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Harold's Tower |
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Harold's Tower built 1780 - 90 is a folly. It sits to the east of Thurso and can be seen for many miles sitting as it does on one of the highest points in the area. An easy walk through fields and several gates takes you to the tower where views of Thurso, Dunnet Head and the surrounding countryside can be seen. Sir John Sinclair erected the new family mausaleum to replace the one at Ulbster and it commemorates Earl Harold a norse nobleman killed at the battle of Clairdon in 1195. He is supposed to have been buried in the vicinity and the field is still called Chapel Field to this day. The unusual solid hexagonal building has turret at each angle. The plaque states - "This is the burial place of the Sinclairs of Ulbster" The picture gallery shows the tower
from all sides and the countryside round the tower. From the
tower area you can look down the gentle slopes to the rest of Caithness,
Dunnet Head and into Thurso. Clardon Hill is just to the north-east of the tower and beyond that is West Murkle. |
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