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Achindown

Settlement in Nairnshire

Scotland

Achindown

Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood Credit: Douglas Nelson

Achindown is a small village situated in the county of Nairnshire, Scotland. Nestled amidst picturesque landscapes and surrounded by stunning natural beauty, this rural settlement offers a tranquil and idyllic retreat for residents and visitors alike.

The village is located approximately 4 miles southeast of the town of Nairn, making it easily accessible for those seeking a peaceful countryside experience while still being within close proximity to amenities. The surrounding area is characterized by rolling hills, lush green fields, and charming woodlands, providing ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and nature walks.

Achindown itself is a close-knit community, with a population of around 200 residents. The village boasts a small but friendly local pub, where locals and visitors can gather for a pint and engage in lively conversations. Additionally, there are a few local shops and services that cater to the needs of the community.

Historically, Achindown has strong ties to agriculture, with farming playing a significant role in the local economy. The village is known for its fertile soil, which supports the growth of various crops and the grazing of livestock.

For those interested in exploring the region further, Achindown serves as an excellent base for discovering nearby attractions. Visitors can take a short drive to the historic Cawdor Castle or enjoy a day trip to the renowned Loch Ness, famous for its mythical creature, the Loch Ness Monster.

Overall, Achindown offers a serene and close-knit community, surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes, making it an ideal destination for those seeking tranquility and a connection with nature in the heart of Nairnshire.

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Achindown Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.507089/-3.9388437 or Grid Reference NH8347. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Farmland at Old Newton of Budgate
Farmland at Old Newton of Budgate
Unclassified road at Rereach
Unclassified road at Rereach
Glengeoullie Bridge The bridge spans the Riereach Burn
Glengeoullie Bridge
The bridge spans the Riereach Burn
Old Military road near Rereach
Old Military road near Rereach
Forest track into Cawdor Wood
Forest track into Cawdor Wood
Track in Cawdor Wood It is always hard to be definite about these things when named woods merge into one another, but in area, Cawdor Wood - named after the village and/or castle at its Northern end - covers about two and a half grid-squares and parts of it appear in seven. Some of the wood is a protected area, and some of it is not. The trees on the left side of the track are unprotected, whereas those on the right are. Confusingly, the protected part of this 'ancient' mixed wood is also just named Cawdor Wood by the relevant official organisations. It is officially designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), one of 200-odd in Scotland. In the hierarchy of these things, this really means that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with greater protection. The big oak trees further North, along with the rare lichens that grow on some of their trunks, are the main reasons for this. The thing I remember the most about this wood, though, is the unbelievable amount of slugs that were very slowly wriggling their way along the many tracks and paths. The SAC is, very roughly, in the shape of a letter 'q', the land on the right of the track here being part of the tail of the letter, which straddles Riereach Burn. I put 'ancient' within quotation marks above because, although the wood is definitely old, nobody really seems to know exactly how old, tree felling and replanting having taken place throughout the years. There is actually a mention of cows grazing amongst the trees as recently as the 1950s in a report somewhere online.
Track in Cawdor Wood
It is always hard to be definite about these things when named woods merge into one another, but in area, Cawdor Wood - named after the village and/or castle at its Northern end - covers about two and a half grid-squares and parts of it appear in seven. Some of the wood is a protected area, and some of it is not. The trees on the left side of the track are unprotected, whereas those on the right are. Confusingly, the protected part of this 'ancient' mixed wood is also just named Cawdor Wood by the relevant official organisations. It is officially designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), one of 200-odd in Scotland. In the hierarchy of these things, this really means that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with greater protection. The big oak trees further North, along with the rare lichens that grow on some of their trunks, are the main reasons for this. The thing I remember the most about this wood, though, is the unbelievable amount of slugs that were very slowly wriggling their way along the many tracks and paths. The SAC is, very roughly, in the shape of a letter 'q', the land on the right of the track here being part of the tail of the letter, which straddles Riereach Burn. I put 'ancient' within quotation marks above because, although the wood is definitely old, nobody really seems to know exactly how old, tree felling and replanting having taken place throughout the years. There is actually a mention of cows grazing amongst the trees as recently as the 1950s in a report somewhere online.
Forest track entering Budgate Plantation
Forest track entering Budgate Plantation
Woodland Path behind Cawdor Castle
Woodland Path behind Cawdor Castle
The Flower Garden at Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">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> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">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> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
The Flower Garden at Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Herbaceous Border in the Flower Garden at Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">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> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">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> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Herbaceous Border in the Flower Garden at Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Topiary at Cawdor Castle Interestingly trimmed hedge at the edge of the flower garden.
Topiary at Cawdor Castle
Interestingly trimmed hedge at the edge of the flower garden.
Overgrown track, Dallaschyle Wood
Overgrown track, Dallaschyle Wood
Parking area, Cawdor Castle
Parking area, Cawdor Castle
Water feature Within the walled garden at Cawdor Castle.
Water feature
Within the walled garden at Cawdor Castle.
Ruins of Barevan Church
Ruins of Barevan Church
Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">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> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">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> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">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> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">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> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
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Achindown is located at Grid Ref: NH8347 (Lat: 57.507089, Lng: -3.9388437)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///throat.reinforce.newer. Near Nairn, Highland

Nearby Locations

Achindown

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Located within 500m of 57.507089,-3.9388437
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Lat/Long: 57.5034452/-3.9417116
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