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MHG25081 - Altnaharra Crossroads

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At the crossroads near Altnaharra stand two solid cylindrical stone posts, each standing approx. 6ft high. There are no inscriptions, apart from three marks on each post. These marks take the form of a central hollow flanked by horizontal equilateral elongated triangles - approx. 15cm between apexes. See photographs (taken by Dr N G Lindsay 01/00).
A M Fox, Highland Council Archaeology Unit, 08/02/00.

Around 1850, when there were no signposts at the Altnaharra crossroads, the Duke of Sutherland, who was then proprietor of the entire area, sent his ploughman on an extraordinary journey to pick up the two huge stones we can still see at Altnaharra today. The ploughman, whose name was Macpherson, was sent with two carts from Tongue Mains Farm to Glencraggach quarry at Drumholistan to pick up the huge blocks. He travelled down to Melvich the first day and went to the quarry early next morning to receive his load. The crossing of the Halladale at that time was made with a chain boat - a kind of raft like boat which was pulled from side to side of the river by the operator using a chain. (The hill down to the river is still called Chainboat Brae). When the ploughman arrived back at the chain boat with his load the ferryman refused to take the loaded carts on board and, as there were no men around to unload the burden, the unfortunate Macpherson was forced to turn up Strath Halladale in the hope that, when he reached Kinbrace, he would be able to go to Altnaharra by Badanloch and Syre.

Unfortunately for him, the weather became really wet and the rivers were far too swollen for him to cross the fords and he had to proceed down Kildonan Strath and along the coast road through Brora and Golspie before he could find his way to Lairg and finally Altnaharra where he delivered his far travelled load.

Thirty miles a day was considered a long journey for horses with loads, so the ploughman was several days on the road in miserable conditions. On reaching Tongue he became ill, developed pneumonia and died, leaving a widow and infant son. The widow and her son had to leave the ploughman's house in Tongue but were given a black house at Torrisdale in Skerray by the Duke. Although this scarcely had enough ground to feed a cow they both thrived and the ploughman's descendants are alive in Sutherland to this day.

The stones, for which Macpherson died, still mark the entrance to the Tongue road at Altnaharra. It is said that they used to have an inscription on them giving directions and distances to various places but that this was chipped off in a pre-war (but which war I'm not sure) panic in case they should give information to an invading enemy. They are certainly blank today but look as though they will remain a landmark for the foreseeable future.

(The above was passed on to Jim Johnston by the descendants of the ploughman, Macpherson).

Information from M Price, Lairg, taken from Johnston "Tongue and Farr"

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Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 5691 3596 (8m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC53NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DURNESS

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