Day 7: Thurso

Went for a tour up to Hilliclay to see where granddad and great grand-dad worked the quarries for Caithness stone, a lovely hard slate like material much used in pavements and dry stone walls. A tramway took the slates from Hilliclay down to Thurso harbour to be shipped out, ready cut. The railway is long gone but a wagon still stands on display to mark the spot.

The big man kept going on about 'brochs' so we set off in pursuit. We found some cairn house but their provenance seems to be a bit in doubt. What was not in doubt was if 21st century Watts could fit through the door! Long cairn at Camster

 

We came back via the local cemetery which was so steep it had railway lines laid from top to bottom to lower the coffins down, but it is in doubt if it was ever used.

 View of Dunnet Head from Thurso

 

 

In the afternoon we went out to the lighthouse, built by David Stevenson, now a private dwelling!

 

 





 

 

Ended the day with a lovely family dinner at the Park Hotel, scene of much skulduggery 38 years ago...