Assynt
Encyclopedia
Assynt is a civil parish
in west Sutherland
, Highland
, Scotland
– north of Ullapool
.
It is famous for its landscape (Inverpolly
Nature Reserve
) and its remarkable mountains (Quinag
, Canisp
, Suilven
, Cùl Mòr
, Stac Pollaidh
, Ben More Assynt
). Knockan Crag
National Nature Reserve
, which includes a visitor centre interpreting the geological feature the Moine Thrust
, is part of the North West Highlands Geopark
. Assynt hosts the longest cave in Scotland, Uamh An Claonaite
, which lies 5 miles (8 km) south of Inchnadamph
.
The name Assynt may derive from an Old Norse
word 'A-ssynt meaning seen from afar and/or from Ass which is Old Norse for rocky. There is also a 'vague tradition' that the name comes from a fight between the two brothers Unt and Ass-Unt, (meaning Man of Peace and Man of Discord). The latter having won the tussle gave his name to the parish.
In June 2005 the Glencanisp estate, including the mountains Suilven
and Canisp
and the neighbouring Drumrunie estate, with the mountains Cùl Mòr
and Cùl Beag
, were bought by the local community. The Assynt Foundation aims to create local employment and safeguard the natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of the community and future generations, and for the enjoyment of the wider public. The estates of Glencanisp and Drumrunie totalling some 18,000 hectares are managed by the Assynt Foundation on behalf of the Assynt community.
family. This area consisted almost entirely of crofting
land, with 13 crofting townships being set up during the Highland Clearances
. The purpose of the sale was to raise money for the owners to buy more hill ground suitable for deer stalking
. The estate was purchased by Scandinavian Property Services Limited. Three years later, the company went into liquidation
. The North Lochinver Estate was divided into seven lots and put up for sale. The sale was handled by an Edinburgh
based estate agent, John Clegg and Co. The proposed break-up of the estate was a cause of concern for the crofters as the boundaries of the lots cut across grazing land, creating the possibility of some crofters having to deal with more than one landlord. The crofters also believed that some of the portions would be directly administered by the owners, rather than a professional factor
.
met on the 6 June 1992, to discuss the sale. There the crofters decided to attempt to raise enough money to buy the estate and run it themselves.
Assynt Crofters' Trust, a company limited by guarantee
, was formed to make a bid for the land. Membership of the trust was open to crofters within the estate. The trust aimed to buy the estate and keep it under the control of the crofters, and to develop the area by initiating projects such as house building, job creation and tree planting. Funding for the trust came from many sources. Each crofting family was asked to raise £1,000. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise
donated £50,000, while Scottish Natural Heritage
gave a grant of £20,000. Highland Regional Council donated £10,000. Much of the money, however, came from a public appeal for funds. This appeal raised over £130,000 from 824 individuals. Money came from throughout the United Kingdom, as well as abroad. Political figures such as the local Member of Parliament, Robert Maclennan
, Ray Michie
, Alex Salmond
, Winifred Ewing and Charles Kennedy
donated, as did the rock band Runrig
. A secured loan of £90,000 was received from Highland Prospect Limited, a company set up by Highland Regional Council to promote investment in the Highlands by providing grants and low-interest loans.
The trust made two unsuccessful bids, of £235,000 and £245,000 respectively. This caused the trust to adopt a more aggressive stance. They threatened to use right-to-buy provisions of crofting law to buy the crofts. This option, requiring legal action, would be expensive and time-consuming; and would deny the crofters complete control of the estate. The option was therefore kept in reserve in order to make the estate less attractive to other potential bidders—compulsory purchase of the crofts would force the new landowners to sell much of their newly-acquired land for a fraction of its value. To assist this strategy, the crofters enclosed and divided an area of common grazing land, an action which would give them the option of buying the common land as well as the crofts themselves. Pressure was also exerted on the main creditor of Scandinavian Property Services, the Swedish Östgöta Enskilda Bank
, as the trust wrote telling them of their proposed strategy.
On 4 December 1992, the trust submitted a final bid of £300,000. This was accepted after four days. On Monday, 1 February 1993, Assynt Crofters' Trust became the owners of the North Lochinver Estate, which they renamed the North Assynt Estate.
Communities in Assynt include:
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in west Sutherland
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
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...
– north of Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
.
It is famous for its landscape (Inverpolly
Inverpolly
Inverpolly is the name given to a large area of western Sutherland in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, north of Ullapool. The area contains several prominent hills, rising up from a rough landscape of bogs and lochans...
Nature Reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
) and its remarkable mountains (Quinag
Quinag
The mountain Quinag in Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands, is in fact a mountain range with an undulating series of peaks along its Y-shaped crest...
, Canisp
Canisp
Canisp is a mountain in the far north west of Scotland. It is situated in the parish of Assynt, in the county of Sutherland, 25 kilometres north of the town of Ullapool. Canisp reaches a height of 847 metres and qualifies as a Corbett and Marilyn hill...
, Suilven
Suilven
Suilven is one of the most distinctive mountains in Scotland. Lying in a remote area in the west of Sutherland, it rises almost vertically from a wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs and lochans known as Inverpolly National Nature Reserve....
, Cùl Mòr
Cùl Mòr
Cùl Mòr is a shapely, twin summited mountain in the far north west of Scotland whose higher summit is the highest point of Inverpolly. It is almost completely separated from its southern neighbour, Cùl Beag...
, Stac Pollaidh
Stac Pollaidh
Stac Pollaidh is a mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The peak displays a rocky crest of Torridonian sandstone, with many pinnacles and steep gullies. The crest is extremely weathered , suggesting that it was not covered in ice during the last Ice Age.The name Stac Pollaidh is often...
, Ben More Assynt
Ben More Assynt
Ben More Assynt is a mountain in Assynt in the far north-west of Scotland, north-north-east of the town of Ullapool...
). Knockan Crag
Knockan Crag
Knockan Crag is a line of cliffs in Assynt, Scotland north of Ullapool. The name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic Creag a' Chnocain meaning 'crag of the small hill'....
National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserves in Scotland
National Nature Reserves in Scotland are established by Scottish Natural Heritage. Until 2004 there were 73 National Nature Reserves in Scotland, as per the list below...
, which includes a visitor centre interpreting the geological feature the Moine Thrust
Moine Thrust Belt
The Moine Thrust Belt is a linear geological feature in the Scottish Highlands which runs from Loch Eriboll on the north coast 190 km south-west to the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye...
, is part of the North West Highlands Geopark
North West Highlands Geopark
The North West Highlands Geopark is a geopark in the Scottish Highlands. Awarded UNESCO geopark status in 2004, it features some of the oldest rocks in Europe, around 3,000 million years old...
. Assynt hosts the longest cave in Scotland, Uamh An Claonaite
Uamh An Claonaite
Uamh an Claonaite is the longest cave in Scotland. It consists of a series of dry passages and a series of at least six sumps which have been dived over the years....
, which lies 5 miles (8 km) south of Inchnadamph
Inchnadamph
Inchnadamph is a hamlet in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. The name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic name Innis nan Damh meaning 'meadow of the stags'...
.
The name Assynt may derive from an Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word 'A-ssynt meaning seen from afar and/or from Ass which is Old Norse for rocky. There is also a 'vague tradition' that the name comes from a fight between the two brothers Unt and Ass-Unt, (meaning Man of Peace and Man of Discord). The latter having won the tussle gave his name to the parish.
In June 2005 the Glencanisp estate, including the mountains Suilven
Suilven
Suilven is one of the most distinctive mountains in Scotland. Lying in a remote area in the west of Sutherland, it rises almost vertically from a wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs and lochans known as Inverpolly National Nature Reserve....
and Canisp
Canisp
Canisp is a mountain in the far north west of Scotland. It is situated in the parish of Assynt, in the county of Sutherland, 25 kilometres north of the town of Ullapool. Canisp reaches a height of 847 metres and qualifies as a Corbett and Marilyn hill...
and the neighbouring Drumrunie estate, with the mountains Cùl Mòr
Cùl Mòr
Cùl Mòr is a shapely, twin summited mountain in the far north west of Scotland whose higher summit is the highest point of Inverpolly. It is almost completely separated from its southern neighbour, Cùl Beag...
and Cùl Beag
Cùl Beag
Cùl Beag is a mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It is 15 km north of Ullapool and lies to the south of Cùl Mòr, and to the east of the more well known but less high Stac Pollaidh....
, were bought by the local community. The Assynt Foundation aims to create local employment and safeguard the natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of the community and future generations, and for the enjoyment of the wider public. The estates of Glencanisp and Drumrunie totalling some 18,000 hectares are managed by the Assynt Foundation on behalf of the Assynt community.
Creation of the estate
In 1989, the northwest portion of the Assynt estate was renamed the North Lochinver Estate and put on the market by its owners, the VesteyVestey Group
The Vestey Group is a privately owned UK group of companies, comprising an international food product business and significant cattle ranching and sugar cane farming interests in Brazil and Venezuela.-Business origins:William...
family. This area consisted almost entirely of crofting
Croft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
land, with 13 crofting townships being set up during the Highland Clearances
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
. The purpose of the sale was to raise money for the owners to buy more hill ground suitable for deer stalking
Deer stalking
Deer stalking is a British term for the stealthy pursuit of deer for sporting purposes, historically with dogs such as Scottish Deerhounds, or in modern times typically with a high powered rifle fitted with a telescopic sight to hunt them....
. The estate was purchased by Scandinavian Property Services Limited. Three years later, the company went into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
. The North Lochinver Estate was divided into seven lots and put up for sale. The sale was handled by an Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
based estate agent, John Clegg and Co. The proposed break-up of the estate was a cause of concern for the crofters as the boundaries of the lots cut across grazing land, creating the possibility of some crofters having to deal with more than one landlord. The crofters also believed that some of the portions would be directly administered by the owners, rather than a professional factor
Factor (Scotland)
In Scotland a factor is a person or firm charged with superintending or managing properties and estates -- sometimes where the owner or landlord is unable to or uninterested in attending to such details personally, or in tenements in which several owners of individual flats contribute to the...
.
Buyout by crofters
The Assynt branch of the Scottish Crofters UnionScottish Crofting Foundation
The Scottish Crofting Federation , which was formerly called the Scottish Crofting Foundation , is an organisation of crofting communities in the highlands and islands of Scotland....
met on the 6 June 1992, to discuss the sale. There the crofters decided to attempt to raise enough money to buy the estate and run it themselves.
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
, was formed to make a bid for the land. Membership of the trust was open to crofters within the estate. The trust aimed to buy the estate and keep it under the control of the crofters, and to develop the area by initiating projects such as house building, job creation and tree planting. Funding for the trust came from many sources. Each crofting family was asked to raise £1,000. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland and is home to around 450,000 people....
donated £50,000, while Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish 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...
gave a grant of £20,000. Highland Regional Council donated £10,000. Much of the money, however, came from a public appeal for funds. This appeal raised over £130,000 from 824 individuals. Money came from throughout the United Kingdom, as well as abroad. Political figures such as the local Member of Parliament, Robert Maclennan
Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart
Robert Adam Ross "Bob" Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart PC is a British Liberal Democrat life peer. He was the last leader of the Social Democratic Party , serving during the negotiations that led to its merger with the Liberal Party in 1988...
, Ray Michie
Ray Michie, Baroness Michie of Gallanach
Janet Ray Michie, Baroness Michie of Gallanach was a British speech therapist and Liberal Democrat politician. She served as Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute for 14 years, from 1987 to 2001, and then became a life peer in the House of Lords...
, Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
, Winifred Ewing and Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
donated, as did the rock band Runrig
Runrig
Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...
. A secured loan of £90,000 was received from Highland Prospect Limited, a company set up by Highland Regional Council to promote investment in the Highlands by providing grants and low-interest loans.
The trust made two unsuccessful bids, of £235,000 and £245,000 respectively. This caused the trust to adopt a more aggressive stance. They threatened to use right-to-buy provisions of crofting law to buy the crofts. This option, requiring legal action, would be expensive and time-consuming; and would deny the crofters complete control of the estate. The option was therefore kept in reserve in order to make the estate less attractive to other potential bidders—compulsory purchase of the crofts would force the new landowners to sell much of their newly-acquired land for a fraction of its value. To assist this strategy, the crofters enclosed and divided an area of common grazing land, an action which would give them the option of buying the common land as well as the crofts themselves. Pressure was also exerted on the main creditor of Scandinavian Property Services, the Swedish Östgöta Enskilda Bank
Östgöta Enskilda Bank
Östgöta Enskilda Bank is a mid size Swedish bank, owned by Danske Bank.- Provincial Banks :The banking license is held by Östgöta Enskilda Bank, but it uses different brand names in various parts of the country, typically named after the historical Provinces or Counties of Sweden.*Bohusbanken...
, as the trust wrote telling them of their proposed strategy.
On 4 December 1992, the trust submitted a final bid of £300,000. This was accepted after four days. On Monday, 1 February 1993, Assynt Crofters' Trust became the owners of the North Lochinver Estate, which they renamed the North Assynt Estate.
Settlements
- AchmelvichAchmelvichAchmelvich is a settlement situated in the Highland region of Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic "Achadh" - a plain or meadow and "mealvaich" - sandy dunes...
- Ardvar –
- BalchladichBalchladichBalchladich is a remote township in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
– - ClachtollClachtollClachtoll is a remote coastal fishing and crofting village, situated on the Bay of Clachtoll, on the western edge of Scotland, in the Assynt district, in Lairg, Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
– - Clashmore
- ClashnessieClashnessieClashnessie is a small crofting community on the North-West coast of Scotland; specifically in the Assynt area of Sutherland.The township is scattered around the sandy beach of Clashnessie Bay and derives its name from the Gaelic clais an easaidh, meaning glen of the waterfall , referring to...
- CulkeinCulkeinCulkein is a remote former fishing village, centred around the Bay of Culkein, in Assynt in Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
– - Culkein DrumbegCulkein DrumbegCulkein Drumbeg is a remote village on the north west coast of Scotland. It is located north west of Drumbeg in Assynt, Sutherland, in the Highland council area....
- DrumbegDrumbeg, SutherlandDrumbeg is a remote crofting village on the north west coast of Scotland in Assynt, Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
– - ElphinElphin, HighlandElphin is a crofting township in Assynt, in the Sutherland area of Highland in Scotland. It lies about north of Ullapool. The village contains a tearoom, a rare breeds farm, and several bed and breakfasts...
– - Glencoul
- InchnadamphInchnadamphInchnadamph is a hamlet in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. The name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic name Innis nan Damh meaning 'meadow of the stags'...
- InverkirkaigInverkirkaigInverkirkaig is extremely remote scattered crofting township, situated on the north eastern bay, of the sea loch Loch Kirkaig, in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
- KyleskuKyleskuKylesku is a small, remote fishing hamlet in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. Until 1984, it was the site of a free ferry.-Village:Kylesku is located where Loch Glencoul and Loch Gleann Dubh join to form a sea passage Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin which links to Eddrachillis Bay...
- LochinverLochinverLochinver is a village on the coast in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. A few miles northeast is Loch Assynt which is the source of the River Inver which flows into Loch Inver at the village. There are 200 or so lochans in the area which makes the place very popular with...
- NeddNeddNedd is a small village, which lies on the western head of Loch Nedd in Lairg, western Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.The village of Drumbeg lies less than 1 mile north west along the B869 road....
- Raffin
- StoerStoerStoer is a crofting township in the parish of Assynt, Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland and in the council area of Highland. It is located about five miles north of the village of Lochinver....