Lairg
Lairg
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 Lairg |
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 Lairg
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| Lairg shown within the Sutherland area | |
| Population | 900 |
| OS grid reference | NC582064 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LAIRG |
| Postcode district | IV27 |
| Dialling code | 01549 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Lairg (Scottish Gaelic: An Luirg, meaning "the shank/shin") is a village and parish in Sutherland, Scotland. It has a population of about 900 and is at the south-eastern end of Loch Shin.
Lairg is unusual in the northern Highlands, if not unique, in being a large settlement that is not on the coast. One of the reasons that Lairg is slightly bigger than other non-coastal Highland villages is its central location within the county of Sutherland. Having four roads which meet in the village, it used to be known as "The Crossroads of the North". In the 19th century, it was provided with a railway station (at NC582039), on what is now the Far North Line. This development means that the north west of Sutherland is now easier to access. (The Far North Line links Inverness in the south with Thurso and Wick in the north.)
Lairg is the site of the fifteenth largest impact crater which dates from 1.2 billion years ago and is 25 miles across.
Lairg is the location of the largest single-day sheep sale in Europe. These auctions take place in August and bring people from all over Scotland to buy or sell their animals.
In July, Lairg holds a Gala Week. This is organised by a local committee in order to put on fun activities for adults and children. Events include fancy-dress parades, a pet show, fishing competitions on Loch Shin or the Little Loch Shin, and dances with live music in the community centre.
This one-day event has been running for 100 years. It attracts many spectators and participants for activities such as horse-jumping, sheep and cow judging, children's sports, Highland sports (e.g. tossing the caber, throwing the wellie/haggis) and homemade crafts. Sheep racing has even become a significant attraction in recent years.
Little Loch Shin lies directly in the centre of the village. It is a manmade loch created by the hydroelectric dam scheme, and is the home of the "Broon's hoose", a small wooden dwelling on an islet.
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Wikipedia