Auldearn

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Coordinates: 57°34′35″N 3°48′57″W / 57.576481°N 3.815948°W / 57.576481; -3.815948

Auldearn
Scottish Gaelic: Allt Èireann
Auldearn is located in Scotland
Auldearn

 Auldearn shown within Scotland
Population 535 [1] (2001 census)
est. 540[2] (2006)
OS grid reference NH915555
Council area Highland (council area)
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NAIRN
Postcode district IV12 5xx
Dialling code 01667 45
Police
Fire
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Auldearn (Scottish Gaelic: Allt Èireann) is a village situated east of the River Nairn, just outside Nairn in the Highland council area of Scotland. It takes its name from William the Lyon's castle of Eren (Old Eren), built there in the 12th century.[3]

Auldearn is an expanding area, with much development in the last 10 years. It has a small garden in the centre of the village called the Rose Gardens where people, old and young, gather. From Castle Hill, there is a view all around for miles.

Auldearn has two hotels, a small primary school and a little shop.

Contents

[edit] History

The Lion Hotel

Auldearn was the site of a battle in May 1645 (Battle of Auldearn), in which the MacLennans participated on the side of the Covenanters under their chief Ruaridh, as referred to in Sorley MacLean's poem "Heroes".

There was a Post Office repeater station on the outskirts of the village which was one of only two in the Highland area classed as being of "key importance to national defence" and a "most important link in the A.D.G.B..[4] It is incorrectly described as a radio station in the document and also now marked incorrectly as an "old telephone exchange". It is believed that it was a link from the RAF Sector Operations Centre at Raigmore. [5]

[edit] Places Of Interest

  • The Rose Gardens: Auldearn has a small square at its centre named the Rose gardens, these were refurbished in 2003 and now have benches, flowerbeds and a small shelter.
  • The Doocot: On top of Castle hill, there is a 17th century pigeon loft named the Doocot or Dovecot. Inside it has hundreds of small recesses for pigeons to nest in. It was used to feed the Dunbar family of boath in the wintertime if food was scarce. It is now looked after by the National Trust of Scotland.

[edit] References

[edit] External links