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Altnabreac

Coordinates: 58°23′N 3°42′W / 58.38°N 3.70°W / 58.38; -3.70
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Altnabreac
Altnabreac is located in Caithness
Altnabreac
Altnabreac
Location within the Caithness area
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHALKIRK
Postcode districtKW12
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
58°23′N 3°42′W / 58.38°N 3.70°W / 58.38; -3.70

Altnabreac (from Scottish Gaelic Allt nam Breac) is a tiny settlement within the former county of Caithness, in the north of Scotland, and now within the Highland council area. The settlement, notable for its remoteness, consists of Altnabreac railway station and the former Altnabreac School. The school was closed in 1986 and converted into a private residence. The former gamekeeper's house sits adjacent to the school and station. There is a natural spring about 200 yards from the school providing crystal clear drinking water. Lochdhu Lodge, approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south, was built until 1895. During the 1980s peat banks were worked to provide fuel for the residents who regularly used to be cut off from the nearest town of Thurso during the winter. It can only be approached by train by special request to stop at the unmanned station, or along unsurfaced Forestry Commission roads from the nearest village, Westerdale, about 12 miles away.

Altnabreac, like Dounreay, was considered as a location for a final repository for the UK's nuclear waste. However, this idea was not pursued.