Kildary
Encyclopedia
Kildary is a small village in Easter Ross
, Ross and Cromarty
, Highland
, Scotland
.
The village is located on the Balnagown River and is bordered by Balnagown Castle
and the Balnagown estate, owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods
department store. The main road A9 passes close by, running in parallel to the Inverness
- Thurso
railway, known as the Far North Line
.
The only landmark visible from the A9 is Ken's Garage, which has been on the same site for many decades. Ken's Garage gets its name from the original proprietor Mr Ken Mackay. It is now owned by the Bannerman brothers. The A9 used to run in front of the garage until the road was realigned. Close by is an unusual Tudor-style Lodge,known as East Lodge, attached to the Tarbat Estate.
Kildary was served in the past by a railway station. It was opened on 01 June 1864 as Parkhill and renamed Kildary on 01 May 1868. The station was closed on 13 June 1960. The station was demolished when the A9 was realigned.
The village is a good starting point for walks or drives - the Scotsburn area to the north is a warren of single track roads, and the village of Milton, also known as Milntown of Tarbat 0.2 miles to the south allows access to woodland and the Balnagown River, which can be followed down to the coast, the Cromarty Firth
. The Scotsburn area was home to a number of German prisoners of war
during World War II
, who were employed in helping the farming community locally. http://www.wardetectives.info/projects/wardetectives/wewillremember/inve0030.htm
Kildary is an important site for those researching the Clan Ross
. However, the castle is on private land and limited access permission must be obtained well before any visit. Mohamed Al Fayed has announced plans, August 2006, for a restaurant to be built within the castle grounds, offering produce farmed by the estate.
Easter Ross
Easter Ross is a loosely defined area in the east of Ross, Highland, Scotland.The name is used in the constituency name Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, which is the name of both a British House of Commons constituency and a Scottish Parliament constituency...
, Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
, Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The village is located on the Balnagown River and is bordered by Balnagown Castle
Balnagown Castle
Balnagown Castle is located beside the village of Kildary in Easter Ross, part of the Highland area of Scotland. There has been a castle on the site since the 14th century, although the present building was remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries...
and the Balnagown estate, owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
department store. The main road A9 passes close by, running in parallel to the Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
- Thurso
Thurso
-Facilities:Offices of the Highland Council are located in the town, as is the main campus of North Highland College, formerly Thurso College. This is one of several partner colleges which constitute the UHI Millennium Institute, and offers several certificate, diploma and degree courses from...
railway, known as the Far North Line
Far North Line
The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick.- Route :...
.
The only landmark visible from the A9 is Ken's Garage, which has been on the same site for many decades. Ken's Garage gets its name from the original proprietor Mr Ken Mackay. It is now owned by the Bannerman brothers. The A9 used to run in front of the garage until the road was realigned. Close by is an unusual Tudor-style Lodge,known as East Lodge, attached to the Tarbat Estate.
Kildary was served in the past by a railway station. It was opened on 01 June 1864 as Parkhill and renamed Kildary on 01 May 1868. The station was closed on 13 June 1960. The station was demolished when the A9 was realigned.
The village is a good starting point for walks or drives - the Scotsburn area to the north is a warren of single track roads, and the village of Milton, also known as Milntown of Tarbat 0.2 miles to the south allows access to woodland and the Balnagown River, which can be followed down to the coast, the Cromarty Firth
Cromarty Firth
The Cromarty Firth of Cromarty') is an arm of the North Sea in Scotland. It is the middle of the three sea lochs at the head of the Moray Firth: to the north lies the Dornoch Firth, and to the south the Beauly Firth....
. The Scotsburn area was home to a number of German prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, who were employed in helping the farming community locally. http://www.wardetectives.info/projects/wardetectives/wewillremember/inve0030.htm
Kildary is an important site for those researching the Clan Ross
Clan Ross
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...
. However, the castle is on private land and limited access permission must be obtained well before any visit. Mohamed Al Fayed has announced plans, August 2006, for a restaurant to be built within the castle grounds, offering produce farmed by the estate.