In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Altimarlach like this:
Altimarlach, a burn in the parish of Wick, Caithness, flows through the Loch of Winless, and falls into Wick Water, 4 miles to the W of the town. Its banks were the scene of a famous conflict on 13 July 1680, between the Campbells and the Sinclairs. Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, afterwards Earl of Breadalbane, claimed the Earldom of Caithness, but was resisted in his claim by George Sinclair of Keiss: and, to enforce it, marched at the head of 700 Argyll Highlanders from the banks of the Tay to beyond the promontory of the Ord. ...
Keiss, on his part, was revelling with 400 followers at Wick, when tidings reached him, ' The Campbells are coming. ' All mad with drink, his men rushed out to the fight, were instantly routed, and fell in such numbers that ' the victors crossed the Altimarlach dry-shod on their bodies: ' but Keiss next year obtained the earldom by award of Parliament.
The location is that marked as "Altimarlach Farm" on the modern 1:25,000 map. No stream with this names has been found on modern maps. Additional information about this locality is available for Wick
Altimarlach through time
Altimarlach is now part of Highland district. Click here for graphs and data of how Highland has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Altimarlach itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Altimarlach, in Highland and Caithness | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/26850
Date accessed: 23rd April 2024
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