utilities Infrastructure

Caithness features the Dounreay nuclear site on its north coast, established in 1955 as the United Kingdom's center for fast reactor research and development, which operated until 1994 before transitioning to decommissioning.^[68] The site, now managed by Nuclear Restoration Services under government oversight, represents Scotland's largest nuclear cleanup project, involving demolition of facilities like the 41-meter-diameter spherical reactor prototype and remediation of radioactive waste, with ongoing monitoring detecting particles such as a highly radioactive one found in 2025—the most significant in three years.^[117] ^[70] Renewable energy infrastructure dominates current developments, with the Highland Council area, including Caithness, generating over 46% of Scotland's onshore wind capacity, the majority concentrated in Caithness and adjacent Sutherland.^[72] Operational wind farms include Baillie, with 21 turbines each rated at 2.5 MW since 2013, and Slickly, featuring 11 turbines up to 149.9 meters in tip height.^[145] ^[146] Recent approvals encompass the 50 MW Hollandmey project with 10 turbines in 2024, while proposals like Watten (up to eight turbines) and redesigned Cairnmore Hill advance amid regional emphasis on green energy hubs via partnerships such as Focus North.^[147] ^[148] ^[149] Grid enhancements support this, including the Caithness HVDC Switching Station by SSEN Transmission to integrate Shetland's renewables and bolster energy security.^[150] Marine renewables, encompassing wave, tidal, and offshore wind, are poised for expansion in Caithness and North Sutherland waters.^[75] Projects like Caithness Energy Storage further enable efficient renewable utilization via battery systems with approved grid connections.^[151] Utilities provision relies on regional networks: electricity distribution falls under Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), covering northern Scotland with 24/7 operations.^[152] Water and wastewater services are handled by Scottish Water, the public provider for Scotland ensuring supply status tracking.^[153] Natural gas distribution is managed by SGN, investing in network reliability through the 2030s.^[154] Local concerns have arisen over strain on these utilities from emerging data center expansions, potentially impacting water and electricity availability.^[155]

Culture and Heritage

Linguistic Evolution

At the onset of recorded history, Caithness was inhabited by the Picts, a people whose language, known as Pictish, is attested through sparse ogham inscriptions and place-name elements but remains largely undeciphered, with scholarly debate centering on possible Brythonic Celtic affinities rather than Goidelic Gaelic roots.^[10] Place-name evidence in Caithness prior to Norse settlement is minimal, suggesting Pictish left limited linguistic substrate, as the region exhibited no clear pre-Scandinavian toponymy preserved into later periods.^[10] From the 8th or 9th century onward, Norse incursions and settlement under the Earldom of Orkney imposed Old Norse as the dominant vernacular, evolving into Norn, a West Norse dialect akin to those in Orkney and Shetland.^[50] The county's name itself derives from Old Norse Katanes, meaning "headland of the cats" or possibly referencing Pictish inhabitants as "cats."^[10] Norn persisted as the language of everyday communication into the late medieval era but declined rapidly after the 1379 transfer of Caithness to Scottish control, becoming extinct by the 15th century as Scots immigration and administrative integration eroded its use.^[156] Scottish Gaelic exerted influence particularly in southern Caithness, with Gaelic-origin place names indicating settlement or linguistic continuity, and historical records noting Gaelic speakers in areas termed "Southland" amid Norse dominance.^[157]^[10] Census analyses from the 19th and early 20th centuries reveal Gaelic as indigenous to parts of the region, with households reporting it as a primary language into the 1900s, though its prevalence waned under Anglicization pressures.^[158] By 1735, surveyor Aeneas Bayne documented Gaelic confined to certain parishes, while northern areas favored a Scots dialect intermixed with Norse loanwords.^[159] The modern Caithness dialect belongs to Northern Scots, a continuum extending south to eastern Angus, characterized by phonological traits like monophthongization and retention of Norse-derived vocabulary (e.g., in maritime and agricultural terms), alongside Scots grammar and lexicon.^[156] Late 18th-century accounts, such as the Old Statistical Account of 1791, described local speech in parishes like Canisbay and Wick as Scots infused with Norwegian elements, reflecting hybrid evolution rather than pure continuity from Norn.^[159] English has since supplanted Scots in formal domains, but the dialect endures in rural speech, with institutional recognition limited compared to Gaelic revival efforts elsewhere in the Highlands.^[156]

Archaeological and Historical Sites

Caithness preserves a dense array of prehistoric monuments, attesting to early human settlement from the Neolithic era onward. The Grey Cairns of Camster, comprising two elongated burial cairns, were constructed over 5,000 years ago, around 3000 BC, and feature internal chambers accessed via passages, with excavations revealing human remains and pottery indicative of communal rituals.^[160] These sites exemplify the region's role in Neolithic mortuary practices across northern Scotland.^[5] The Iron Age legacy dominates Caithness's archaeological landscape, particularly through brochs—massive drystone towers unique to Atlantic Scotland. With approximately 200 broch sites recorded, Caithness holds the highest concentration in the country, built primarily between 600 BC and 100 AD as fortified dwellings or elite residences.^[161] ^[44] Notable examples include Nybster Broch, where 19th-century digs uncovered Iron Age tools and structures suggesting multi-phase occupation, and the Westerdale Brochs clustered along the River Thurso, highlighting communal settlement patterns.^[162] ^[45] Pictish symbol stones mark the early medieval period, from the 6th to 9th centuries AD, evidencing cultural continuity into the historic era. A recently discovered stone from Ulbster, unearthed in 2022 at St Martin's Burial Ground, bears a crescent and V-rod motif, an early Pictish symbol, and was likely repurposed as a grave marker; its conservation underscores ongoing research into Pictish iconography and territorial influence in Caithness.^[163] ^[164] Medieval and later historical sites center on Sinclair clan fortifications, reflecting feudal power dynamics. Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, begun circa 1470 by the Earls of Caithness and extended into the 17th century, consists of interconnected towers on coastal cliffs, serving as a defensive stronghold amid clan rivalries.^[165] Keiss Castle, a late 16th-century L-plan tower house also erected by the Sinclairs, perches on sheer cliffs above Sinclair's Bay, its ruins preserving architectural features like gun loops and a vaulted basement.^[166] These structures illustrate the strategic use of Caithness's rugged terrain for control over maritime approaches and local lordship.^[45]

Symbols, Traditions, and Identity

The flag of Caithness consists of a yellow field bearing a black Nordic cross, representing the county's historical ties to Viking settlers, with a golden galley ship featuring a raven on its sail positioned in the top left quadrant as the longstanding heraldic emblem of the region.^[167] This design, which also evokes the black Caithness flagstone and the dark peatlands of the Flow Country, was selected through public vote and officially registered by the Flag Institute in January 2016.^[168]^[169] Caithness identity is deeply rooted in its Norse heritage, reflected in the prevalence of Scandinavian place names and the Gaelic designation Gallaibh, denoting "land of the strangers" in reference to Viking incomers who displaced earlier Pictish inhabitants by the 9th century.^[103] This Viking influence persists in local folklore, including tales of selkies—mythical seal-human shapeshifters—and witches, which form part of the oral traditions passed down in coastal communities.^[170] Prominent clans such as Gunn and Sinclair have shaped Caithness social structure and traditions for centuries, with Clan Gunn claiming descent from the 12th-century Norse figure Gunni, grandson of the Orkneyinga Saga hero Sweyn Asleifsson, emphasizing a legacy of Viking seafaring and feuds.^[171] Clan Sinclair, as earls of Caithness from the 14th century, controlled vast estates and fortified sites like Girnigoe Castle, fostering loyalties tied to land tenure and kinship networks that endured into modern genealogy pursuits.^[172]^[173] In the 19th century, town brass bands in Wick and Thurso performed at civic events, reinforcing a hybrid local identity that blended Caithness distinctiveness with broader British imperial patriotism, as evidenced by repertoire choices favoring martial tunes and royal anthems during gatherings.^[174] Today, this identity manifests in community emphasis on archaeological sites, clan societies, and natural features like the northern coastline, distinguishing Caithness from southern Highland Gaelic cultures through its Norse-Pictish amalgam rather than predominant Celtic traditions.^[175]

Media

Newspapers and Print Outlets

The principal print media outlets serving Caithness are two weekly newspapers published by North of Scotland Newspapers, a division of Highland News & Media Ltd.: the John O'Groat Journal and the Caithness Courier.^[176] ^[177] The John O'Groat Journal, established on 2 February 1836 by Peter Reid—a local fish curer's son—in Wick, initially comprised eight pages and centered coverage on that town.^[178] ^[179] Published every Friday, it delivers local news, sports, courts, and community updates across Caithness, with audited circulation of 4,168 copies and readership of 8,996.^[176] ^[180] Complementing this, the Caithness Courier appears on Wednesdays, emphasizing Thurso-area perspectives while overlapping in regional reporting.^[176] ^[181] Its archives trace to at least 1875, supporting historical research into Caithness events.^[182] With circulation of 2,643 copies, it maintains a focus on north Highland affairs.^[176] These publications share digital platforms for broader access but remain rooted in print distribution, filling a niche for localized, verifiable reporting amid declining regional press viability.^[180] No other dedicated print newspapers dominate Caithness circulation, though occasional features appear in wider Highland titles.^[183]

Radio, Television, and Digital Media

Caithness FM, headquartered in Thurso, functions as the region's primary community radio station, emphasizing local content including music from the 1980s and 1990s, community announcements, and support for voluntary groups.^[184] The station, which traces its origins to the early 1990s, initially broadcast on 102.5 FM in partnership with Moray Firth Radio for 24 years before securing its independent license and shifting to 106.5 FM on January 18, 2020, enabling round-the-clock operations.^[185]^[186] This transition, backed by Moray Firth Radio, positioned Caithness FM as mainland Britain's northernmost community broadcaster.^[187] Television services reach Caithness primarily through the Rumster Forest transmitting station, located southwest of Wick and serving as the northernmost UHF main facility on mainland Britain.^[188] Operational since the mid-20th century for VHF and upgraded for digital, it transmits Freeview digital terrestrial television via six multiplexes on horizontal-polarity UHF channels 21, 24, 27, 30, 55, and 59, with effective radiated powers up to 20 kW.^[189] These carry BBC Scotland channels (such as BBC One Scotland and BBC Two Scotland), STV programming, Channel 4, and Channel 5, alongside public service and commercial offerings like Quest and Yesterday, covering Caithness and adjacent Sutherland areas.^[189] Digital media in Caithness largely extends from established print journalism, with the John O'Groat Journal maintaining an online platform for real-time updates on local news, courts, sports, and events since its digitization by Highland News & Media.^[180] Published weekly in print alongside the Caithness Courier, its digital counterpart delivers breaking stories and community notices to a Highland readership.^[176] Supplementary content includes heritage-focused podcasts such as Olrig Observations, a series by Castlehill Heritage Centre exploring local history and artifacts through short audio episodes.^[190] Community forums and social media pages affiliated with stations like Caithness FM further disseminate audio clips and event promotions.^[191]

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Badbea Clearance Village | Historic Caithness Guide - Britain Express
Badbea was inhabited at least as early as the 1770s, but it was not until the infamous Highland Clearances that the population began to swell.
[59]
Evictions begin in Langwell, Berriedale and Ausdale - Grey Hen's Well
Nov 20, 2013 · By 1802 evictions in Berriedale saw the whole Strath cleared out. Sir John provided free passage from Glasgow to America for those who wanted it ...
[60]
Badbea: A ruined 'Clearance' village in the Scottish Highlands
Mar 24, 2020 · 1793: Sir John Sinclair evicted eighty of his tenants from the Langwell Estate. 1804: James Anderson evicted tenants from Ausdale. 1830 ...
[61]
Landscape Character Assessment: Caithness and Sutherland
This large area has an extremely low population density which is concentrated primarily at the coast and in major glens and straths. Settlement has been ...<|separator|>
[62]
The Wick Society Collection - Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness ...
The collection represents a unique record of Wick's development and its importance as a major herring fishing port, as well as unique scenes from many other ...
[63]
World War Two secret missions recalled in new Caithness trail - BBC
Apr 21, 2024 · Missions to thwart Nazi Germany's atomic weapons programme and sink warships flew out of RAF stations in the north Highland area.Missing: II | Show results with:II
[64]
Caithness at War – Caithness at War – Sinclair's Bay and Wick
Welcome to Caithness At War, the exploration trail based in and around Wick and Sinclair's Bay, areas of high activity and importance during World War II.Missing: involvement | Show results with:involvement
[65]
Second World War: The Caithness air base created to defend the ...
Aug 3, 2021 · As the Second World War approached, Caithness residents were all too aware they were right on the frontline, and pretty defenseless.Missing: II | Show results with:II
[66]
Site 16. Noss Head Y Station - Caithness at War
During the Second World War Caithness was home to many vital military installations. To prevent knowledge of these stations leaking out Caithness was made a ...Missing: II involvement
[67]
WW2 radiation affects Orkney-Caithness power project work - BBC
Dec 12, 2024 · The traces of radiation are believed to be from military aircraft instruments discarded in the area during or after World War Two about 80 years ...Missing: II | Show results with:II<|separator|>
[68]
Dounreay - Office for Nuclear Regulation
Dounreay was the UK's centre of fast reactor research and development from 1955 until 1994 and is now Scotland's largest nuclear clean-up and demolition ...
[69]
Dounreay - No2NuclearPower
The Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) first achieved criticality in 1958, and operated until 1977. The Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) opened in 1974 and closed in 1994.
[70]
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz91nx0lv59o
[71]
[PDF] highlands and islands area profiles 2020 caithness and sutherland
CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND: SUMMARY. 7. Caithness and Sutherland has experienced high levels of population and working age population decline. It has one of the ...Missing: events | Show results with:events
[72]
Renewable Energy | Focus North
Our region is central to Europe's low carbon energy transition, producing 12.5 times the renewable energy we consume.
[73]
Lighting the way: RWE's Future Bright Award shines on Camster ...
Mar 24, 2025 · RWE presents its prestigious 'Future Bright' award to Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel for empowering individuals across Caithness.<|control11|><|separator|>
[74]
Plans have been lodged for a vast new solar energy development ...
Oct 4, 2025 · One of the better ideas for renewable energy in Caithness ,that Lythmore hill is quite marginal land and well away from any roads ,and won't ...
[75]
Marine renewable resources | Energy Projects | The Highland Council
The marine renewables sector covering wave, tidal and offshore wind energy is expected to expand significantly in the Caithness and North Sutherland area over ...
[76]
https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/the-wrong-solution-growing-concern-over-renewable-energy-417266/
[77]
https://www.justtransition.scot/case-study/focus-north/
[78]
https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/for-the-first-time-in-2-000-years-scotland-is-getting-one-of-these-medieval-stone-towers-102425
[79]
County and Shire: Origin and Administration of Caithness
Soon after the erection of Caithness into a shire in 1641, Commissioners of the shire were appointed to provide supplies of men and equipment for the Scots Army ...Missing: historical | Show results with:historical
[80]
Old County of Caithness - Gazetteer for Scotland
Between 1975 and 1996 Caithness was a district of Highland Region. Following reorganisation into unitary authorities, Caithness has remained as an informal ...
[81]
[PDF] Caithness County Council | High Life Highland
County Councils were abolished in 1975 and replaced in the Highlands by a two-tier system: the Highland Regional Council and eight district councils. ( ...
[82]
Caithness Local Plan (As continued in force, April 2012)
The Caithness Local Plan is a statutory document prepared by The Highland Council which guides decisions on planning applications in the Caithness Area.Missing: modern government structure
[83]
Thurso and Northwest Caithness | Council ward information
Council ward information Thurso and Northwest Caithness. All wards have a discretionary fund which is managed by the Community Support Officers.
[84]
Councillors by Ward: 03 Wick and East Caithness - Highland Council
Councillors by Ward: 03 Wick and East Caithness · Raymond Bremner · Andrew Jarvie · Willie MacKay · Jan McEwan · Browse Councillors. View Councillors by Name ...
[85]
Councillors by Ward: 02 Thurso and Northwest Caithness
Councillors by Ward: 02 Thurso and Northwest Caithness · Ron Gunn · Struan Mackie · Matthew Reiss · Karl Rosie · Browse Councillors.
[86]
Tasks and responsibilities | Caithness Committee | The Highland Council
### Summary of Caithness Committee
[87]
https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/25340/scheme_of_delegation
[88]
Councillors call for break up of Highland Council - BBC
Dec 11, 2024 · A group of councillors have suggested breaking up Highland Council - Scotland's largest local authority by area.
[89]
Central Caithness Churches
Central Caithness Churches are made up of Bower, Canisbay, Dunnet, Olrig, Halkirk-Westerdale, Keiss and Watten.
[90]
Pentland Parish | Pentland Parish Home page
Pentland Parish serves the congregations of four churches in Caithness: Canisbay; Dunnet; Keiss; and Olrig. We may be small in number but we are big in heart.Our churches · News · Photo Galleries · Whats OnMissing: ecclesiastical | Show results with:ecclesiastical
[91]
Community Councils | The Highland Council
Community councils are voluntary bodies run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. Community councillors play an important role in local democracy.
[92]
Members - Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council
Each of the twelve Community Council's in Caithness are supported by the Association of Caithness Community Councils (AOCCC). The Association is made up of ...Missing: Scotland | Show results with:Scotland
[93]
Ward representation | Caithness Committee | The Highland Council
Ward representation · Ward 2 Thurso and Northwest Caithness · Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness. Total number of Committee Members - 8. Information on council ...
[94]
MPs representing Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross is a constituency in Scotland. The seat has been held by Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat) since July 2024.Missing: political | Show results with:political
[95]
Maree Todd | Scottish Parliament Website
Maree Todd, Scottish National Party, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (Constituency) 2021 - present day, Former MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region) ...
[96]
[PDF] Demography Caithness 2022 - NHS Highland
Nov 15, 2022 · quintile of national deprivation. Most of the population of Caithness (65.1%) live in areas ranked within quintiles 3 or 4 of the SIMD.
[97]
[PDF] Caithness and Sutherland Town Centre Strategy - Highland Council
Wick and Thurso, the principal settlements in the area, are the locations for much of the economic and social activity that takes place in Caithness, while ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[98]
Caithness and Sutherland facing 'severe population decline'
Dec 11, 2023 · At a local level, Wick's population was said to have fallen from 7100 to 6870 (-3.3 per cent) from 2003 to 2020, while the population of Thurso ...
[99]
[PDF] Demography Caithness 2022
This report covers Caithness's current and future population structure, population dynamics, geography, and life circumstances of people living there.
[100]
Caithness Travel and Heritage Guide | Historic Attractions and Photos
The most famous is the Castle of Mey, the favoured retreat of the late Queen Mother. Just north of Wick stands Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, a fabulously scenic ...Missing: features | Show results with:features
[101]
Caithness Guide - Hidden Scotland
Our Caithness guide explores the region's rugged coastline, ancient history, and unique wildlife. Discover historic sites, scenic views, ...Missing: features | Show results with:features
[102]
Chief Towns and Villages of Caithness - Fiona Sinclair's Homepage
Wick (9086), Norse Vik, "Bay", was in the Norse period of less importance than Thurso. Though Courts were established here in 1503, and it was made a royal ...
[103]
Caithness | Discover the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Caithness is a land where things look different, feel different and sound different. At the root of these differences is a unique history.
[104]
Caithness Broch Centre - High Life Highland
The Caithness Broch Centre, located in the hamlet of Auckengill, Scotland, is a museum dedicated to exploring the fascinating history and archaeology of brochs.Missing: notable | Show results with:notable<|control11|><|separator|>
[105]
Agriculture - Fiona Sinclair's Homepage
Caithness like Orkney became wealthy in the Norse period owing to its corn trade. So great was the agricultural wealth of Orkney and Caithness at that time ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
[106]
CAITHNESS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY • By John E ...
The farmers grew a great deal of barley and exported it to Leith or to Norway, the crops seldom failed, and the landlords were on the whole considerate and ...
[107]
Langwell: The History of a Caithness Estate and its Management ...
He secured Skibo for Dempster but lost out in the bidding for Langwell to the banker Sir James Hunter Blair, who offered £7,350 – £175 more than Ramsay was ...
[108]
The Highland Clearances - The Scottish History Society
He was one of the first landowners in Caithness to introduce commercial sheep farming, a policy which led to large scale evictions on his lands and the creation ...
[109]
[PDF] Sheep farming in Sutherland in the eighteenth century*
Abstract. The introduction of commercial sheep farming to Sutherland has been associated with the Sutherland clearances of the early nineteenth century.
[110]
Farming quality in Caithness | The Scottish Farmer
Sep 18, 2015 · "The land here is good enough to grow crops - we can produce spring barley yields of up to 2.5t per acre. The only difference is, our harvest ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
[111]
Herring Industry - Welcome to the Wick Society
Wick's long association with the herring fishing industry began way back in 1767, when three local men, Alexander Miller of Staxigoe, John Sutherland of Wester ...Missing: Thurso | Show results with:Thurso
[112]
Wick, whisky and the herring boom - ScotchWhisky.com
Jan 9, 2018 · In 1862, more than 1,100 fishing vessels were based at Wick for the summer season; the population of the town, normally just a few thousand, ...
[113]
Recalling a black day in Wick's herring history - Home - BBC News
Nov 20, 2009 · It was during this period that the Caithness county town of Wick was referred to as "the chief seat of the herring fishing industry in Scotland" ...
[114]
The story of prohibition in Wick, Caithness - Discover Britain
Jun 11, 2020 · We tell the little-known story of prohibition in the Caithness fishing port of Wick between 1922 and 1947.
[115]
Case Study: Sarclet Fishing Village
A planned village of the late 18 th century, Sarclet is a good example of an estate venture to develop a herring fishing village.<|separator|>
[116]
Fishermen - The Nuclear and Caithness Archives - High Life Highland
To be a fisherman, particularly during the herring fishing boom that took place in the late 19th century, was definitely not a job for the faint of heart.Missing: Thurso | Show results with:Thurso
[117]
Dounreay - GOV.UK
Dounreay was replaced by Nuclear Restoration Services. Dounreay is responsible for the safe and secure clean-up of the Dounreay nuclear site.
[118]
Focus North: Home
Caithness and Sutherland produces 12.5 times the energy it consumes, making it a major contributor to UK green energy targets. It is the focus of billions of ...
[119]
Halsary Windfarm - scottishpowerrenewables.com
Location. Situated south of Spittal Village in Caithness. ; Stage. Operational ; No. Turbines. 15 turbines ; Operating Capacity. Up to 30 MW.
[120]
https://www.justtransition.scot/case-study/beatrice-offshore-windfarm/
[121]
World-first milestone for MeyGen tidal power turbine off the ...
Feb 20, 2023 · The MeyGen tidal stream array, which is located in the Pentland Firth today became the first such array in the world to generate 50GWh of electricity.
[122]
Underwater turbine spinning for 6 years off Scotland's coast is a ...
Jul 7, 2025 · The MeyGen tidal energy project off the coast of Scotland has four turbines producing 1.5 megawatts each, enough electricity collectively to ...Missing: Caithness | Show results with:Caithness
[123]
[PDF] Orkney-Caithness 220kV HVAC Subsea Link - SSEN Transmission
The Orkney transmission link will enable the connection of up to 220MW of new renewable electricity and consists of a new substation at Finstown in Orkney, and ...
[124]
Venture North | Tourism & Visitor Guide for Caithness & Sutherland
Borlum House Farm · Timespan · Yarrows Archeaological Trail · Halkirk Heritage & Vintage Motor Centre · Dunrobin Castle · North Coast Visitor Centre · Waterlines · Bin ...Thurso · Tourism Map · Caithness Furniture · Caithness Seacoast Ltd
[125]
24 Things to do in Caithness Scotland - Our Complete Guide
Near the town of Wick, Caithness sits the ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe – one of the fascinating historic sites in Scotland. The Castle sits eerily close ...Missing: notable features
[126]
13 Things to Do in Caithness, Scotland
Nov 15, 2024 · 2. Dunnet Head · 3. Duncansby Sea Stacks · 4. The Grey Cairns of Camster · 5. Whaligoe Steps · 6. Wick Heritage Centre · 7. The Black Stairs · 8. The ...Missing: tourism attractions
[127]
A First-Time Adventure to Caithness & Sutherland | VisitScotland
Oct 24, 2023 · The museum is divided onto three levels. The ground floor contains some of the most impressive Pictish stones and Viking rune-carved objects ...Missing: period | Show results with:period<|separator|>
[128]
Caithness - Forsyths Ltd
Main activities of our Caithness facility are carbon and stainless steel fabrication. Facility Details. View on map. MANUFACTURING/STORES AREA. 3500m2.
[129]
Biggest Industries in Caithness and Looking Forward
Aug 8, 2025 · Subsea 7 and Imenco operate major facilities in Wick, producing pipeline bundles and high-tech equipment for offshore platforms. Battery Tech
[130]
Manufacturing : Food & Drink Products - Caithness Business Index
Location · Annie's Bakery Ltd · Berry Good · Bridle Way Produce · Bulno Goats Cheese · Caithness Balti House · Caithness Biscuits Ltd · Caithness Chocolate.<|separator|>
[131]
Manufacturing - Caithness Chamber of Commerce
Member Directory: Manufacturing · Ashley Ann · Denchi Group · LionVolt Ltd · Norscot Joinery Ltd.
[132]
Seven companies across Caithness and Orkney begin pioneering ...
Mar 19, 2024 · Seven businesses hailing from the north of Scotland and Orkney aiming to break into the multibillion-pound offshore renewables energy market have been selected ...
[133]
Caithness fabrication firm gears up for big contracts - HIE
Oct 17, 2024 · A family run engineering fabrication firm in Caithness is investing in a project to improve productivity, grow business turnover and create new jobs.
[134]
Key Sectors - Invest Caithness - Live North
Caithness & North Sutherland has a vibrant business community covering a wide range of key sectors and is set to experience significant growth opportunities.
[135]
A9 | Scottish Roads Archive
At 273 miles, the A9 is Scotland's longest road and one of the country's most important transport links. It begins at Junction 5 of the M9 motorway, ...
[136]
Works to close A9 in Caithness during holidays - John O'Groat Journal
Sep 28, 2025 · The A9 will be closed in Caithness for seven nights as surfacing works take place during the October holidays.
[137]
A9/Caithness - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
Mar 25, 2025 · This is the very end of the longest classified road in Scotland, finishing as it started in a semi-industrial environment. There is also a ...Route · Ord of Caithness - Latheron · Latheron - Georgemas Junction
[138]
Far North Railway Line | Inverness | Thurso | Wick - ScotRail
Explore this great scenic route, the Far North Line, with ScotRail. Find out the highlights, journey times and buy your tickets online.
[139]
Inverness to Thurso & Wick by Train | VisitScotland
Trains run north from Inverness to Thurso and onto Wick in just four and a half hours. Use the Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass on the Far North Line.
[140]
Wick John O'Groats Airport - Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
Wick is a one stop shop for anyone interested in getting involved in the aviation industry, with a different type of aircraft landing every day.Destinations · Getting Here · Opening Hours · Security and Check-in
[141]
Wick - Eastern Airways
Wick John O'Groats airport sits in the heart of this area with direct access to excellent Golfing facilities, stunning walks and hikes.
[142]
Scrabster Ferry Terminal - NorthLink Ferries
Scrabster Ferry Terminal. Take a ferry from Scrabster, Thurso in Caithness to Orkney with NorthLink. Luggage, checking in and parking.Parking · Route Info · Scrabster Car, Bus, Train...
[143]
Scrabster Harbour - Scrabster Harbour is one of the top fishing ...
Scrabster Harbour is an established gateway to the North of Scotland, a recognised cruise port with a modern ferry terminal designed to handle both domestic and ...
[144]
Tourist Guide for Caithness & Sutherland - Venture North
Caithness is well connected by ferry to the Orkney Isles. There are scheduled sailings throughout the year for both passengers and vehicle traffic, with onward ...
[145]
Baillie Wind Farm - Statkraft
The project consists of 21 turbines, each with a capacity of 2.5 MW and with a tip height of 110m. The total capacity is 52.5 MW, the equivalent of powering ...
[146]
Slickly Wind Farm - Statkraft UK
The project consists of 11 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 149.9 metres. We have designed the project carefully, avoiding cumulative effects by ...
[147]
10 turbine Caithness wind farm approved by Scottish Government ...
Sep 19, 2024 · ScottishPower Renewables has won approval to erect 10 wind turbines capable of generating around 50MW of electricity at Hollandmey Renewable Energy.
[148]
Watten wind farm - EDF power solutions UK and Ireland
Watten is a proposed wind farm which would include up to eight turbines situated to the west of Wick in Caithness, Highland.
[149]
Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm
RES has submitted a planning application for its redesigned Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm proposal in Caithness.
[150]
Caithness HVDC Switching Station - SSEN Transmission
Enabling Shetland's renewable energy connection with an HVDC switching station in Caithness, supporting net zero targets and energy security. View Project Map.
[151]
Caithness Energy Storage | About the Project - BayWa re
Requires minimal infrastructure, with an approved grid connection and a short underground cable route; · Enables more efficient use of renewable energy by ...
[152]
SSEN: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
Our contact centres are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to help you when you need it most. Call us on 105 or use our Power Track map to view, ...Missing: Caithness | Show results with:Caithness
[153]
Scottish Water: Home
Enter your postcode to track the status of supply in your area, see local news quickly and more. PersonaliseMissing: Caithness | Show results with:Caithness
[154]
Homepage | SGN Your gas. Our network.
This sets out our plans for investment in Scotland and southern England to ensure the efficient operation of a safe and reliable energy network into the 2030s.Contact us · Customer service · Household customers · Careers hub
[155]
https://www.facebook.com/caithness.org/posts/communities-worry-about-water-and-electricity-supplies-as-data-centres-expansion/1226265369532791/
[156]
Caithness - Scots Language Centre
The dialect is generally known as Caitnes ('Kate-niss') which is the local form of the county name in Scots.
[157]
Gaelic History - Highland Council
Very few parts of Scotland, notably Caithness and the Northern Isles, were not Gaelic speaking at one time or another and placenames of recognisably Gaelic ...
[158]
Census study shows Caithness's Gaelic past - BBC News
Mar 27, 2012 · New research claims that the Gaelic language was indigenous to many areas of Caithness - surviving into the 20th Century.
[159]
Caithness - Scots Language Centre
In 1735 Aneas Bayne, in his 'A Survey of the County of Caithness', commented that the local dialect was then spoken in five or six parishes, with Gaelic in ...
[160]
Grey Cairns of Camster | Historic Environment Scotland | HES
The Grey Cairns of Camster are two of Scotland's oldest stone monuments, originally built more than 5000 years ago. Visit the site today or contact Historic ...Getting here · History · Prices and Opening Times<|separator|>
[161]
Broch Builders - Caithness Archaeological Trust
Impressive stone built towers, called brochs, were built. Caithness has more brochs than any other area of Scotland: there may be as many as 200.
[162]
Case Study: Nybster Broch | The Scottish Archaeological Research ...
Caithness has the largest density of known brochs in the Highlands, although very few survive with substantial remains. Many were excavated in the late ...
[163]
Newly discovered Pictish stone to go on display
Jun 13, 2025 · In August 2022, a Pictish stone was discovered in St Martin's Burial Ground in Ulbster, Caithness, by a member of the public. Historic ...
[164]
Pictish carved stone discovered in Highland graveyard - BBC
Nov 15, 2022 · A carved stone discovered in Caithness could help archaeologists shed new light on the development of Pictish symbols.
[165]
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe - World Monuments Fund
Girnigoe Castle was built around 1470 and additions were added through the early 17th century when the castle was renamed Sinclair. Originally thought to be two ...
[166]
Keiss Castle | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead
Keiss Castle is a fine ruinous tower house of the Sinclairs, perched on cliffs, some miles from Wick, in Caithness in the far north of Scotland.
[167]
Caithness Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry
Top left is a golden galley, the traditional emblem of Caithness. The sail displays a raven as it appears in the Caithness civic coats-of-arms. Rutland.
[168]
Caithness Flag registered - The Flag Institute
Jan 30, 2016 · The winning design features a nordic cross which symbolises the ancient ties of the county to the Vikings.<|separator|>
[169]
Caithness | British County Flags
Feb 2, 2016 · This winning design, which received over 40 per cent of the votes cast, features a Nordic cross symbolising the ancient ties of the county to ...
[170]
Myths and legends of Caithness - Mackays Hotel
May 27, 2024 · Myths and legends of Caithness permeate the land. From witches to ghosts to giants, stories about strange and wonderful...Caithness Selkies · The Witches Of Caithness · You May Also Be Interested...<|separator|>
[171]
Clan Gunn - From Norse Viking to Modern Day
Mar 14, 2023 · Clan Gunn descends from Gunni, a Viking, and Norse Earls of Orkney. The name means "war". They arrived in Caithness in the 12th century.Missing: medieval feudal
[172]
Caithness Clans & Scottish Ancestry - Mackays Hotel
Apr 25, 2024 · Lots of people with Scottish ancestry have ties to the great clans. These are the historic groups that once occupied specific...
[173]
Scottish Clan History in Caithness - Ulbster Arms Hotel
Jan 9, 2025 · There were around 500 different clan groups, each named after their chief, and members would often take the same surname to show their devotion.<|control11|><|separator|>
[174]
Caithness Town Bands and the performance of local identity in the ...
Mar 4, 2024 · A long essay exploring the role of brass bands in Thurso and Wick in aligning local identities in Caithness with wider period 'British' politics.Missing: heritage | Show results with:heritage
[175]
Twelve essential historic places to visit in Caithness
1) Achavanich Standing Stones · 2) Castle Sinclair Girnigoe · 3) Dunbeath Heritage Centre · 4) Mary Ann's Cottage · 5) Dunnet Head · 6) The Grey Cairns of Camster · 7 ...Missing: features | Show results with:features
[176]
John O'Groat Journal & Caithness Courier - Highland News & Media
North of Scotland Newspapers is the home of the John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier which are both published weekly.
[177]
North of Scotland Newspapers - Caithness Chamber of Commerce
North of Scotland Newspapers publish two weekly newspapers, Caithness Courier on Wednesday and John O'Groat Journal on Friday.
[178]
Groat celebrates 180th birthday
Feb 2, 2016 · On this day in 1836, the first edition of the John O'Groat Journal was hot off the press! Slightly bigger than A4 size and consisting of eight pages.Missing: details | Show results with:details<|separator|>
[179]
[PDF] 1 P953 Highland News and Media Ltd. Collection RECORDS ...
John o' Groat Journal and Caithness. Courier. The John o' Groat Journal was founded by Peter Reid, the son of a. Pulteneytown fish curer. He trained.
[180]
John O'Groat Journal - read the latest News and Sport
The Latest News, Sport and What's On from John O'Groats and Caithness - from the John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier.News · Family Notices · Courts · Subscribe
[181]
Caithness Courier - papersdirect
In stockA weekly newspaper, published on a Wednesday and provides local news and sport for Caithness and the north of Scotland.<|separator|>
[182]
Caithness Courier in British Newspaper Archive
Dec 5, 2019 · Explore and read 14341 pages of Caithness Courier on the British Newspaper Archive, 40 years of history, local and international news ...
[183]
Latest Highland news - Press and Journal
All of the latest Highland news, including features, interviews, galleries, court reports, opinions and breaking news from across the region.
[184]
Caithness FM
Caithness FM was established in the early 1990's. We are committed to supporting local voluntary organisations, businesses, young people, and residents.
[185]
Bauer-supported Caithness FM moves to its own frequency
Jan 19, 2020 · Community radio service Caithness FM has launched its own frequency of 106.5 in the Scottish Highlands. Until now, and for the last 24 years ...
[186]
Caithness radio station presenters celebrate new frequency
Jan 23, 2020 · An open day was held at the station's base in Thurso to mark the occasion. It has switched to 106.5 FM after being awarded its own licence from ...
[187]
MFR supports Caithness FM to launch dedicated frequency - Rayo
Jan 18, 2020 · The move for Caithness FM to their dedicated frequency on 106.5 FM will provide the station the opportunity to broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days ...
[188]
rumster forest - mb21 - The Transmission Gallery
Nov 27, 2023 · Rumster Forest is the most northerly main station in mainland Britain, bringing TV and radio to the Caithness and Sutherland area in NE Scotland ...
[189]
Full Freeview on the Rumster Forest (Highland, Scotland) transmitter
Which Freeview channels does the Rumster Forest transmitter broadcast? ; COM6 ArqB. H -3dB. C35 (586.0MHz) ; Channel icons 12 Quest, 25 U&W, 27 U&Yesterday, 34 ...<|separator|>
[190]
Olrig Observations - Castlehill Heritage Centre
Welcome to our digital media page. Olrig Observations is a small but growing series of short podcasts on a variety of topics, ranging from objects of ...
[191]
Caithness FM | Thurso - Facebook
Rating 4.4 (7) The most northerly community radio station in Britain. Want to join? Email Office@caithnessfm.co.uk