OS1/33/26/31
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRATH OF KILDONAN | Strath of Kildonan Strath of Kildonan Strath of Kildonan |
Revd. [Reverend] P. Clark Ph. [Parish] Minister Helmsdale Joseph Peacock, Esq. Factor, Golspie Mr. D. Sutherland Suisgill Cottage |
066; 067; 068 | This strath extends through the whole length of the parish, keeping nearly parallel with the county boundary of Caithness. It is diversified at intervals with patches of Arable, Rough Pasture, and natural birch woods. Formerly it was populated by small tenants, but about fifty years ago they were all (with the exception of a few at Helmsdale) ejected from their homes to make way for extensive sheep farms which at the present time this strath is almost exclusively devoted |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 31County of Sutherland -- Parish of Kildonan
Strath of Kildonan [Note]
On adjg. [adjoining] Plan
The following is taken from New Statistical Account.__ " The leading valley, and most important part of the parish, is, however, as frequently
"called Strath Helmsdale, (disregarding tautology of Strath and Dale) as it is called Strath of Kildonan; but in Gaelic it is alone known by
"the Stra' Iligh, while the river is called Aven-Iligh, _ and the village of Helmsdale, at the mouth of the river, Burn-Iligh; _ the root or lower end of Iligh.
"All this strengthens the belief that the river Helmsdale is the Ilius Flumen, or river Ilie of Ptolemy, who places that river on the present east coast of Suther-
"land, and close to Verubium promontorium, which is unquestionably the Ord of Caithness. The name Ilie is therefore older than that of Helmsdale,
"which must have been introduced, long subsequent to the time of Agricola, by the northmen, whose inroads and adventures on the coasts of Sutherland
"and Caithness, during the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries, are so often narrated in the northern Sagas, and historically arranged by
"Torfaeus. Kildonan, again, is believed to have originated after the settlement of Christian Missionaries in the north of Scotland, and is,
"therefore, in all probability, more ancient in origin than the name Helmsdale."
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