News Archive - July

 

Duke of Rothesay Tours Dunnet Bay Distillery
Duke of Rothesay visits Dunnet Bay DistilleryToday, Friday 31st July 2015, The Duke of Rothesay took a tour of Dunnet Bay Distillery, the thriving Caithness distillery, where husband and wife team, Martin and Claire Murray, handcraft Rock Rose Gin. This acclaimed gin features botanicals that are hand foraged from local cliffs and forests to create a gin with a unique and award-winning flavour profile. Prince Charles took the opportunity to visit the small botanical dome at this rapidly growing, independent distillery and learn more about the juniper regeneration project with the Caithness Biodiversity Group, partly funded by the distillery, which aims to bring back fruit-bearing juniper bush to the area.
Pulteneytown Academy Primary School From Above
Pulteneytown Aacademy Primary School -16 July 2015This photo was taken to capture the whole school before it is demolished in 2016. The new primary school will be part of the age 3 to 18 campus being built behind the school. The photo is two pictures taken by a camera slung from a kite and then stitched together.  The Wick High Community Campus incorporates the High school, Pulteneytown Academy Primary, South School Primary, swimming pool and library.  The new Primary school wil be called Newton Primary.
Progress Photos of new school
Wick Gala 2015 - Children's Fancy Dress
Fancy DressFancy DressFancy Dress


Wick Gala 2015 - Cycle Races
Wick Gala Cycle RacesWick ~Gala 2015 Cycle RacesWick Gala 2015 Cycle RacesWick Gala 2015 Cycle Races

More Wick Gala 2015 Photos
More Wick Gala 2015More Wick Gala 2015More Wick Gala 2015More Wick Gala 2015More Wick Gala 2015

Latest Wick Gala 2015 From Noel Donaldson
See all Wick Gala 2015 from the start HERE

Dunnet Beach Clean - Can You Spare One Hour?
Dunnet Beach Clean 29 July 2015Sometimes you arrive and Dunnet Beach looks in pristine condition but sometimes if you look hard you can see bits of rubbish - cans, plastic of all kinds, old nets, and other items washed ashore.  Volunteers from time to time go and pick up as much of the rubbish as they can.  If you can spare even one hour on Wednesday to pick up some rubbish using the sacks and gloves supplied you will help keep Dunnet beach looking good.
Wick Academy 0 Clachnacuddin 3
Wick Academy 0 Clachnacuddin 3 - 25 July 2015
ACADEMY paid dearly for a first-half handful of chances that, for one reason or another, went abegging and recorded an inauspicious start to their league challenge. Clach went on, in the second period, to punish the hosts with an emphatic, triple tally of goals, without reply. Having seen off Clyde in a pre-season friendly and sweetly dispatched Brora from the north cup, fans were entitled to feel confident about their team's performance ahead of the opening game at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.     Photo Gallery

Halkirk Highland Games 2015
Halkirk Highland Games 2015Halkirk highland Games 2015Halkirk Highland Games 2015Halkirk Highland Games 2015Halkirk highland Games 2015

The weather turned out to be much better than expected with no rain and ended with sunshine.  The clans Gunn and Sinclair had their gatherings which happen every few years and this year coincided.  Heavy athletes came from several countries.

Mey Highland Games Cancelled
The committee of the Canisbay and District RBLS have decided to cancel the Mey Highland Games due to be held on 1st August. The fields are waterlogged and another suitable venue could not be found.
Wick Gala 2015 - All Photos Now In
Wick Gala 2015Wick Gala 2015Wick Gala 2015Wick Gala 2015

Naval Reactor Test Establishment At Vulcan in Caithness has been officially shut down
The test nuclear reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment in Caithness has been officially shut down having safely completed its work. The Shore Test Facility (STF) reactor was closed down last night. As part of the Establishment, was used as a prototype to give advance notice of any potential issues or problems that might occur on board a submarine. After more than 13 years of operation, the STF reactor is no longer needed and so has been shut down in preparation for future decommissioning of the facility.

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Fast Look at 'e Groat an 'e Courier

Wick Green Gym - Volunteer and get fit for free!
Green Gym at Wick
Green Gyms are all about Healthy People, Healthy Places. Come along and volunteer to help look after local green spaces and also improve your own fitness at the same time. Green Gyms are designed to improve your overall well-being at the same time as improving the local environment & green spaces through conservation & gardening activities.

Watch out for telephone ‘disconnection scam' warns Highland Council Trading Standards
Phone ScamHighland Council Trading Standards have issued a warning of a new twist on previous cold call telephone scams, which has been termed as the ‘disconnection scam'. This recent type of scam can affect both businesses and consumers. So how does the ‘disconnection scam' work? A cold call telephone scam caller contacts an unsuspecting householder and claims to represent their telecoms provider (or telephone company). The caller states that the householder or bill payers account is in arrears and that an immediate payment has to be made in order to prevent the telephone line from being disconnected.

Communities leading on development of Local Area Plans for LEADER Programme
Communities across the Highlands are in the process of developing Action Plans outlining local priorities for the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme expected to launch in late Autumn 2015. LEADER is an EU Fund aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas. The fund is community led with decision making on local development priorities taken by local groups. The programme will be delivered at a local level through seven Local Area Partnerships: Caithness; Sutherland; Skye; Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh; Lochaber; Inner Moray Firth North; and Inner Moray Firth South.        Community Index

Biology workshop for children at Caithness Horizons
Biology for kids at Caithness HorizonsJoin Museum Mascot Peter the Penguin and natural historian Neil Redgate to learn why Museums collect and preserve biology collections.
Thursday 6th August, 10.30am-12.30pm Suitable for children ages between 7 &12 years. £2 per child or FREE for members of Peter’s Pals Young Curators Club.    
Booking essential.



'e Courier Today

Ham Harbour and Mill
Ham Habour and Mill - 16 July 2015Ham Mill - 16 July 2015Over the years we have visited Ham to see the Harbour and the Mill. This time a camera suspended beneath a kite gave us a few views from above. The other more conventional views show that little has changed over the years apart from the gradual disintegration of the harbour with the flagstones scattered around.   Photo Gallery       A To Z of Caithness

Tooled up for tick time
Tick tool available form Highland councilTick next to one pennyThe Highland Council's Environmental Health team is raising awareness of the dangers from ticks, in particular the serious illness known as Lyme disease which can be transmitted to humans through a tick bite. Ticks are very small spider-like creatures which feed on blood. In the wild they feed on animals like deer, foxes and rabbits and can be picked up by domestic pets such as cats and dogs and will bite humans if transferred onto skin.   Free removal tool and leaflet available from Highland Council.

Nybster Broch
Nybster Broch - 16 July 2015
A walk on a nice day to see Nybster Broch show it is now over-grown with grasses and wild flowers.  A few years ago archaeological digs revealed the layout in great details as can be seen in previous photos.  We took the opportunity to get the  kite cam out and hovering over allowed us to get a birds eye viewof the current conditions.
History and 2005 Dig  The Dig in 2011   Around Auckengill  More Caithness Brochs


A great new book on Caithness Archaeology out now
Caithness Archaeology: Aspects of Prehistory by A. Heald & J. Barber.
Caithness Archaeology : Aspects of Pre Hisotry - from Whittles Publishing £20Just published and long awaited a book on Caithness Archaeology and is available now from Whittles Publishing at a cost of £20.  176 pages with 85 photos, diagrams and maps.

An eminently readable and accessible account of the archaeology of Caithness that provides an inspiring source for the study of people and place over time Introduces the reader to aspects of the little-known archaeological sites and landscapes and the individuals who have investigated the heritage

John O'Groats From Above
Looking down on john O'GroatsLooking down on The John O'Groats hotel now apartments.
 A few years ago it looked like this  Even Earlier From Air  

2012   Late 1960s

Transform John O'Groats Project 2011 - the Arty days.


Caithness County Show 2015 - Vintage Tractors Film Clip

Massed Pipe Bands From Caithness At Market Square, Wick
Massed Pipe Bands at Market Square, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
All the Caithness bands joined forces for an evening of music at Market Square, Wick on Saturday 18th July 2015.


   See and hear a short film clip Here


Live Jive Dance Fun For The Whole Family Today at Mackays Hotel
Jive Live for Laurandy
2.00 - 5.00pm
Come along and have some dancing fun to live music or sit and listen.

All proceeds in aid of Laurandy Day Care Centre.



Caithness County Show 2015 - More Photos From Noel Donaldson
Caithness County Show 2015 - Noel DonaldsonCaithness County Show 2015 - Noel DonaldsonCaithness County Show 2015 - stunt riderCaithness county show 2015

Caithness County Show 2015 - Over 700 Photos - Many more categories and people inside
A Rough Guide  - To see much larger photos right click the image and open in a new tab or window.
Vintage Tractors       Setting Up               New Machinery         Judging                    Horses
Caithness County Show 2015 - Vintage TractorsCaithness County Show 2014Caithness County Show 2015 - MachineryCaithness County Show 2015 - JudgingCaithness County Show 2015 - Horses

Sheep                        Cattle                         More Horses           Champions               Stunt Bikes
Caithness county Show 2015 - SheepCaithness county Show 2015 - CattleCaithness county Show 2015 - more HorsesCaithness county Show 2015 - ChampionsCaithness County Show 2015 - Trick Motor cyclists

Children's Races     Turnouts                  Vintage In The Ring  Fair Ground
Caithness County Show 2015 - Childrens RacesCaithness county Show 2015 - Out turnsVintage Tractors at Caithness County Show 2015Caithness County Show 2015 - FaIRGROUND

Caithness County Show 2015 - Outdoors
Caithness County Show 2015

Caithness County Show 2015 - Sales Tent
Caithness county Show 2015 - Sales Tent


Caithness County Show 2015 - Industrial Tent
Caithness County Show 2015 - Industrial Tent


Caithness county Show 2015 - The Flower Tent
Caithness county Show 2015 - Flower Show


Caithness County Show 2015  - This Year At Wick and All Set To Go Rain Or No Rain
Caithness County Show 2015
Setting up the show ground was completed on Thursday afternoon and evening just ahead of the rain.  It is all set despite the weather - take your boots and enjoy it all.





Castlehill From Above and Sideways
Castlehill, Caithness - 16 July 2015Castlehill, CaithnessCastlehill, CaithnessCastlehill, Caithness

A bright day on Thursday meant perfect weather for the camera hanging from the kite to add to this new gallery of Castlehill. There is lot to see if you walk around the flagsone trail, harbour and heritage centre.
Sinclair Castle formerly Girnigoe Castle  - Photos From a Kite Camera
Ginrigoe Caste From a Kite Camera - 14 July 2015
A few more photos of Sinclair castle formerly known as Girnigoe Castle taken from a camera suspended from a kite.

Girnigoe (now Sinclair) Castle Index

See the Caithness Castles From Above

Caithness County Show Definitely Goes On No Matter What The Weather
Many rumours havebeen circulating about the county show due to the rainy weather.  However all the rumours are not true.  The committee has confirmed it will go ahead as usual at riverside Wick on Friday and Saturday this coming weekend.  

Auckengill Nature Trip
Auckengill NatureAuckengill Nature

Viking Ventures - book now for Bettyhill or Thurso
Bettyhill Venture    Thurso Venture
Vking Venture at Bettyhill   Viking Venture at Thruso
Become a young Viking and see if your team can be victorious in the different challenges to decide which team gets the glory of setting sail on a Viking raid. Limited numbers so book early to avoid disappointment.
Latest Wick Pipe Band Fancy Dress Photos
Wick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress ParadeWick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress ParadeWick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress Parade
    Film Clip Of Fancy Dress Parade

Wick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress Parade - more photos coming shortly
Wick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress ParadeWick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress ParadeWick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress ParadeWick Pipe Band Week 2015 - Fancy Dress Parade

WICK RBLS Pipe Band rounded off their annual fundraising week with the ever popular fancy dress parade. Band members swapped their formal tartan garb for the outfits of well-known characters as they entertained the crowds which converged in the Market Square, last night. Also featured were dancers from the Elise Lyall School. Threatening rain held off for the grand finale to the week which also included a Scottish variety concert and a quiz among the crowd pullers.

NOSCA In Castletown and Thurso - Summer Childcare and Activities

Keiss Castle From The Air Via A Kite Camera Gives New Views
Keiss Castle From above 9 July 2015Keiss Castle from above 9 July 2015The sun was out and the wind was just right for some views of Keiss Castle take from a camera suspended from a kite. The castle is easy to reach from Keiss harbour being just a ten minute walk along the grass above the beach.  The castle itself should not be entered as it is in a dangerous condition so if you go say on the other side of the fence.   More About Keiss Castle      
Main Caithness Castles Index

Fun and Mayhem For 30 Minutes In Thurso and Wick - The Magnificent Organ  - Saturday 11th July
Magnificent Organ


New Wick High School - Latest Photos
New wick High School construction at 9 july 2015New Wick Wigh School 9 July 201W

Caithness Show Relay For Life Team
Caithness Show Relay for life 2015
Caithness show relay team held an Olympic style relay from the Thurso show field to the Wick show field as part of our fundraising for the relay for life on 29th August 2015.   Donate





Latheron Show 2015 Moves Due to Wet Weather And Water Logged Field
Due ot the wet weather the usual field at West Clyth, Occumster is water logged.  Events will now take place at two places in Halkirk and Lybster.  Saturday 11th July 2015
Earlier Latheron Show Photos 2014  2013  2011  2010  2009  2008  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002
Scientists from around the world gather in Caithness for conference
Science Conference in ThursoScientists from around the world recently gathered in Thurso for an annual biological sciences meeting. The Larwood Symposium was hosted by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) of the North Highland College UHI on behalf of the International Bryozoology Association. Delegates travelled from as far as New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil and the USA for the four day conference which included a tour of Caithness and field trip to Orkney. The delegates, biologists and palaeontologists, came to discuss their research on bryozoans, tiny freshwater or marine invertebrates. They were welcomed to the conference and to the area by Director of the ERI Professor Stuart Gibb at local museum Caithness Horizons with a drinks reception.

Lybster Gala 2015 Photos From Angus Mackay
SCHOTTEL HYDRO supplies to world's largest tidal energy project MeyGen
AR1500SCHOTTEL HYDRO will manufacture and deliver the variable pitch hub for the AR1500 turbine for Phase 1a of the MeyGen tidal energy project in the Pentland Firth, under contract to Lockheed Martin. The MeyGen Phase 1a AR1500, a 1.5 MW seabed mounted turbine, is being designed and delivered by Atlantis Resources and Lockheed Martin. The MeyGen project intends to generate up to 398 MW with offshore tidal turbines by the early 2020s.


Trading Standards and Citizens Advice launch new anti-scams initiative
July is Scams Awareness Month and The Highland Council's Trading Standards team is joining forces with Citizens Advice Bureaux to warn consumers about the risks of being caught out.

Rushdance Kids Swept The Boards At Hip Hop Competitions in Grangemouth
Rush.dance take shed load of medals at Hip Hop comps in GrangemouthRush.dance competition kids have just competed at MJN Promotions Hip Hop Trophy day in Grangemouth. Willie Miller said, "it's awesome when your school competes hard and then the kids get the rewards, again today Rush.dance showed we are major contenders in the Hip Hop world, teachers Rebecca & Willie Miller are really proud of our achievements at this comp."


Castletown Gala 2015 - Photos all in - 153
Castletown Gala 2015
Castletown Gala 2015Castletown Gala 2015Castletown Gala 2015
Police to conduct anti-social driving initiative
Police in Thurso have planned an initiative to tackle a prevalent anti-social driving issue in the Thurso town centre, following reports from members of the public.

Charity Car Wash for KaydensWish2Walk  - Help Make A Wee Boys Wish Come True
Car WashOn Saturday 4th July between 10am and 4pm we will be holding a Charity Car Wash at Dunnets Garage in Thurso with all proceeds going straight to KaydensWish2Walk.   If you cannot make the car wash you can still donate at https://www.justgiving.com/Kaydenswish2walk/





Highland Council invites tenders for ICT Core Services
Chair of Resources Committee, Councillor Bill Fernie said: "The council has looked long and hard at how it provides its ICT services and an outline business case was agreed in April 2013 which agreed that in future the council wanted to work with a number of suppliers to provide a range of ICT Services. We are particularly keen to make some of these contracts more accessible to small and medium sized enterprises.

Caithness harbour cashes in on Shetland oil and gas boom - Herald














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