Achvarasdal
| Achvarasdal | |
| Caithness | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NC985647 |
| Location: | 58°33’32"N, 3°44’41"W |
| Data | |
| Postcode: | KW14 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
Achvarasdal is a village in Caithness. Its name is a mixture of the two ancient tongues of this coner of the land: directly it is form the Gaelic Achadh Bhàrrasdail ('Field of Bàrrasdail') but the latter element is from the Old Norse language Barresdálr: 'Barr's dale'.[1]
Geography
Achvarasdal sits three miles west of Reay, itself just west of Thurso on the county's north coast. Immediately to the south flows Achiegullan Burn and the Burn of Isauld. Achvarasdal Burn drains into Sandside Bay to the west.[2] Loch Achbuiligan lies to the north, and the hamlet of Isauld to the northwest.
About the village
There is a small outcrop of haematite iron at Achvarasda.[3] Attempts at iron ore mining were made in the early 1870s, and an 1874 map reveals that a windmill was built, probably for pumping.[4] A cairn in the area indicates that it was a burial place of a Celtic maormer or a Norse warrior.[5]
Achvarasdal House
Achvarasdal House was once owned by the Pilkington family.[3] The house and vicinity has been excavated and two prostrate stones and a Brooch was discovered.[6][7] A. D. Pilkington of Achvarasdal House was the President of the local Gardener's Society in 1946.[8]
References
- ↑ Gaelic and Norse in the Landscape: Placenames in Caithness and Sutherland. Scottish National Heritage.
- ↑ Phillips, Tim (2002). Landscapes of the living, landscapes of the dead: the location of chambered cairns of northern Scotland. Archaeopress. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-84171-291-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=uOOBAAAAMAAJ.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Smith, John Smart (1988). The County of Caithness. Scottish Academic Press. pp. 97, 149. http://books.google.com/books?id=YaJnAAAAMAAJ.
- ↑ "Achvarasdal Woodland Management Group". Caithness.org. http://www.caithness.org/community/environment/achvarasdalwoodland/. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ↑ Campbell, H. F. (29 November 2012). Caithness and Sutherland. Cambridge University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-107-69280-0. http://books.google.com/books?id=MZfrtfS7gJIC&pg=PA56.
- ↑ List of ancient monuments in Scotland. HMSO, Scottish Development Dept.. 1983. p. 16. http://books.google.com/books?id=GbNzAAAAIAAJ.
- ↑ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Society. 1980. p. 133. http://books.google.com/books?id=pTwJAQAAIAAJ.
- ↑ Gardeners' Chronicle, Horticultural Trade Journal. Haymarket Publishing. 1946. p. 239. http://books.google.com/books?id=tmINAQAAIAAJ.