Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 4

HIGHLAND RAILWAY
(34 miles from Inverness), Leutran (of), Clunes (74),
Beauly (10), Muir of Ord, near the great market-stance
of that name (13), Conon (16$), Dingwall (184), Novar
(25), Invergordon (314), Delny (34|), Parkhill (36|),
Nigg (391), Fearn (40f), Tain (Hi), Meikleferry (46f ),
Edderton (49J), and Ardgay (57 J), this terminus of the
Highland line proper being 201 J miles from Perth. The
extension from Inverness to Ardgay passes through the
rich agricultural district of Easter Ross, with woods and
mansions indicating a cultivated and prosperous com-
munity. At Muir of Ord the country is bleaker, and
the portion from Tain to the terminus is also of a less
rich character. On the right going N the eye of the
traveller meets a pleasing succession of changeful
scenes as the several arms of the sea are approached
and left, and the mountains of Ross-shire at varying
distances give a striking character to the prospects in
that direction. For its extent, the line from Inverness
to Tain presents the best proportion and the finest
examples of cultivated landscape on the system.
The Dingwall and Skye branch (so called because
from its western terminus it communicates by steamer
with the Isle of Skye) leaves the main line at Dingwall,
and, proceeding by a steep ascent, reaches Strathpeffer
station (44. miles), which occupies an elevated position
above the village and spa giving it a name. Proposals
are now (18S3) under consideration to make a branch on
a lower level to the village itself, with the ultimate
purpose of forming a loop with the main branch further
on, and so save the heavy gradients of this part of the
line. This route was originally proposed, but was
abandoned owing to the opposition of one of the pro-
prietors. Leaving Strathpeffer, the railway continues
the ascent, and passes through a remarkable rock-
cutting, over which towers the gigantic mass of the
Raven Rock (Crmcj-an-fhithaich) 250 feet high. Skirt-
ing Loch Garve, the line next reaches Garve station
(12 miles), at which point the coach for Ullapool, cross-
ing the ' Diridh More, ' connects with the railway. A
bleak district of nine miles is here encountered, and
then the railway runs along the margin of the lower
end of Loch Luichart, where the landscape is finely
wooded. Between Loch Luichart station (17 miles) and
Achanault (21J miles) the line follows the watercourse
of the district, passing the falls of Grudie and crossing
the Achanault Burn at the point where two small lochs
are divided by a neck. At Auchnasheen (27J miles)
the coaches for Loch Maree and Gairloch connect with
the railway, and a short distance beyond the line
crosses the watershed, reaching a summit-level of 634
feet above the sea-level. From Garve onwards the line
passes through a district of splendid mountain scenery,
and from Auchnasheen, descending rapidly towards the
western shore, enters upon scenes of much grandeur and
desolation, enlivened by an attractive oasis in Auchna-
shellach (40 miles), a picturesque house surrounded by
fine gardens placed in the midst of a bare and forbidding
mountain region. At Strathcarron (45f miles) the rail-
way strikes the coast of Loch Carron, an extensive
sea loch, and, pursuing the shore-line, reaches Attadale
(48 miles) and Strome Ferry (53 miles from Dingwall
and 215J from Perth), the present terminus of the
line. The originally proposed terminus was 10$ miles
further on, at Kyle-Akin, where a narrow strait only
divides the mainland from Skye, the titular terminus
of the railway.
The Sutherland railway starts from Bonar-Bridge,
and, following the line of the Kyle of Sutherland,
strikes inland until the foot of Loch Shin is reached,
when it curves seaward again, traversing Strath Fleet
and reaching the sea at Golspie. Beyond Invershin
station (34 miles from Bonar) the railway follows the
course of the river Shin, a romantic scene, in the course
of which some heavy rock cuttings and embankings
had to be executed. Lairg station (9 miles) is a noted
terminus for anglers, who here leave the railway for
Loch Shin and a multitude of inland and sea lochs
which have no nearer access, and to which conveyance
is had in mail gigs, etc. Passing from the hilly dis-
270
HIGHTAE
triets into more cultivated regions, the railway passes
Rogart (19 miles) and The Mound (23), the latter
situated at the great embankment, with sluices, built by
the Highland Roads and Bridges Commissioners at a
cost of £12,000. Golspie station (264 miles) stands at
the W end of the fishing village of that name, at the E
end of which stands the palatial residence of the Duke
of Sutherland, Dunrobin Castle. The railway route is
now for 17 miles carried on by the line built by the
Duke of Sutherland almost entirely at his own expense.
Beyond Golspie there is a private station called Dun-
robin, only used when notice to stop is given, and
occupying a position near one of the approaches to the
castle. The other stations are Brora (6 miles), Loth
(114), and Helmsdale (17), the last-named, at the im-
portant fishing village of that name, being the
terminus of the Duke of Sutherland's railway. From
Helmsdale the route is continued by the line of the
Sutherland and Caithness Company. Beyond Helms-
dale the public road northwards crosses the Ord of
Caithness, but the railway line turns aside to follow
inland the course of the Helmsdale river, in Strath
Hie, the first station being Kildonan (94 miles from
Helmsdale), beyond which it crosses a long stretch of
wild and exposed country, where snow blocks on the
railway are of frequent occurrence in winter. The
stations here are Kinbrace (16| miles), Forsinard (24J),
and Altnabreac (32£), beyond which, in a more low-
land territory, there are stations at Scotscalder (41|)
and Halkirk (44), and at Georgemas Junction (46) the
lines for Wick and Thurso diverge. The distance to
Thurso is 6J miles, with an intermediate station at
Hoy, the terminus being 298 miles from Perth. The
line to Wick proceeds to Bower (2| miles from the
junction), Watten (64), and Bilbster (9), the extreme
terminus of the system being at Wick, 14 miles from
Georgemas Junction, 161 j from Inverness, and 305 from
Perth.
The Highland railway and its continuations fulfil an
important function in providing communication over a
very large portion of Scotland, performing the three-
fold task of opening up a market for the produce of the
hills in sheep, cattle, grain, etc. , of carrying merchan-
dise into the district from other quarters, and of open-
ing up to tourists and sportsmen some of the grandest
portions of Scottish scenery. Excepting Inverness, the
towns served by the line are small, but, as will be seen,
the railway touches at many fishing villages on the
Moray Firth and further BT, embracing the important,
but not now undisputed, capital of the herring fishery,
Wick. By means of the branch to Strome Ferry it has
opened up an alternative route to Skye and the Outer
Hebrides, previously only accessible by long sea voy-
ages. In the extreme N the development of the railway
has not rewarded those by whose capital the lines were
made, the sinuous line followed in order to render the
system valuable locally having in a great measure
lessened its likelihood of proving a good through line
for traffic to Orkney. In the branches to Aberfeldy
and Strome Ferry, as well as in the main through
route, the railway holds an important place in the
tourist routes throughout Scotland, many tours in
conjunction with coaches, steamers on the Caledonian
Canal, etc. , being organised. The most striking feature
of the system, in the eye of a stranger, is the long
stretches of apparently desolate country through which
the railway for many miles pursues its way, while at
many points the view obtained from the train embraces
scenes of grandeur and impressiveness not excelled in
any other railway in the kingdom. The Highland
Company is now (1883) engaged in resisting the pro-
posal to construct a new railway to Inverness, traversing
the line of the Caledonian Canal, Glencoe, Loch Lomond,
etc. , to a junction with the North British railway near
Glasgow.
Hightae, a village and a lake in Lochmaben parish,
Dumfriesshire. The village stands on a fertile alluvial
tract near the river Annan, 2J miles SSE of Lochmaben
town, and 4 SW of Lockerbie. The largest of the so-