Helmsdale
Helmsdale is a village on the east coast of Sutherland, in the Highland council region of Scotland. The village is on the A9 road, at a crossroads with the A897, and has a train station on the Far North Line. Buses operate approximately every 2 hours Mondays-Saturdays and occasionally on Sundays from Helmsdale to Brora, Golspie, Dornoch, Tain and Inverness in the south and Berriedale, Dunbeath, Halkirk, Thurso and Scrabster in the north. West Helmsdale lies across the river from the main village above the train station. Old Helmsdale is directly to the north while East Helmsdale is a settlement no more than a mile to the east. Helmsdale is a fishing port at the estuary of the River Helmsdale, and was as soon as the home of some of the most extensive herring fleets in Europe. The river itself is popular for its fishing. Helmsdale Castle, the remains of which were knocked down in the 1970s in order to build the brand-new A9 road bridge, was the location of the murder of the 11th Earl of Sutherland in 1567. The Earl and his Countess Marie Seton were poisoned by Isobel Sinclair. The present day village was planned in 1814 to resettle locals that had actually been cleared away from the surrounding straths as part of the Highland Clearances. Facilities in Helmsdale include an independent youth hostel, a heritage centre, an art gallery, and an inn. Helmsdale is famous for its Highland Games which are celebrated on the third Saturday in August each year. Best known is the evening Marquee Dance when the village population of 700 more than doubles as a result of visitors being at the dance. Helmsdale is also home to Bunillidh Thistle F.C. and Helmsdale United. For all of your home enhancements, make certain to identify respected contractors in Helmsdale to make certain of quality.
