1. Home
  2. Scotland
  3. Highlands and Islands
  4. Highland
  5. Caithness
  6. Achastle

Achastle

Settlement in Caithness

Scotland

Achastle

Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney
Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney Credit: sylvia duckworth

Achastle is a small village located in the county of Caithness, in the northernmost part of Scotland. Situated near the coast, the village offers picturesque views of the North Sea and the surrounding countryside. With a population of around 200 residents, Achastle exudes a close-knit community atmosphere.

The village is known for its rich history, dating back to the 12th century. It was once a prominent settlement during the Norse period, serving as a strategic location for trade and defense. Today, remnants of this past can still be seen in the form of ancient ruins and archaeological sites scattered throughout the area.

Achastle is blessed with natural beauty, with rolling hills and lush green landscapes. It is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering numerous walking trails and hiking opportunities. The nearby Achastle Forest is particularly popular among nature lovers, boasting a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Although small in size, the village provides essential amenities for its residents, including a post office, a local shop, and a primary school. The community is vibrant and tight-knit, often organizing events and festivals to celebrate local traditions and culture.

For those seeking a tranquil escape from the bustling city life, Achastle offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by stunning natural scenery and a rich historical heritage.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Achastle Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.29336/-3.3118322 or Grid Reference ND2334. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney
Entrance to an old ice-house, Swiney
Old bridge at Reisgill
Old bridge at Reisgill
Oldest bridge at Reisgill
Oldest bridge at Reisgill
Caithness Oil drilling rig
Caithness Oil drilling rig
Lybster Village The Commercial Hotel, a disused church and a bank looking north.
Lybster Village
The Commercial Hotel, a disused church and a bank looking north.
Lybster View Over the fields for a morning view of the village.
Lybster View
Over the fields for a morning view of the village.
Harbour View Lybster Harbour from the picnic spot on Shore Road, Lybster.
Harbour View
Lybster Harbour from the picnic spot on Shore Road, Lybster.
Lybster Harbour The inner harbour was completed as recently as 1950. The harbour is still used mainly for fishing, but the number of working boats is down to twenty or so.
Lybster Harbour
The inner harbour was completed as recently as 1950. The harbour is still used mainly for fishing, but the number of working boats is down to twenty or so.
Peak of the cliff Facing westwards back towards land with the sheer cliff behind and on either side, I was definitely not tempted to take a step back to get a better view! This is the northernmost of the two fingers pointing from Achastle-shore.
Peak of the cliff
Facing westwards back towards land with the sheer cliff behind and on either side, I was definitely not tempted to take a step back to get a better view! This is the northernmost of the two fingers pointing from Achastle-shore.
Ruins at Achastle-shore Not sure what the history of this property is. There is a track leading to the main road although it is quite overgrown.
Ruins at Achastle-shore
Not sure what the history of this property is. There is a track leading to the main road although it is quite overgrown.
Remains of Swiney Castle This may appear to be a few mounds in the grass, but it is probably the remains of Swiney Castle <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>. To my back, left and right are some precipituous cliffs leading down to the sea. An ideal location for a defensive position.
Remains of Swiney Castle
This may appear to be a few mounds in the grass, but it is probably the remains of Swiney Castle LinkExternal link. To my back, left and right are some precipituous cliffs leading down to the sea. An ideal location for a defensive position.
North of Swiney Castle Strata and cliffs marking the northern edge of the ruins of Swiney Castle. <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
North of Swiney Castle
Strata and cliffs marking the northern edge of the ruins of Swiney Castle. LinkExternal link
South of Swiney Castle Inlet and promontory to the south of the ancient monument known as Swiney Castle <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>.
South of Swiney Castle
Inlet and promontory to the south of the ancient monument known as Swiney Castle LinkExternal link.
East of Swiney Castle Nowhere else to go apart from down The grounds of Swiney Castle <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8651/details/swiney+castle/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> come to an abrupt end at Creag an Eich.
East of Swiney Castle
Nowhere else to go apart from down The grounds of Swiney Castle LinkExternal link come to an abrupt end at Creag an Eich.
Remains of an old herring fishing station at Achastle-shore
Remains of an old herring fishing station at Achastle-shore
Headland of Creag an Eich
Headland of Creag an Eich
Headland of Creag an Eich
Headland of Creag an Eich
Lybster Harbour
Lybster Harbour
Show me another place!

Achastle is located at Grid Ref: ND2334 (Lat: 58.29336, Lng: -3.3118322)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///sunbeam.tinted.staple. Near Dunbeath, Highland

Nearby Locations

The Tiedrigin Coan Dubh Swiney Hill Coan Dian Achastle

Related Wikis

Forse Castle
Forse Castle

Forse Castle is a ruined building dating from 1200 in the hamlet of Forse in the Caithness region in the Scottish council area of Highland. It is protected...

Swiney
Swiney

Swiney is a small village on the east coast of Scotland, 1 mile west of Lybster along the A99 road, in Caithness, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish...

Lybster
Lybster

Lybster (, Scottish Gaelic: Liabost) is a village on the east coast of Caithness in northern Scotland. It was once a big herring fishing port. The Waterlines...

Lybster railway station
Lybster railway station

Lybster was a railway station located on the Wick and Lybster Railway in the Highland area of Scotland. The station building now serves as the clubhouse...

Parkside Halt railway station
Parkside Halt railway station

Parkside Halt was a railway station located between Ulbster and Lybster, Highland. == History == The station was opened on the Wick and Lybster Railway...

Upper Lybster
Upper Lybster

Upper Lybster is a scattered and crofting village, situated 2 miles north of Lybster, in eastern Caithness, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council...

Occumster railway station
Occumster railway station

Occumster was a railway station located between Wick and Lybster, Highland. == History == The station was opened as part of the Wick and Lybster Railway...

Latheron
Latheron

Latheron (from Scottish Gaelic Latharn 'muddy place') is a small village and civil parish in Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland, centred on the...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.29336,-3.3118322
Swiney House
Place: hamlet
Lat/Long: 58.2962571/-3.306859
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Achany Sutherland
Achavanich Caithness

Have you been to Achastle?

Leave your review of Achastle below (or comments, questions and feedback).

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy