Helmsdale

Read and share memories of Helmsdale and Sutherland inspired by Frith photos

visit to Helmsdale

My husband and I were at a wedding in Dornock and took a trip to Helmsdale.
Unknown to me at the time my great grandfather came from Loth, West Helmsdale. His name was Adam Mckenzie, the son of Alexander Mckenzie and Janet Mackay Gordon.
Adam married Isabella Birnie Watson from Pitsligo in 1876. They sailed to New Zealand in 1877 on the ship 'Canterbury', sailing from Glasgow. Their little girl Eleanor died on the journey.
My grandfather was born in New Zealand in 1878, his name was James Watson Mckenzie.
I hope some day to go back to Helmsdale and also go to Loth. We did enjoy the small village and its kind people. I would love to ...read more here
Contributed by Elizabeth Gair

visit to Helmsdale

My husband and I were at a wedding in Dornock and took a trip to Helmsdale.
Unknown to me at the time my great grandfather came from Loth, West Helmsdale. His name was Adam Mckenzie, the son of Alexander Mckenzie and Janet Mackay Gordon.
Adam married Isabella Birnie Watson from Pitsligo in 1876. They sailed to New Zealand in 1877 on the ship 'Canterbury', sailing from Glasgow. Their little girl Eleanor died on the journey.
My grandfather was born in New Zealand in 1878, his name was James Watson Mckenzie.
I hope some day to go back to Helmsdale and also go to Loth. We did enjoy the small village and its kind people. I would love to ...read more here
A memory of Helmsdale contributed by Elizabeth Gair

Granda Skinner

Davie Skinner, Bank ST, Balintore would take me for walks up at the back of Balintore and sit among the yellow broom and look over the Moray Firth. He would tell me stories of the salmon fishing. We would then walk down to the harbour point and watch folk fishing for souyans. We then would go up to "The Sheddie" and sit with all the old worthies putting the world to rights.
A memory of Balintore contributed by David Sutherland

I received a ''Royal Humane Society Award For Bravery'' For This...

I lived in Barbaraville (Alder Cottage) from roughly 1982-1987 with my parents before I moved away to work.
I loved this village and had many, many memories but one which is a big achievement for me was when ...

Two young guys from the village had made a 'homemade' raft and ventured out into the shallows of the bay but as any of you familiar with the bay will know there is a tremendously strong current during the change of tides.
Unfortunately due to these currents dragging them out towards the souters (tide going out) and the fact they were sinking!! the alarm was raised in the village. A teacher from Tain Royal Academy (who lived 3 or 4 ...read more here
A memory of Barbaraville contributed by gary hunter