Kyle of Sutherland

The Kyle of Sutherland (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol Catach) is a river estuary that separates Sutherland from Ross-shire. It flows into the Dornoch Firth and is fed by the rivers Oykel, Shin, River Cassley and Carron.

Kyle Of Sutherland
"The Kyle"
Location	From Rosehall to Bonar Bridge
Coordinates	57°55.5′N 4°24′W
Type	Estuary
Primary inflows	River Carron, Loch Shin, River Cassley, River Oykel
Primary outflows	Dornoch Firth
First flooded	January 29, 1892 (1892-01-29)
Settlements	Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, Rosehall, Culrain

The downstream extent[1] of the Kyle of Sutherland is the eponymous bridge at Bonar Bridge. The upstream end of 'the Kyle' as it is locally known, is the furthest inland extent of tidal water,[2] which corresponds to 'the bailey bridge', beyond Rosehall.

The Kyle did separate Sutherland and Ross-shire for centuries until 1975[3][4][5] when the old Scottish counties were abolished. The counties of Sutherland and Ross became districts of the Highland Region, with altered boundaries. As a result of this, the Kyle became wholly part of Sutherland, though most locals continue to refer to the original boundaries.

1892 flooding

1892 Flooding

Date	January 29, 1892 (1892-01-29)

The first Bonar Bridge was built in 1812 after the Battle of Culloden; it was engineered by Thomas Telford. Eighty years later, the bridge was swept away by a flood on 29 January 1892, a winter of many great floods in the North of Scotland. It has been suggested that this event was predicted by the Brahan Seer.

References

1. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR5AnN_kjx8qtKlByQbVpJhhQG0qyPpiAO2DWdDI4F4Di25oVznmw map of the lower Kyle of Sutherland
2. http://www.trout-salmon-fishing.com/scotland-kyle-sutherland.htm Fishing website
3. Counties of Scotland#Reform Counties & reorganisation
4. Local government areas of Scotland 1973–96 Re-organisation to create Highland Region
5. http://p4modeller.wordpress.com/2-kyle-of-sutherland/ note of county boundary changes