4 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND. 



of the firet Duke of Sutherland, by Chantrey, and a tablet to 

 commemorate the many virtues of the Duchess-Countess of 

 Sutherland, both of whose remains lie in that aisle. Sir Eobert 

 Gordon states that all the glass required for the church erected 

 by St Bar was made by St Gilbert, at Sidry, two miles west from 

 the town of Dornoch ; and that adjoining this church Sir Patrick 

 Murray, between the years 1270 and 1280, established a monastery 

 of Trinity Friars. Since the commencement of the present 

 century the town of Dornoch, like the whole of the county, has 

 been vastly improved. Little more than fifty years ago there 

 were a good many feed or turf houses in the burgh, and now 

 the buildings are as a rule neat and commodious, built of 

 stone and lime and slated. Several of the more important 

 buildings indeed are very handsome, and would do credit to a 

 much larger town. Situated as Dornoch is in an out-of-the-way 

 angle of the county, its trade is limited, and in 1871 its population 

 was only 625. The scenery around Dornoch is very beautiful, 

 and regarding its links Sir John Sinclair says — " About the town 

 along the sea-coast there are the fairest and largest links, or 

 green fields, in any parts of Scotland, fit for archery, golfing, and 

 all other exercise. They do surj)ass the fields of Montrose and 

 St Andrews." The thriving modern village of Clashmore lies 

 about three miles north of Dornoch, and near to it stands Skibo 

 Castle, the handsome residence of Mr Evan Charles Sutherland- 

 Walker of Skibo. A castle with garrison, under the charge of a 

 general officer, formerly stood for centuries on the site of this 

 mansion, and liistory and tradition tell us that around it many a 

 bloody conflict took place. In 1650 the brave but ill-fated 

 Marquis of Montrose, after his defeat by the Presbyterian army 

 near Bonar Bridge, and capture and betrayal by Neil Macleod of 

 Assynt, lodged two nights as a prisoner in Skibo Castle. 



Twelve and a half miles along the coast northwards hes the 

 beautifully situated prosperous village of Golspie, with a popula- 

 tion (1871) of 1074 As in Dornoch, the majority of the dwelhng- 

 houses in Golspie were, at the beginning of the present century, 

 of the most prunitive description, and the inhabitants were chiefly 

 fisher people. Now, however, its houses are all substantial and 

 comfortable, many of them very large and handsome. It is 

 entitled to be ranked as the most prosperous village m the 

 county. A convenient pier, accessible at low water, constructed 

 by the Duke of Sutherland at Little Ferry, about three and a 

 half miles distant from the village, has proved a great acquisition. 

 Both by road and rail Golspie is also well-appointed. 



Dunrobin Castle, the chief seat of the Sutherland family, and, 

 without doubt, the most magnificent of all the many mansions in 

 Scotland, sits majestically on a beautiful spot on the sea-coast 

 about a mile north of Golspie. Part of the castle is said to be 



