Brough, Caithness

For other places with the same name, see Brough.

Brough
Brough Slipway
OS grid reference	ND222733
Council area	Highland
Lieutenancy area	Caithness
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	THURSO
Postcode district	KW14
Dialling code	01847
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Scottish Parliament	Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency in the Highlands and Islands electoral region

Brough is a small village (population 66) in Caithness in the North of Scotland. It is located on the B855 single-track road, the most northerly numbered road on the mainland of Great Britain, and is a few miles to the south east of Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the British mainland, and a mile or so north of the village of Dunnet. Brough is the site of Brough Castle, a 12th Century Norse fortress; the ruins are on the property now known as Heathcliff. Brough is the most northerly village on the British mainland.

The village has a bus stop. Brough harbour, a short distance to the north of the village, now little used, faces Little Clett rock, a small islet that shelters the harbour from the north.

To the south of the village lies St John's Loch, reputedly a very good brown trout loch.

Name

The name Brough is pronounced to rhyme with the Scottish word loch, in contrast to the English town of Brough, which is pronounced to rhyme with rough

The village's name comes from Broch, the ancient Scottish circular building, whose purpose is somewhat undetermined but was probably some kind of fortified homestead. The remains of at least one broch exist in the area around the village.

Wildlife

The village, and the area, are popular particularly with birdspotters, providing opportunities to see many puffins (at Brough Harbour) and Great Northern Divers among others.