Ulbster Explained

Official Name:Ulbster
Static Image Name:File:Sinclair Mausoleum and Mains of Ulbster - geograph.org.uk - 1052914.jpg
Static Image Caption:The Sinclair Mausoleum, with Ulbster Mains in the background
Map Type:Caithness
Coordinates:58.3549°N -3.1567°W
Os Grid Reference:ND324064
Unitary Scotland:Highland
Lieutenancy Scotland:Caithness
Country:Scotland
Post Town:LYBSTER
Postcode Area:KW
Postcode District:KW2
Dial Code:01955
Constituency Westminster:Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Caithness, Sutherland and Ross

Ulbster is a scattered crofting hamlet on the eastern coast of Caithness, within the parish of Wick, in the Scottish Highlands, within the Highland Council area.[1] The town of Wick is located seven miles north of the village along the A99 road. To the south of the village, two miles along the A99, lies the ancient port of Whaligoe, where the famous 330 steps were cut into a cliff on the instruction of Thomas Telford in 1786.

History

Owned for many years by a cadet branch of the Sinclair Earls of Caithness, the hamlet is most notable for the Sinclair Mausoleum, within the grounds of the mediaeval St Martin's Chapel. Sir John, one of the Sinclairs of Ulbster, was a noted statistician who wrote the pioneering work Statistical Accounts of Scotland.

Naming

The name Ulbster comes from the Old Norse ulfr bólstathr meaning 'wolf's dwelling', though there have been no wolves in the region for many years.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ulbster. The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. 4 January 2018.
  2. Mills, A. D.; Room, Adrian (2002). The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford: the University Press. p. 1227.