The history of Caithness

It’s said that there are more brochs in Caithness than in any other Scottish county. These drystone Iron Age remains hint at how much activity there was here in ancient times, with numerous cairns and standing stones adding to the prehistoric picture. Later, the area was part of a Pictish province named Cait when it was invaded by Vikings, most likely in the tenth century, an arrival that means many of today’s place names – and even some local surnames – have Norse origins. By the late 12th century, however, Scottish control had been implemented and the region was incorporated into the sheriffdom of Inverness, before later becoming an independent county in 1707.

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