Kyle of Sutherland

Kyle of Sutherland (Gaelic: An Caol Catach) is a remarkable sea-loch or tidal river estuary that separates Sutherland from Ross-shire. The Kyle enters the Dornoch Firth and is fed by the rivers Oykel, Shin, River Cassley and Carron.

The lowest point of the Kyle of Sutherland is reckoned at the bridge at Bonar Bridge, below which is the Dornoch First. From here upstream the Kyle reaches several miles to its tidal limit which corresponds to 'the bailey bridge' at Inveroykel, southwest of Rosehall. Above the tidal limit is the River Oykel, which marks the county boundary further up.

The Oykel feeds the Kyle of Sutherland from its head. The River Cassley enters the Kyle from the north, the Sutherland side, a mile below this at Rosehall, the River Shin from the north at the ruins of Invershin Castle, below which the waters widen to a broad estuary (and some maps have put the division between the Oykel and the Kyle of Sutherland here and not at Inveroykel). The Carron enters the Kyle from Ross-shire at its very mouth at Bonar Bridge.

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References

• Map of the lower Kyle of Sutherland