Achentoul
| Achentoul Gaelic: Achadh an t-Sabhail | |
| Sutherland | |
|---|---|
 Blar-mhòr, Achentoul | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NC873335 |
| Location: | 58°16’35"N, 3°55’23"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Fort William |
| Postcode: | KW8 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
Achentoul is a hamlet in the Kinbrace area of Sutherland. Its name is from the Gaelic Achadh an t-Sabhail, mening 'field of the barn'.
Consisting of a few farmhouses and barns, Achentoul lies north of Kinbrace along the A897 road and south of Loch An Ruathair. Although the Achentoul Forest is located in this area, the landscape is said to be dominated by moist Atlantic heather moor.[1]
The Estate
The Achentoul Estate boasts several lochs, including Loch Ascaig, Loch Arachlinie, Loch Badanloch, Loch Ruthair, Loch Drum, Loch Lucy, Loch Cullidh, Loch Dubh, Loch Sletill and Loch Badanloch.[2] Loch fishing is available on a number of the estate's lochs.
Birds, beasts and blooms
The rugged and remote Achentoul Forest lies to the north of Achentoul Lodge.[2] A deer forest, it has been a noted sporting estate for deer shooting for centuries.[3]
The area is frequented by deer all year round, as well as birds of prey.[2]
Working the Estate
Achentoul Lodge was built c. 1900. It is south-east of Loch An Ruathair, overlooking the moorland to the north of Kinbrace.[4]
The lodge organizes hind stalking during the winter months (October–February) to kill deer, which are considered pests to the forest.[5] The sport is at relatively modest cost: the farm charges up to £130 for a session if the shooter hires a keeper, although a stalker is only permitted to kill two deer in a session.[5] The stalking also provides a service of woodland conservation, primarily, given that the Achentoul estate by 1970 had dedicated 1,000 acres for afforestation and sold 604 acres to the Forestry Commission. Rabbit shooting on the farm is also available.
A notable family on the farm are the Nutting family, who hired the late Donald Mackay to manage the farm in 1958. He worked in Achentoul for a long time with the Henderson brothers; he died in 2010, aged 76.[6]
The Ca na Catanach is a 22-mile mediæval road and drovers' road with a footpath between Dorrery Lodge and the north end of Achentoul.[7]
Kinbrace Hill (also known as Kinbrace Farm or Achentoul Forest) is noted by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland for a long, chambered cairn.[8]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Achentoul) |
- Achintoul on Country Sport Scotland
- Achintoul Estate, Kinbrace: Scotland Guides
References
- ↑ Annual report, Issues 54-56. Macaulay Institute for Soil Research. 1984. p. 150.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kinbrace Lochs, Sutherland: First Foot
- ↑ Prebble, John (1984). John Prebble's Scotland. Secker & Warburg. p. 201. https://books.google.com/books?id=xKBnAAAAMAAJ&q=Achentoul&dq=Achentoul&hl=en&ei=xq7BTNPeHOmK4galsPzUCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCTge.
- ↑ Achentoul Lodge – Scottish Places
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Achentoul Hind Stalking - First Foot
- ↑ 'Mr Donnie Mackay, Achentoul and Golspie: The Northern Times 2 September 2010
- ↑ Ca na Catanach - Heritage Paths
- ↑ CANMORE (RCAHMS) record of Kinbrace Hill