Kyle of Tongue
Kyle of Tongue National Scenic Area | |
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The location of the Kyle of Tongue within Sutherland. | |
Location | Sutherland, Highland, Scotland |
Coordinates | 58°28′37″N 4°27′11″W / 58.477°N 4.453°W |
Area | 245 km2 (95 sq mi)[1] |
Established | 1981 |
Governing body | NatureScot |
The Kyle of Tongue (
The sea loch and surrounding countryside is designated as the Kyle of Tongue
History
According to the Origines Parochiales Scotiae, Castle Varrich, an old square tower on a hill on the east side of the Kyle, was the residence of Karl Hundason, who made an effort to conquer Scotland on the death of Malcolm II.[5] There are three brochs: on the Kyle's east side opposite Melness; at the head of the Kyle; and at Dunbuie, a hill on the west side of the Kyle.[6]
In 1746, a naval engagement occurred at the Kyle involving Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite rebellion.[7] The Jacobite ship Le Prince Charles, commanded by Captain Richard Talbot, was bringing a large amount of French gold to aid the Jacobite cause. It was chased by a British squadron and one of the Royal Navy frigates eventually caught up with it in the Kyle of Tongue, on 25 February 1746. A fierce five-hour battle took place: the Jacobite ship fought bravely, but in the end was defeated. The failure of the gold to reach the Prince's army was one of the main factors which led to the Battle of Culloden.[8]
Geography
Kyle of Tongue is situated 8 miles (13 km) east of Loch Eriboll. Its western entrance is between Cnoc Glass and Roan Island; the eastern entrance is between Rosin Island and Neave Island. From Roan Island, the Kyle trends in a south and southwest direction for 7 miles (11 km) to Kinloch. A large portion of it is sandy, with a narrow bar-encumbered channel running through it. The depths range from approximately 18 fathoms west of Roan Island to 5 fathoms in the area 1.5 miles (2.4 km) above where the shallows begin. There is no channel into the Kyle of Tongue along the western shore.[9] Derry (or Loch an Dithreibh) is a lake which empties into the head of the Kyle of Tongue.[10] Strathtongue, an 8-mile (13 km) long stream, runs to the Kyle.[11]
Flora and fauna
The surrounding hills are characterized by meadows, grasses, and heath. There is moorland between the Kyle and Loch Eriboll.[12] Much of the area is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network, forming part of the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands, which are protected as both a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation.[13][14] Water fauna within the Kyle include
Land ownership
Much of the land on the western and southern sides of the Kyle, including the mountains of
References
- ^ a b "National Scenic Areas - Maps". SNH. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-84195-170-6. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Kyle of Tongue National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ Gunn, Adam; Mackay, John (1897). Sutherland and the Reay country: history, antiquities, folklore, topography, regiments, ecclesiastical records, poetry and music, etc (Public domain. ed.). J. Mackay. pp. 113–. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (1890). Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (Public domain ed.). W. and A. Smellie for W. Creech, Edinburgh, and T. Cadell, London. pp. 191–. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-4053-8942-6. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ C. Duffy, The 45 (2003), pp. 461–464.
- ^ United States. Hydrographic Office (1915). British Islands pilot (Public domain ed.). Govt. print. off. pp. 339, 343–. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Groome, Francis Hindes (1882). Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland: a survey of Scottish topography, statistical, biographical and historical (Public domain ed.). T. C. Jack. pp. 352–. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland: I-Z (Public domain ed.). A. Fullarton. 1853. pp. 761–. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Seemann, Berthold (1 January 1885). Journal of Botany, British and Foreign (Public domain ed.). West, Newman & Co. pp. 836–. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands SPA". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands SAC". NatureScot. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Tongue". Mackay Country. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-9547061-3-5. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "Kyle of Tongue, Scotland". birdingsiteguide.com. 3 August 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "Property Page: Ben Loyal Estate". Who Owns Scotland. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Property Page: Kinloch Estate". Who Owns Scotland. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Property Page: Hope and Melness Estate". Who Owns Scotland. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Property Page: Sutherland Estate". Who Owns Scotland. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 7 April 2018.