Dunbeath


Highland

Neil Gunn Memorial, Dunbeath Harbour
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Neil Gunn Memorial, Dunbeath Harbour

A village forming a terrace of mid 19th-century cottages on the E coast of Caithness, Highland Council Area, Dunbeath lies at the mouth of the Dunbeath Water which enters a wide bay, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Wick. The cliffs on the south side of the bay are topped by Dunbeath Castle which was built for Sir George Crichton, Lord High Admiral of Scotland. HRH Prince George, Duke of Kent was killed in a plane crash during World War II on Eagle's Rock to the west of Dunbeath.

The modern bridge over the Dunbeath Water erected in 1989 supersedes the single-arch bridge built by Thomas Telford c.1815 and the former school has been converted into a Heritage Centre. At Portormin Harbour, which dates from 1892, there are the remains of a fishing store, ice-house and salmon fishers' bothy. The author Neil Gunn was born in Dunbeath in 1891. In addition to tourism, lobster fishing and livestock transport provide employment. An annual Highland Games is held locally.


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