OS grid reference ND195329 Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district KW5, KW6 Local time Monday 8:37 AM Lieutenancy area Highland | Country Scotland Post town Latheron Police Scottish Council area Highland | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind W at 21 km/h, 77% Humidity | ||
Latheronwheel (from Scottish Gaelic Latharn a' Phuill, meaning 'muddy place of the pool') is a small Scottish village, in Caithness. It is six kilometres (four miles) southwest of Lybster on the A9 road to Helmsdale, near the junction with the A99 road to Wick, which lies in the equally small village of Latheron.
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Map of Latheronwheel, Latheron, UK
The village is at the mouth of a wide valley, through which flows a small river called the Burn of Latheronwheel.
It was built on the land of one Captain Dunbar (who had actually wished for it to be called Janetston, after his wife). It was a planned settlement, begun in 1835 with the building of a hotel (then known as 'Dunbar’s Hotel' but today as 'The Blends' - due to its proprietor in the 1890s penchant for blending whisky from stills of dubious legality). In the beginning, tenants of the settlement were allocated 2 acres (8,100 m2) and the right to fish from the harbour.
The harbour was constructed around 1840, with a small lighthouse (soon disused) built on the southern headland. At one time was the home of 50 boats although few now remain. Initially salmon was caught, but this gave way to herring.
The village is home to the four star Craiglea holiday complex which includes a swimming pool, something unique to this area of Scotland.