Golspie
Encyclopedia
Golspie is a coastal village in Sutherland
, Highland
, Scotland
. It has a population of around 1,650 people. It is located picturesquely on the shores of the North Sea
in the shadow of Ben Bhraggie
(394m).
Golspie railway station
opened on 28 July 1874. It is on the Far North Line
. The converted 19th century railway station is now a luxury holiday let.
Golspie has award-winning beaches to the north and south of the tidal pier, where families can have safe bathing; there is a public swimming pool in the centre of the village for those who prefer warmer water. The Kart Race Track can be found about a mile or two down ferry road. The golf course provides a mix of links, parkland and heath and there are central facilities for tennis and bowling, football and playing fields for the young. Around Golspie there are walks which offer panoramic views, opportunities for bird watching and botany study, fossil-hunting and the magical enchantment of the Big Burn gorges and waterfalls. There is loch and sea angling, as well as sailing and yachting in the bay. In 2006 mountain bike trails were opened on the slopes of Ben Bhraggie.
Centred around Loch Fleet
, three miles south of Golspie, is a National Nature Reserve where in season waders and wildfowl can be easily viewed, along with seals basking on the sandbanks. Osprey and terns frequent the loch in summer, along with thousands of locally-born swallows. Rare wild flowers and plants can be seen on walks in nearby Balblair Wood.
The village boasts a Choral Group, Rotary Club, dancing classes of many and varied styles, plus at the start of August Golspie Gala Week is held. Among the 100 events staged throughout the week are a car-banger derby, a fancy dress parade, a wheelbarrow race and a parade of massed pipe bands as a finale. Golspie Heritage Society has a permanent home in the former Fisherman's Welcome on Station Road. The IT-equipped public library, open for limited periods over four days weekly, is situated in the Community Centre complex adjoining the High School.
The Church of Scotland
and the Free Church of Scotland
have well-established congregations, while those belonging to the Roman Catholic Church
and Scottish Episcopal Church
worship in nearby Brora.
There are four hotels, several guesthouses and B & Bs, as well as self-catering cottages, including the recently converted 19th century railway station. These are available all year round to cater for stop-over and holidaying visitors. Dunrobin Castle
, the seat of Clan Sutherland
, is only a short way outside and features a falconry display. Golspie Links Caravan Site is a static caravan site in Golspie, that is situated between the 18 hole golf course and the race track, just off Ferrry Road
Formula Renault driver.
Jimmy Yuill
(actor)
a lepercon
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
, Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has a population of around 1,650 people. It is located picturesquely on the shores of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
in the shadow of Ben Bhraggie
Ben Bhraggie
Ben Bhraggie is a mountain in Sutherland in Scotland, overlooking the village of Golspie. It rises to an elevation of above sea level. Near its top is a statue of George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland, now notorious for his role in the Highland Clearances. There have been calls for this...
(394m).
Golspie railway station
Golspie railway station
Golspie railway station is a railway station serving the village of Golspie in the Highland council area of Scotland.Golspie railway station opened on 28 July 1874...
opened on 28 July 1874. It is on the Far North Line
Far North Line
The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick.- Route :...
. The converted 19th century railway station is now a luxury holiday let.
Golspie has award-winning beaches to the north and south of the tidal pier, where families can have safe bathing; there is a public swimming pool in the centre of the village for those who prefer warmer water. The Kart Race Track can be found about a mile or two down ferry road. The golf course provides a mix of links, parkland and heath and there are central facilities for tennis and bowling, football and playing fields for the young. Around Golspie there are walks which offer panoramic views, opportunities for bird watching and botany study, fossil-hunting and the magical enchantment of the Big Burn gorges and waterfalls. There is loch and sea angling, as well as sailing and yachting in the bay. In 2006 mountain bike trails were opened on the slopes of Ben Bhraggie.
Centred around Loch Fleet
Loch Fleet
Loch Fleet is a sea loch on the east coast of Scotland, located between Golspie and Dornoch. It forms the estuary of the River Fleet, a small spate river that rises in the hills east of Lairg.-Geography and geology:...
, three miles south of Golspie, is a National Nature Reserve where in season waders and wildfowl can be easily viewed, along with seals basking on the sandbanks. Osprey and terns frequent the loch in summer, along with thousands of locally-born swallows. Rare wild flowers and plants can be seen on walks in nearby Balblair Wood.
The village boasts a Choral Group, Rotary Club, dancing classes of many and varied styles, plus at the start of August Golspie Gala Week is held. Among the 100 events staged throughout the week are a car-banger derby, a fancy dress parade, a wheelbarrow race and a parade of massed pipe bands as a finale. Golspie Heritage Society has a permanent home in the former Fisherman's Welcome on Station Road. The IT-equipped public library, open for limited periods over four days weekly, is situated in the Community Centre complex adjoining the High School.
The Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
and the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
have well-established congregations, while those belonging to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and Scottish Episcopal Church
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
worship in nearby Brora.
There are four hotels, several guesthouses and B & Bs, as well as self-catering cottages, including the recently converted 19th century railway station. These are available all year round to cater for stop-over and holidaying visitors. Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland. It is the seat of the Countess of Sutherland and the Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie, and approximately south of Brora, on the Dornoch Firth close to the A9 road. Nearby Dunrobin Castle railway...
, the seat of Clan Sutherland
Clan Sutherland
Clan Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is located in the region of Sutherland in northern highlands of Scotland and was one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The clan seat is at Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland...
, is only a short way outside and features a falconry display. Golspie Links Caravan Site is a static caravan site in Golspie, that is situated between the 18 hole golf course and the race track, just off Ferrry Road
Notable people from Golspie
Lewis WilliamsonLewis Williamson
-Karting:Born in Dundee, Williamson began karting at the age of eight, and spent a successful decade racing in the various classes around the United Kingdom. By the time Williamson moved into the junior formulae in 2008, he had claimed three Scottish karting championship titles at Cadet and MiniMax...
Formula Renault driver.
Jimmy Yuill
Jimmy Yuill
Jimmy Yuill is an actor, born in 1959, in Golspie, Scotland.He is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and later joined the Renaissance Theatre Company. He has appeared in many of Kenneth Branagh's films, most recently as Corin in the 2006 As You Like It...
(actor)
a lepercon