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Murkle Bay
Battle Site (12th Century)
Site Name Murkle Bay
Classification Battle Site (12th Century)
Canmore ID 8388
Site Number ND16NE 16
NGR ND 1642 6922
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8388
- Council Highland
- Parish Olrig
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
ND16NE 16 1642 6922.
(Name: ND 1642 6922) Site of (NAT) Battle (NR) AD. 1196
OS 6" map, Caithness, 1st ed., (1873)
This name refers to the Battle of Clairdon Hill which was fought in 1196 between Harold the Elder and an army of Norwegians, and Harold the Younger and the men of Caithness, the former being the victor. A great number of pieces of iron resembling the teeth of a harrow have been found from time to time in the fields near Murkle Bay. They are believed to have been used as pike-heads. Human bones are still to be seen in every field in the neighbourhood. (See also ND16NW 14.)
Name Book 1873; J T Calder 1861.
The OS siting of the battle was confirmed by the farmer at the adjacent Mains of Murkle.
Visited by OS (J B) 7 December 1981.
