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'''Assynt''' ({{lang-gd|Asainn}} {{IPA-gd|ˈasɪɲC}}) is a region and parish now in the south-west of [[Sutherland]], Scotland. Before the [[Shires of Scotland|introduction of counties]] in the 19th century, it was a province in its own right.
'''Assynt''' ({{lang-gd|Asainn}} {{IPA-gd|ˈasɪɲC}}) is a region and [[Civil_parishes_in_Scotland|civil parish]] in the south-west of [[Sutherland]], Scotland. Before the [[Shires of Scotland|introduction of counties]] in the 19th century, it was regarded as a province in its own right.


It is famous for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, including [[Quinag]], [[Canisp]], [[Suilven]], [[Cùl Mòr]], [[Stac Pollaidh]] and [[Ben More Assynt]]. The distinctively shaped mountains rise steeply from the surrounding "cnoc and lochan" scenery, and can often appear higher than their actual height would indicate due to their steep sides and the contrast with the moorland from which they rise.<ref name=nsa>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202010%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20374%20-%20The%20Special%20Qualities%20of%20the%20National%20Scenic%20Areas.pdf|title=The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|date=2010|accessdate=2018-01-24}}</ref>
It is famous for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, including [[Quinag]], [[Canisp]], [[Suilven]], [[Cùl Mòr]], [[Stac Pollaidh]] and [[Ben More Assynt]]. The distinctively shaped mountains rise steeply from the surrounding "cnoc and lochan" scenery, and can often appear higher than their actual height would indicate due to their steep sides and the contrast with the moorland from which they rise.<ref name=nsa>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202010%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20374%20-%20The%20Special%20Qualities%20of%20the%20National%20Scenic%20Areas.pdf|title=The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|date=2010|accessdate=2018-01-24}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:10, 12 February 2018

Assynt
Assynt is located in Sutherland
Assynt
Assynt
Location within the Sutherland area
Population1,011 [2]
OS grid referenceNC2092
• Edinburgh234 mi (377 km)
• London637 mi (1,025 km)
Civil parish
  • Assynt
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLairg
Dialling code01571
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
58°12′54″N 5°03′02″W / 58.215°N 5.0505°W / 58.215; -5.0505

Assynt (Template:Lang-gd Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈasɪɲC]) is a region and civil parish in the south-west of Sutherland, Scotland. Before the introduction of counties in the 19th century, it was regarded as a province in its own right.

It is famous for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, including Quinag, Canisp, Suilven, Cùl Mòr, Stac Pollaidh and Ben More Assynt. The distinctively shaped mountains rise steeply from the surrounding "cnoc and lochan" scenery, and can often appear higher than their actual height would indicate due to their steep sides and the contrast with the moorland from which they rise.[3]

Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, which includes a visitor centre interpreting the geological feature the Moine Thrust, is part of the North West Highlands Geopark.[4][5] In the east of the area lies a region of limestone scenery surrounding Ben More Assynt.[3] This part of Assynt hosts the longest cave in Scotland, Uamh an Claonaite, which lies 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Inchnadamph[6]

The name Assynt may derive from an Old Norse word meaning 'ridge end'. There is also a tradition that the name comes from a fight between the two brothers Unt and Ass-Unt, (meaning Man of Peace and Man of Discord). The latter having won the tussle gave his name to the parish.[7]

Ownership

Suilven from the air, showing the steep sides and rough moorland landscape typical of Assynt.

As is typical for the Scottish highlands, the Assynt area is divided into a number of large crofting estates, which are in a mix of private, charitable and community ownership. The Assynt Estate, which includes Ben More Assynt and the lands around Lochinver, remains in the hands of the Vestey family,[8] who also formerly owned the North Assynt Estate (see below).

The Quinag estate belongs to the John Muir Trust[9], a charity that seeks to conserve wild land and wild places.

The Little Assynt Estate, which comprises two of the old townships of Assynt, Little Assynt and Loch Beannach[10] is now owned by Culag Community Woodland Trust, a local trust that seeks to provide employment and training and impovements in well-being for local people, as well as encouraging education about the area’s natural environment[11].

North Assynt

In 1989, the northwest portion of the Assynt estate was renamed the North Lochinver Estate and put on the market by its owners, the Vestey family. This area consisted almost entirely of crofting land, with 13 crofting townships being set up during the Highland Clearances. The purpose of the sale was to raise money for the owners to buy more hill ground suitable for deer stalking. The estate was purchased by Scandinavian Property Services Limited. Three years later, the company went into liquidation. The North Lochinver Estate was divided into seven lots and put up for sale.[12][13] The sale was handled by an Edinburgh based estate agent, John Clegg and Co.[14] The proposed break-up of the estate was a cause of concern for the crofters as the boundaries of the lots cut across grazing land, creating the possibility of some crofters having to deal with more than one landlord. The crofters also believed that some of the portions would be directly administered by the owners, rather than a professional factor.[15]

The Assynt branch of the Scottish Crofters Union met on the 6 June 1992, to discuss the sale. There the crofters decided to attempt to raise enough money to buy the estate and run it themselves.[16][17]

Assynt Crofters' Trust, a company limited by guarantee, was formed to make a bid for the land. Membership of the trust was open to crofters within the estate. The trust aimed to buy the estate and keep it under the control of the crofters, and to develop the area by initiating projects such as house building, job creation and tree planting.[18] Funding for the trust came from many sources. Each crofting family was asked to raise £1,000. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise donated £50,000, while Scottish Natural Heritage gave a grant of £20,000. Highland Regional Council donated £10,000. Much of the money, however, came from a public appeal for funds. This appeal raised over £130,000 from 824 individuals.[19] Money came from throughout the United Kingdom, as well as abroad. Political figures such as the local Member of Parliament, Robert Maclennan,[20] Ray Michie, Alex Salmond, Winifred Ewing and Charles Kennedy donated, as did the rock band Runrig.[19] A secured loan of £90,000 was received from Highland Prospect Limited, a company set up by Highland Regional Council to promote investment in the Highlands by providing grants and low-interest loans.[21]

The trust made two unsuccessful bids, of £235,000 and £245,000 respectively. This caused the trust to adopt a more aggressive stance. They threatened to use right-to-buy provisions of crofting law to buy the crofts.[22] This option, requiring legal action, would be expensive and time-consuming; and would deny the crofters complete control of the estate.[23] The option was therefore kept in reserve in order to make the estate less attractive to other potential bidders—compulsory purchase of the crofts would force the new landowners to sell much of their newly acquired land for a fraction of its value. To assist this strategy, the crofters enclosed and divided an area of common grazing land, an action which would give them the option of buying the common land as well as the crofts themselves. Pressure was also exerted on the main creditor of Scandinavian Property Services, the Swedish Östgöta Enskilda Bank, as the trust wrote telling them of their proposed strategy.[22]

On 4 December 1992, the trust submitted a final bid of £300,000. This was accepted after four days. On Monday, 1 February 1993, Assynt Crofters' Trust became the owners of the North Lochinver Estate, which they renamed the North Assynt Estate.[24]

Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estate

In June 2005 the Glencanisp estate, including the mountains Suilven and Canisp and the neighbouring Drumrunie estate, with the mountains Cùl Mòr and Cùl Beag, were bought by the local community.[25] The Assynt Foundation aims to create local employment and safeguard the natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of the community and future generations, and for the enjoyment of the wider public. The estates of Glencanisp and Drumrunie totalling some 18,000 hectares are managed by the Assynt Foundation on behalf of the Assynt community.

Nature and Conservation

The Globe at Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve.

Assynt had a wide range of habitats, from rocky and sandy shores to high mountains, with areas of woodland, upland heath and dwarf juniper scrubland.[26] The area has a large number of freshwater lochs, which host birds such as black-throated divers.[26] With a highly indented and rocky coastline the area provides excellent habitats for many seabirds, and is one of best places in Europe to see cetaceans such as whales, dolphins and porpoises.[27] Ptarmigan inhabit the mountain areas, where golden eagles may also be seen.[26] Besides the large numbers of red deer, other mammals seen in Assynt include mountain hares, water voles, otters and pipistrelle bat.[26]

The scenic qualities of Assynt, along with neighbouring Coigach, have led to the area being designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area,[28] one of 40 such areas in Scotland [29].

The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Project is a community partnership project which aims to bring environmental and economic benefits to the Coigach and Assynt regions of North West Scotland. The partnership includes landowners (private and community), the local community and charitable organisations, with the Scottish Wildlife Trust being the lead partner. The project is described as an "ecosystem restoration project", and aims to "bring woodland connectivity, species-rich flora and fauna, and economic growth back to the Scottish uplands".[30].

A large part of Assynt, known as Inverpolly, was formerly designated as a national nature reserve but since 2004 the designation has been limited to the area surrounding Knockan Crag.

Settlements

Inchnadamph

Communities in Assynt include:

Bibliography

  • MacAskill, John (1999) We have won the land: the story of the purchase by the Assynt Crofters' Trust of the North Lochinver Estate. Stornoway:Acair. ISBN 0-86152-221-4

References

  1. ^ Iain Mac an Tàilleir, "Ainmean-àite", duilleag 9, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
  2. ^ http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/standard-outputs.html
  3. ^ a b "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  4. ^ North West Highlands Geopark. North West Highlands Geopark. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  5. ^ "Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve: Rock Art". Scottish Natural Heritage. Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Peter Glanvill Photography: Claonaite" darkanddeep.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  7. ^ Strang, Tom. (1975) The Northern Highlands. Edinburgh. Scottish Mountaineering Club.
  8. ^ "Property Page: Assynt Estate". Who Owns Scotland. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  9. ^ "Property Page: Quinag Estate". Who Owns Scotland. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  10. ^ "Heritage". Culag Community Woodland Trus. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  11. ^ "About Us". Culag Community Woodland Trus. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  12. ^ "North Crofters to Fight Break-up of Croft Lands" (Press release). Scottish Crofters Union, Assynt Branch. 1992-06-09.. Reproduced in MacAskill (1999) Pages 47–48
  13. ^ MacAskill (1999) p. 47
  14. ^ MacAskill (1999) pp. 38–41
  15. ^ One of the crofters stated It's a breach of trust, we believe, in the traditional relationship between the crofting tenants and the landlords. We want to retain the crofting lands as a complete unit MacAskill (1999) pp. 40–42
  16. ^ MacAskill (1999) pp. 46–47
  17. ^ "Home". Assynt Crofters' Trust. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  18. ^ MacAskill (1999) pp. 56–60
  19. ^ a b MacAskill (1999) pp. 60–78
  20. ^ Maclennan's ancestors had been expelled from their homes during the Highland Clearances. He gave £1,300—£50 for every year he had served as an MP. MacAskill (1999) page 68
  21. ^ The loan, with a low initial rate of interest, was to be repaid through the sale of Torbreck Lodge, a hunting lodge on the estate. MacAskill (1999) page 72
  22. ^ a b MacAskill (1999) pp. 92–131
  23. ^ Crofting law allows crofters to force their landlord to sell, at a low price, their croft houses; the in-bye land (land which formed an integral part of the croft); and a share of the local common grazing land, provided it was adjacent to the croft and had been fenced off. However, the landlord would retain mineral, salmon fishing and hunting rights (except for limited rights for crofters to shoot deer who were damaging crops or grazing land). MacAskill (1999) pp. 206–207
  24. ^ MacAskill (1999) page 133
  25. ^ Assynt group buys estates in deal, BBC News Online, 3 June 2005
  26. ^ a b c d "Introduction to Assynt". Assynt Field Club. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  27. ^ "Wildlife". Discover Assynt. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  28. ^ "Map: Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  29. ^ "National Scenic Areas". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  30. ^ "Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Project". Scottish Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 2018-02-10. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
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