Dun Dornaigil

In the heart of Strathmore lies Dun Dornaigil, a broch of ancient origin, dating from around 400 to 200 BC. These brochs, or stone roundhouses, are unique to Scotland, and predominantly found in the northern and western regions. Dun Dornaigil, at its heyday would have been a formidable structure, and may have been the stronghold of a wealthy family, signifying their dominion over the glen. Legends whisper of King Domadille, who purportedly ruled around 260 BC, adding a touch of mythic grandeur to the site.

Strathmore also boasts the legacy of Rob Donn Mackay, a distinguished Gaelic oral poet born in 1714. Mackay’s works, comprising approximately 220 poems and songs, vividly portrays life in Duthaich MhicAoidh (Mackay Country) before the devastating Clearances. Despite spending most of his life in the Strath, Mackay’s adventures took him southward as a drover and included a period of military service.

Indeed, the shadow of the Clearances looms over Strathmore as in its neighbour Strathnaver. Here it was Lord Reay, who, in 1819, ruthlessly displaced the inhabitants to make way for sheep. Unlike Strathnaver though, Strathmore never saw resettlement. Today, it stands almost forgotten, with only two inhabited farmhouses dotting the vast glen between Hope on the north coast and Altnaharra in the interior. Strathmore, steeped in history, remains a poignant reminder of a displaced past.