About the Region

The maps and images below illustrate where Sutherland is and what it looks like. You may also want to visit The Internet Guide to Scotland. It is a wonderful online resource, and their page "The Far North, Caithness and Sutherland", offers information, photographs and links for many of the towns in the region. Visit The Internet Guide to Scotland at http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/caithnes.htm.
Map of Area Clans
These areas illustrate the Clans' sphere of influence about the time of King James VI.

During the nineteenth century, the Dukes of Sutherland owned virtually the whole of the modern county of Sutherland. The western area of Assynt, which was purchased in the mid-eighteenth century was actually MacLeod country, and the northwestern area of Strathnaver was MacKay territory.

Map of County Sutherland

Much of the northern region is wilderness. The scenery varies from panoramic mountain views and tiny islands to moorland and remote sandy beaches. There are dozens of ruined castles and ancient monuments, particularly in the east.

Ben Klibreck   River Shin
The mountains emerge from the clouds around Ben Klibreck,
south of Tongue.
Picture courtesy of and copyright by The Internet Guide to Scotland.		   River Shin
Picture courtesy of
The Internet Guide
to Scotland.
River Shin     Ardvreck Castle
Central Sutherland     Stormy Day, Ardvreck Castle and Loch Assynt
Picture courtesy of and copyright by
Gordon C Harrison at
http://www.gordon-c-harrison.co.uk/

The Assynt Mountains   Durness Beach
Suilven from Canisp, in the Assynt Mountains.
Picture courtesy of and copyright by
The Internet Guide to Scotland.		   A beach near Durness
Picture courtesy of and copyright by
The Internet Guide to Scotland.

Most of Clan Sutherland's history revolves around east coast towns such as Golspie, Dornoch, Brora and Helmsdale.

River Helmsdale   A Street in Helmsdale
River Helmsdale   A Street in Helmsdale
A Parade in Golspie   The Ancient Golspie Broch
A Parade in Golspie   The Ancient Golspie Broch
The Coast near Brora   Dornoch Catherdal
The Coast near Brora   Dornoch Catherdal
Picture courtesy of
The Dornoch Community Website at
http://www.dornoch.org.uk/

Sutherland, on the northwest coast
Picture courtesy of Dave Armstrong.