Olrig Observations

Visitors to Castlehill Heritage Centre often ask if there are any remaining members of the Traill family living locally. To try to answer this, Muriel reveals her research into what the future held for James Traill and his large family.

Muriel interviews Janet Thomson from New Zealand, a recent visitor to Castlehill Heritage Centre, who tells the fascinating story behind a memorial stone which stands proud on nearby Dunnet Head and commemorates family member Hugh Thomson who died when he crashed his WWII Spitfire there in February 1942.

Inspired by the history of the now deserted buildings at Castlehill, two visitors to Castlehill Heritage Centre recall in verse those who lived and worked in this once vibrant site. Wave sounds courtesy of bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2025 BBC

Society member Sharon Pottinger explores the history and use of the three official languages that are written or spoken in Caithness today: English , Scots , and Scottish Gaelic . Episode logo Designed by Freepik

Whilst researching the history of his house in Dunnet, local historian Drew Gutteridge uncovers the fascinating story of a previous resident - Hugh Ross Alan, who was a salvage diver and decorated WWII hero.

In the early 1800s Britain was on the brink of war with Napoleon. The exchange of letters between a Caithness father and son reveals familiar tensions as young Donald Williamson starts out on his military career. His demands, emotions and ultimate end reflect the story of many young servicemen in subsequent wars.

Originally built as Public Reading Rooms in 1866, the imposing Traill Hall remains an icon of the Traill legacy in Castletown. The new owner reveals aspects of the history of the hall and some of the features revealed during its ongoing renovation and conversion into a family home.

The concept of learning through an apprenticeship has a very long history. Looking into some local examples from the past threw up some interesting facts....

A local war-time wedding photo from 1917 gives substance to the quote "A hero is an ordinary man doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times".

While checking her watch, Muriel ponders on the local history of the timepiece.

100 years ago Margaret Sinclair (known as Daisy) emigrated to Canada as a twelve year old. Homesick for Castletown she drew a map in pencil of the village. Now the map has returned to Caithness and provides a fascinating insight into life as Daisy saw it.

When Muriel is handed a letter, handwritten by a Caithness businessman in early 1806, the upsetting contents prompt her to find out more. Her investigations reveal that the social consequences arising from the north mail robbery of 1805 stretched far beyond mere financial loss.

Rope is a commodity that is perhaps taken for granted - it is readily commercially available with sizes and specifications suitable for a myriad of applications, such as securing loads, hauling fishing nets or towing vehicles. Murial takes us back to a time before the era of industrially manufactured rope, to when rope and string was made from whatever materials were available to hand locally, suc...

Muriel investigates the curious story of Wilhelmina Barbara Traill, the eldest daughter of Lady Janet Traill and, she reveals, the surrogate daughter of Mary Dehaney, fiance of the lamented Sir John Sinclair, the 11th Earl of Caithness.  The story starts with the donation of a heavy circular brass plaque to Castletown Heritage Society.....

James Traill of Rattar, Sheriff Depute of Caithness, is probably best known as the founder of the Caithness Flagstone Industry.  But there is much more to this man - he was in his time the senior law representative in Caithness, a renowned agricultural improver, and of course the talented entrepreneur who spotted the commecial opportunity that could be realised through the extraction and expo...

Love them or hate them, rabbits are considered both a pest and a valuable resource.  The sight of a dead rabbit at the side of the road causes Muriel to ponder the lot of the rabbit and our relationship with them.

Local writer Gail Anthea Brown is passionate abut the rich folklore involving Castletown and the Parish of Olrig.  In this episode Gail recounts the original tale surrounding the Olrig Selkie Grave, which lies in the Old Graveyard at Castletown.

A recently discovered page of accounting information provides a fascinating insight into the social aspects of crop production at a small Caithness farm on the outskirts of Thurso in 1822.  Muriel brings the chronological entries to life, exploring the work involved, cost and extensive labour requirements to prepare the ground, sow corn and bere (early barley), harvest and gather in the crop...

Muriel's research into the original owner of an old multi-blade pocketknife that was donated to Castletown Heritage Society reveals a fascinating account of a World War I Black Watch soldier and a remarkable link to a Girls School in the north of England.

They that go down to the sea in ships: and occupy their business in great waters. (These men see the works of the Lord: and his wonders in the deep.)  Prompted by the name of a distant Polish port, Muriel recalls some local maritime events illustrating the power and influence of the sea which connects us all.

Water.  A precious commodity and essential to all human, animal and plant existence.  We tend to take the availability of clean, safe drinking water as a given in our modern age, but it wasn't always so and remains an aspiration for many. Muriels explores life in our parish when collecting fresh water from springs and wells presented a physical challenge and a daily chore before water wa...

Olrig Hill stands proud over the Parish of Olrig, and from the top uninterrupted views can be had over most of Caithness and the rugged coastline bordering the Pentland Firth.  Over the millennia the hill has featured strongly in the lives of the local inhabitants, from iron age settlements, use as a site for signalling and communications, public hangings, and military operations, to more mod...

In April 1847, the proposed export of local grain by boat from Castlehill Harbour by landowner William James Sinclair of Freswick was seen as a great social injustice by some of his tenant crofters.  They took matters into their own hands, marching on the harbour and storming the vessel  to prevent it being loaded and leaving the harbour.  Muriel recounts the true story of the event...

An enchanting yarn about Damien Farlow of Caledonian Properties, who meets local worthy Wullie Bain and becomes entranced by the history and heritage of the buildings he was employed to survey.

Elizabeth Yates, whose family have strong connections local to the village of Castletown in Caithness, was appointed Mayor of the Onehunga Borough in New Zealand in the late 1800s, and in doing so became the first female mayor in the history of the British Empire.  Her appointment broke long established social barriers, and whilst not universally popular amongst her male counterparts it was a...