Strathpeffer
Encyclopedia
Strathpeffer is a village and former spa town
in Ross and Cromarty
, Highland
, Scotland
, with a population of 1,469.
5 miles west of Dingwall
, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level
. Sheltered on the west and north, it has a comparatively dry and warm climate.
Blar Nan Ceann, battle (field) of the heads, lies at the western end of the modern village . Very little is known about the battle there, not even its date, other than the MacKenzies of Seaforth defeated the MacDonells of Glengarry
and some incident took place at a well near the battlefield, subsequently called Tobar a' Chinn (well of the head).
The Battle of Blar Na Pairce, battle (field) of the park, in approximately 1486 saw the local MacKenzies
, under their chief Kenneth MacKenzie, successfully defeat a large invading force of MacDonalds
. The battlefield lies south-west of the modern village, on the banks of Loch Kinellan. The loch contains a crannog
, which remained a hunting seat of the Earls of Ross
until the late medieval period and was reportedly visited by Robert The Bruce during his reign. It was from this crannog that Kenneth MacKenzie went out to meet the MacDonalds.
The Battle of Drumchatt
took place in 1497 on Drumchatt (Druimchat) or "the Cat's Back", a ridge to the southeast of Strathpeffer. The Clan Mackenzie
and Clan Munro
defeated the invading Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh
.
In the Victorian era
Strathpeffer was popular as a spa resort, owing to the discovery of sulphurous
springs in the 18th century. The pump-room in the middle of the village dates from 1819. Soon after that, a hospital and a hotel were also built. The Pavilion
dates from 1880, and was built to provide a venue for entertainment of the visitors. It fell into disuse and disrepair towards the end of last century, but has now been restored as a stunning new venue for the arts, weddings, other functions, and events of all kinds.
was built and Strathpeffer railway station
was opened on 3 June; the most logical route for the line to Kyle of Lochalsh
was through the town, but disagreements with landowners initially prevented the railway from crossing their land. The branch closed in 1946. The station now contains a variety of shops and craft outlets as well as the Highland Museum of Childhood
. The nearest stations are now at Dingwall and Garve.
A project is underway by the Strathpeffer Spa Railway Association to restore some of the track, buy an engine and run a short heritage line.
The Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band and local Highland dancers perform in the square every Saturday from end May to September, and this is a popular gathering for both visitors and residents. Nearby is Castle Leod
, seat of the Earl of Cromartie
, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie
, which is now open to the public several times a year (details on the Strathpeffer Pavilion website). The annual Strathpeffer Highland Gathering, one of the longest-established Highland Games
in Scotland, takes place in the grounds of Castle Leod every August.
has hosted major acts such as Deacon Blue
and The Kaiser Chiefs. The Coffee Shop in the Cromarty Buildings is a haven for songwriting and musical talent in the genres of folk, country and roots, regularly hosting acts such as Rory McLeod and Cara Luft
. Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band perform regularly in the square and are in their 31st year.
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
in Ross and Cromarty
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...
, Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
, 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...
, with a population of 1,469.
Geography
It lies in a glenGlen
A glen is a valley, typically one that is long, deep, and often glacially U-shaped; or one with a watercourse running through such a valley. Whittow defines it as a "Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands" that is "narrower than a strath."...
5 miles west of Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Sheltered on the west and north, it has a comparatively dry and warm climate.
History
The strategic location of the village has led to several battles being fought in the area :Blar Nan Ceann, battle (field) of the heads, lies at the western end of the modern village . Very little is known about the battle there, not even its date, other than the MacKenzies of Seaforth defeated the MacDonells of Glengarry
Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry
Clan MacDonell of Glengarry is a branch of Clan Donald taking its name from Glen Garry where the river Garry runs eastwards through Loch Garry to join the Great Glen about 16 miles north of Fort William...
and some incident took place at a well near the battlefield, subsequently called Tobar a' Chinn (well of the head).
The Battle of Blar Na Pairce, battle (field) of the park, in approximately 1486 saw the local MacKenzies
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
, under their chief Kenneth MacKenzie, successfully defeat a large invading force of MacDonalds
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
. The battlefield lies south-west of the modern village, on the banks of Loch Kinellan. The loch contains a crannog
Crannog
A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
, which remained a hunting seat of the Earls of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
until the late medieval period and was reportedly visited by Robert The Bruce during his reign. It was from this crannog that Kenneth MacKenzie went out to meet the MacDonalds.
The Battle of Drumchatt
Battle of Drumchatt
The Battle of Drumchatt was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1497. The Clan Mackenzie and the Clan Munro defeated the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh at Drumchatt or "the Cat's Back", a ridge to the southeast of Strathpeffer.- Background :...
took place in 1497 on Drumchatt (Druimchat) or "the Cat's Back", a ridge to the southeast of Strathpeffer. The Clan Mackenzie
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
and Clan Munro
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
defeated the invading Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh
Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh
-History:The MacDonald of Lochalsh branch was founded by Celestine MacDonald . Celestine MacDonald was the second son of Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 3rd Lord of the Isles and 8th chief of Clan Donald...
.
In the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Strathpeffer was popular as a spa resort, owing to the discovery of sulphurous
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
springs in the 18th century. The pump-room in the middle of the village dates from 1819. Soon after that, a hospital and a hotel were also built. The Pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
dates from 1880, and was built to provide a venue for entertainment of the visitors. It fell into disuse and disrepair towards the end of last century, but has now been restored as a stunning new venue for the arts, weddings, other functions, and events of all kinds.
Railway
The arrival of the railways in Dingwall in 1862 did much to bring more visitors to the town. In 1885 a branch line from the Kyle of Lochalsh LineKyle 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...
was built and Strathpeffer railway station
Strathpeffer railway station
Strathpeffer railway station was a former station serving the small town of Strathpeffer in the county of Ross and Cromarty, , Scotland.-First station:...
was opened on 3 June; the most logical route for the line 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...
was through the town, but disagreements with landowners initially prevented the railway from crossing their land. The branch closed in 1946. The station now contains a variety of shops and craft outlets as well as the Highland Museum of Childhood
Highland Museum of Childhood
Highland Museum of Childhood is a museum in the restored railway station in Strathpeffer, Scotland.-History and background:The Highland Museum of Childhood is located in Strathpeffer’s restored Victorian railway station, built by the Highland Railway in 1885 to bring visitors to the Spa village of...
. The nearest stations are now at Dingwall and Garve.
A project is underway by the Strathpeffer Spa Railway Association to restore some of the track, buy an engine and run a short heritage line.
Tourism
Because of its location in the heart of the Highlands, and because it contains several large hotels and many guest houses, holiday cottages and B&B establishments, Strathpeffer has remained a popular visitor attraction and a good base for touring the Highlands. There are many walks in the surrounding area and a very scenic golf course, which boasts the longest drop from tee to green of any course in Britain.The Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band and local Highland dancers perform in the square every Saturday from end May to September, and this is a popular gathering for both visitors and residents. Nearby is Castle Leod
Castle Leod
Castle Leod is located near Strathpeffer in the east of Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It is currently the seat of the Chief of the Clan MacKenzie, although the lands belonged to the Chief of the Clan MacLeod of Lewis until the 17th century...
, seat of the Earl of Cromartie
Earl of Cromartie
Earl of Cromartie is a title that has been created twice, both times for members of the Mackenzie family. This branch of the family descends from Sir Roderick Mackenzie, whose elder brother Kenneth Mackenzie was created Lord Mackenzie of Kintail in 1609 and was the father of Colin Mackenzie, 1st...
, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
, which is now open to the public several times a year (details on the Strathpeffer Pavilion website). The annual Strathpeffer Highland Gathering, one of the longest-established Highland Games
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
in Scotland, takes place in the grounds of Castle Leod every August.
Music
Strathpeffer is home to a vibrant music scene and has been described as "The Highland Village of Music". Strathpeffer PavilionStrathpeffer Pavilion
Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion was commissioned by the Countess of Cromartie in the late 19th century, to serve as a social and entertainment centre for Strathpeffer's many visitors...
has hosted major acts such as Deacon Blue
Deacon Blue
Deacon Blue are a Scottish pop band formed in Glasgow during 1985. Their name was taken from the title of the Steely Dan song "Deacon Blues". The band consists of vocalist Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime and drummer Dougie Vipond....
and The Kaiser Chiefs. The Coffee Shop in the Cromarty Buildings is a haven for songwriting and musical talent in the genres of folk, country and roots, regularly hosting acts such as Rory McLeod and Cara Luft
Cara Luft
Cara Luft is a singer-songwriter and founding member of the Canadian folk trio, The Wailin' Jennys. She returned to her solo career in 2004.2009 October Cara Luft play a tour in Europe...
. Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band perform regularly in the square and are in their 31st year.
External links
- Strathpeffer village website
- Strathpeffer Community Centre
- Strathpeffer Community Council
- Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club
- Highland Museum of Childhood
- Castle LeodCastle LeodCastle Leod is located near Strathpeffer in the east of Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It is currently the seat of the Chief of the Clan MacKenzie, although the lands belonged to the Chief of the Clan MacLeod of Lewis until the 17th century...
- Strathpeffer Pavilion
- Strathpeffer Branch at railscot.co.uk