Achanalt
Encyclopedia
Achanalt is a railway halt in Strath Bran, Ross and Cromarty
, in the Scottish council area of Highland. It is served by a railway station
on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line
from Inverness
to Kyle of Lochalsh
.
The Achanalt railway station was opened by the Dingwall and Skye Railway
, but operated from the outset by the Highland Railway
. Taken into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
during the Grouping
of 1923, the line then passed on to the Scottish Region of British Railways
on nationalisation in 1948. When Sectorisation
was introduced, the station became part of ScotRail
until the Privatisation of British Rail
ways.
The Achanalt Power Station, commissioned in 1957 by James Shearer, lies less than a mile southwest of the Grudie Bridge Power Station.
, MP
for Wick Burghs
in the early 20th century, was the proprietor of the Achanalt Inn (now Achanalt House), built in 1878. Bignold acquired the estates of Lochrosque and Strathbran, including the villages of Achanalt and Achnasheen
, a castle at Lochrosque and lodges at Cabuie and Strathbran in 1885. Cabuie Lodge was lost below the waters of Loch Fannich
in the 1950s and Lochrosque Castle has also been demolished. The estate at Strathbran including Achanalt passed to Bignold's grandson the Marquis de Torrehermosa and his family continue to live at Strathbran Lodge in Achanalt.
The steeply sloping Cnoc na Bhain burial ground, one of Scotland's most beautiful graveyards, contains a memorial and grave of the pioneer aviator, Captain Bertram Dickson.
and the River Bran, and is near to the western shore of Loch Achanalt. To the north is Loch Fannich
. The terrain in the area is rugged and marshy, typical of this part of the Highlands. The dominant local geographical feature is Loch Achanalt, roughly quadrangular, with a maximum diameter of over 3/4 of a mile. Its water are shallow and reedy and drains over 39 square miles (101 km²), including the River Bran. The area between Achanalt and Achnasheen
is characterized by a gentle slope down to the River Bran, and features two peaks, Scuir Vuillin and Scuir a Ghlas Leathaid (2800 ft).
in 18 May 1989 as the area is an important nesting ground. It is 214.6 ha. in size. The marshes are characterized by mesotrophic grassland on a river valley flood plain. There are two waterlogged Carex Juncus communities that include Bottle sedge, Marsh pennywort, and Bogbean. In a relatively drier area, short grass and sedge occur, mainly in winter. The marshes are sedge dominated, and these include Common sedge, Carnation sedge, Flea sedge, and Star sedge. Tawny sedge and Dioecious sedge occur in flush line areas. The featured herbs include Heath spotted orchid and Common valerian. Purple moor grass and Tufted hair grass are locally extensive. Four nationally rare species of breeding bird fauna are located here.
The open water and grassland areas of Achanalt marshes support an array of nesting birds. Wader
s include Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Dunlin, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover, and Snipe. Wildfowl include Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Teal, Tufted Duck, and Wigeon. There is also a Black-headed Gull colony.
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
, in the Scottish council area of Highland. It is served by a railway station
Achanalt railway station
Achanalt railway station is a remote railway station on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line, serving the village of Achanalt in the north of Scotland. There are four trains a day in each direction stopping here on request, connecting Achanalt with all stations between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh.-...
on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line
Kyle of Lochalsh Line
The Kyle of Lochalsh Line is a primarily single track railway line in the Scottish Highlands, running from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh. The population along the route is sparse in nature, but the scenery is beautiful and can be quite dramatic, the Kyle line having been likened to a symphony in...
from Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
to Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
.
History
Dingwall and Skye Railway
The Dingwall and Skye Railway was authorised on 5 July 1865 with the aim of providing a route to Skye and the Herbrides. However due to local objections, another Act of Parliament was required before work could commence. This was passed on 29 May 1868...
, but operated from the outset by the Highland Railway
Highland Railway
The Highland Railway was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921; it operated north of Perth railway station in Scotland and served the farthest north of Britain...
. Taken into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
during the Grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of 1923, the line then passed on to the Scottish Region of British Railways
Scottish Region of British Railways
The Scottish Region was one of the six regions created on British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway and ex-London and North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland...
on nationalisation in 1948. When Sectorisation
British Rail brand names
British Rail was the brand image of the nationalised railway owner and operator in Great Britain, the British Railways Board, used from 1965 until its breakup and sell-off from 1993 onwards....
was introduced, the station became part of ScotRail
ScotRail
ScotRail was a brand name used for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004....
until the Privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
ways.
The Achanalt Power Station, commissioned in 1957 by James Shearer, lies less than a mile southwest of the Grudie Bridge Power Station.
Culture
Sir Arthur BignoldArthur Bignold
Sir Arthur Bignold was a Unionist Party politician in Scotland who served as the Member of Parliament for Wick Burghs from 1900 to 1906....
, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Wick Burghs
Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Wick Burghs, sometimes known as Northern Burghs, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918...
in the early 20th century, was the proprietor of the Achanalt Inn (now Achanalt House), built in 1878. Bignold acquired the estates of Lochrosque and Strathbran, including the villages of Achanalt and Achnasheen
Achnasheen
Achnasheen is a small village in Ross-shire in the Highland council area of Scotland. Despite the size of the village, Achnasheen is also the name of a postal district which covers several much larger communities. This dates from the time when the village railway station was an important stop on...
, a castle at Lochrosque and lodges at Cabuie and Strathbran in 1885. Cabuie Lodge was lost below the waters of Loch Fannich
Loch Fannich
Loch Fannich is a remote loch in Ross-shire, in the Scottish highlands. The loch is located 12 miles west of Strathpeffer.Loch Fannich was dammed and its water level raised as part of the Conon Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, built by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board between 1946 and 1961...
in the 1950s and Lochrosque Castle has also been demolished. The estate at Strathbran including Achanalt passed to Bignold's grandson the Marquis de Torrehermosa and his family continue to live at Strathbran Lodge in Achanalt.
The steeply sloping Cnoc na Bhain burial ground, one of Scotland's most beautiful graveyards, contains a memorial and grave of the pioneer aviator, Captain Bertram Dickson.
Geography
The village lies on the A832 roadA832 road
The A832 is a road in the Scottish Highlands, linking Cromarty, on the east coast, to Gairloch on the west coast, and beyond Gairloch to Braemore Junction. It is long and runs entirely in the former county of Ross and Cromarty...
and the River Bran, and is near to the western shore of Loch Achanalt. To the north is Loch Fannich
Loch Fannich
Loch Fannich is a remote loch in Ross-shire, in the Scottish highlands. The loch is located 12 miles west of Strathpeffer.Loch Fannich was dammed and its water level raised as part of the Conon Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, built by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board between 1946 and 1961...
. The terrain in the area is rugged and marshy, typical of this part of the Highlands. The dominant local geographical feature is Loch Achanalt, roughly quadrangular, with a maximum diameter of over 3/4 of a mile. Its water are shallow and reedy and drains over 39 square miles (101 km²), including the River Bran. The area between Achanalt and Achnasheen
Achnasheen
Achnasheen is a small village in Ross-shire in the Highland council area of Scotland. Despite the size of the village, Achnasheen is also the name of a postal district which covers several much larger communities. This dates from the time when the village railway station was an important stop on...
is characterized by a gentle slope down to the River Bran, and features two peaks, Scuir Vuillin and Scuir a Ghlas Leathaid (2800 ft).
Fauna and flora
The Achanalt reservoir and marshes were designated a Site of Special Scientific InterestSite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
in 18 May 1989 as the area is an important nesting ground. It is 214.6 ha. in size. The marshes are characterized by mesotrophic grassland on a river valley flood plain. There are two waterlogged Carex Juncus communities that include Bottle sedge, Marsh pennywort, and Bogbean. In a relatively drier area, short grass and sedge occur, mainly in winter. The marshes are sedge dominated, and these include Common sedge, Carnation sedge, Flea sedge, and Star sedge. Tawny sedge and Dioecious sedge occur in flush line areas. The featured herbs include Heath spotted orchid and Common valerian. Purple moor grass and Tufted hair grass are locally extensive. Four nationally rare species of breeding bird fauna are located here.
The open water and grassland areas of Achanalt marshes support an array of nesting birds. Wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s include Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Dunlin, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover, and Snipe. Wildfowl include Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Teal, Tufted Duck, and Wigeon. There is also a Black-headed Gull colony.
External links
- Achanalt Marshes SSSI at Scottish Natural HeritageScottish Natural HeritageScottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...