Ord of Caithness

Headland in Scotland

58°8′22″N 3°36′15″W / 58.13944°N 3.60417°W / 58.13944; -3.60417Grid positionND 05649 17847Elevation198 m (650 ft)

The Ord of Caithness is a granite mass on the east coast of the Highland council area of Scotland, on the boundary of the historic counties of Sutherland and Caithness. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east of Helmsdale. It forms a headland 198 metres (650 ft) high, known as Ord Point. The A9 road passes above the Ord; there are sharp bends as it follows the contours.[1]

History

Historically, "the grim barrier of the Ord guaranteed its (i.e. Caithness's) isolation, and travellers who passed that way were greatly impressed by the experience."[2] It was described in the 1880s: "The old road over it, formerly the only land ingress to Caithness, traversed the crest of its stupendous seaward precipices at a height and in a manner most appalling to both man and beast... even the present road, formed in 1811... has very stiff gradients."[3]

  • Smiles 1878, Ord of Caithness
    Smiles 1878, Ord of Caithness
  • Ord of Caithness layby
    Ord of Caithness layby

References

  1. ^ Ord of Caithness Gazetteer for Scotland, accessed 8 August 2016.
  2. ^ James Miller, Caithness. Skilton & Shaw, 1979. Page 97.
  3. ^ Francis Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, 1882–4. Quoted in Ord of Caithness Vision of Britain, accessed 8 August 2016.
  • Map sources for Ord of Caithness
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