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Human settlement in Scotland
Photo: jack_spellingbacon, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Helmsdale is a fishing village in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, about two hours by road or rail north of Inverness. In 2011 its population was 764. The name derives from Norse Hjalmundal, the "Dale of the Helmet".
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Local history museum, covering the Clearances, and the Helmsdale gold rush of 1869. You can still pan for gold further up the valley. With café.
Now part of Diageo, this was a twin distillery, but Clynelish A (or Brora) closed in 1983 and you visit Clynelish B. It produces a peaty single malt whisky, 95% of which goes into Johnnie Walker Red Label; see Kilmarnock#Understand for the story of this iconic brand. However a few bottles of single malt are released, and old stock from Distillery A are pricey collectors' items.
Opulent home of the Dukes of Sutherland, originally from 14th century but what you see now is mostly a grandiose Victorian chateau. Yes, lots of heads of dead animals, and the dark side is that the duchy ruthlessly evicted its tenants in the 18th and 19th centuries. With extensive gardens.
Friendly casual place, vegan options. No alcohol but bring your own.
Fish are the thing here.
Clean friendly well-run hostel, six rooms en suite each with four beds. Open all year but Nov-March only for group bookings. Dogs welcome by arrangement.
Small friendly 3-star with restaurant.
Clean central friendly B&B.
Very basic site, friendly and clean facilities but strewn with derelict caravans. Rough access lane under railway bridge, low clearance.
Long-distance travel is usually via Inverness, which has an airport, and trains, buses and highways from the south.
Read in the guideThe village is walkable but you need wheels to reach the distillery or Badbea.
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