Ord of Caithness

The Ord of Caithness is a granite mass on the east coast of the Highland council area of Scotland, on the boundary of the counties Sutherland and Caithness. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east of Helmsdale. It forms a headland 198 metres (650 ft) high, known as Ord Point. The A9 road passes above the Ord; there are sharp bends as it follows the contours.[1]

Ord of Caithness
The Ord, seen from the west, from the A9 road on the other side of Ord Burn
Location in Scotland
OS gridND056178
Coordinates58°8′22″N 3°36′15″W
Elevation198 metres (650 ft)
GeologyGranite

History

Historically, "the grim barrier of the Ord guaranteed its [i.e. Caithness's] isolation, and travellers who passed that way were greatly impressed by the experience."[2] It was described in the 1880s: "The old road over it, formerly the only land ingress to Caithness, traversed the crest of its stupendous seaward precipices at a height and in a manner most appalling to both man and beast... even the present road, formed in 1811... has very stiff gradients."[3]

References
  1. Ord of Caithness Gazetteer for Scotland, accessed 8 August 2016.
  2. James Miller, Caithness. Skilton & Shaw, 1979. Page 97.
  3. Francis Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, 1882–4. Quoted in Ord of Caithness Vision of Britain, accessed 8 August 2016.
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