Shieldaig (Scottish Gaelic: Sìldeag; Old Norse: síld-vík, lit. 'herring bay')[1] is a village in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands, in the Scottish council area of Highland.[2]

Geography and history

The village was founded in 1800[3] with a view to training up seamen for war against Napoleon. After his (initial) defeat and exile to Elba, the community found itself a new role as a fishing village. The small island just offshore never had its tall pines harvested to rig warships, and has now become a nature sanctuary.

The name of the village is derived from the Old Norse síld-vík, meaning 'herring bay'.[1]

Shieldaig is a community of around 85 people,[4] with its own school, a small pub, a village hall, a church and two restaurants. It is much used as a holiday destination, attracting those interested in fishing, touring the North Coast 500 or explorers of the Torridon Hills, which are a few miles around the coast.

Shieldaig holds a community fete in the second weekend of August.

Education

It is in the catchment area of Gairloch High School.[5]

Another Shieldaig

12 miles (19 kilometres) to the north lies another Shieldaig.[4]

Shieldaig from above

See also

References

  1. ^ a b W. J. Watson, Place-names of Ross and Cromarty, 1904, p. 208.
  2. ^ Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Shieldaig, Highland". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  3. ^ Shieldaig Undiscovered Scotland
  4. ^ a b "Torridon & Shieldaig". Steve Carter. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Schools - Gairloch High School". The Highland Council. Retrieved 22 October 2023.

External links

Media related to Shieldaig at Wikimedia Commons