Lairg

On the Shores of Loch Shin

Where a Highland Welcome Awaits – the slogan of this small and picturesque, rural village in central Sutherland, sitting on the edge of the 18 mile long Loch Shin, with its Lairg Dam and Power Station on Little Loch Shin. Lairg, being central to the County of Sutherland is an ideal base for trips in all directions, but first you must explore the delights of the immediate area, highlighted in one of the many Tourism Information Centres scattered throughout North Highlands Scotland.

You are within reach of loch and river fishing, stalking and shooting, walking, climbing and pot holing, as well as golf courses. Around Lairg explore the evidence of a bygone life, or go out on quiet moorlands and savour the fresh highland air while taking in the splendour of the mountains and some sensational sunsets. So, feel the past, savour the present in an oasis of peace that is life-years away from the bustle of modern civilisation.

Lairg is overlooked by Ord Hill with its archaeological trail and ancient burial chambers going back 6,000 years. Lairg comes from the Gaelic Luirg or Learg, meaning sloping piece of hill, or sloping place exposed to sun, sea or loch.

This area too suffered hard times in the notorious Highland Clearances where, around 1807, crofters were evicted to make way for sheep, leaving empty glens where once there were thriving townships.

The 1800s eventually saw the arrival of the railway with efforts to diversify away from dependence on sheep, and in 1919 a change of estate ownership saw a wide range of development over the area. The hydro schemes of the 1950s created an increase in the size of Loch Shin raising the water level by around 30 feet.

The area abounds in rare highland wildlife, otters, pine martins, wild cats, varieties of deer and assorted wildfowl, with both red and black-throated divers and many birds of prey, as well as some unusual species of plant life.

This is a crofting community and home to the largest one-day lamb sales in the United Kingdom. There are forest walks and waterfalls with the famous Shin Falls just five miles down the road, with its famous viewing platforms where salmon make gigantic leaps as they strive to get up river to spawn.

Northwards take the road to Altnaharra and on to Tongue with side roads to various crofting communities, while eastwards you have the road to Rogart and Golspie down Strath Fleet, whilst westward is Rosehall and Altass passing the Ravens Rock walk, Invercassley and the Cassley Falls and on along the river Oykel towards the west coast where some of the finest views in Scotland awaits your eagre eye.