Assynt
| |
|---|---|
 | |
  Assynt Location within theSutherland area | |
| Population | 1,011 [2] |
| OS grid reference | NC2092 |
| • Edinburgh | 234 mi (377 km) |
| • London | 637 mi (1,025 km) |
| Community council |
|
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Lairg |
| Dialling code | 01571 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 58°12′54″N5°03′02″W / 58.215°N 5.0505°W /58.215; -5.0505 | |
Assynt (Scottish Gaelic:Asainn[ˈas̪ɪɲ] orAsainte[ˈas̪ɪɲtʲə]) is a sparsely populated area in the south-west ofSutherland, lying north ofUllapool on the west coast ofScotland. Assynt is known for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, which have led to the area, along with neighbouringCoigach, being designated as theAssynt-CoigachNational Scenic Area,[3] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.[4]
The western part of Assynt has many distinctively shaped mountains, includingQuinag,Canisp,Suilven andBen More Assynt, that rise steeply from the surrounding "cnoc and lochan" scenery. These can often appear higher than their actual height would indicate due to their steep sides and the contrast with the moorland from which they rise.[5] Many of the most distinctive peaks such asSuilven were formed during the lastIce Age, when they were left exposed above the ice sheet asnunataks, and they now remain asinselbergs of highly erodedTorridoniansandstone sitting on a bedrock of much olderLewisian gneiss.[6] TheMoine Thrust runs through the area, and is most visible atKnockan CragNational Nature Reserve, which includes a visitor centre interpreting the geological features of the landscape. In the east of Assynt lies a region oflimestone scenery surrounding Ben More Assynt.[5] This part of Assynt hosts the longest cave in Scotland,Uamh an Claonaite, which lies five miles (eight kilometres) south ofInchnadamph.[7] The geological importance of Assynt is reflected in its inclusion in theNorth West Highlands Geopark.[8][9]
The name Assynt may derive from anOld Norse word meaning 'ridge end'. There is also a tradition that the name comes from a fight between the two brothers Unt and Ass-Unt, (meaningMan of Peace andMan of Discord). The latter having won the tussle gave his name to the parish.[10] It is celebrated in the poetry of Norman MacCaig.
For many years Assynt was regarded as adistrict or province of Scotland in its own right, and was later established as acivil parish. With theintroduction of counties it became part of the county ofSutherland. Parishes were abolished for administrative purposes in 1930, and counties were replaced by a system ofregional and district councils in 1975, however the boundaries of both were retained for statistical purposes (e.g. census figures andland registration) as well for ceremonial purposes such aslieutenancy. The regions and districts were replaced byunitary councils in 1996, and Assynt now forms acommunity withinHighland council area.[11]
As is typical for the Scottish highlands, the Assynt area is divided into a number of large estates, which are in a mix of private, charitable and community ownership. The Assynt Estate, which includesBen More Assynt and the lands aroundLochinver, remains in the hands of theVestey family,[12] who also formerly owned the North Assynt Estate (see below).
TheQuinag estate belongs to theJohn Muir Trust,[13] a charity that seeks to conserve wild land and wild places.
The Little Assynt Estate, which comprises two of the old townships of Assynt, Little Assynt and Loch Beannach[14] is now owned by Culag Community Woodland Trust, a local trust that seeks to provide employment and training and improvements in well-being for local people, as well as encouraging education about the area's natural environment.[15]
In 1989, the northwest portion of the Assynt estate was renamed theNorth Lochinver Estate and put on the market by its owners, the Vestey family. This area consisted almost entirely ofcrofting land, with 13 crofting townships being set up during theHighland Clearances. The purpose of the sale was to raise money for the owners to buy more hill ground suitable fordeer stalking. The estate was purchased byScandinavian Property Services Limited. Three years later, the company went intoliquidation. The North Lochinver Estate was divided into seven lots and put up for sale.[16][17] The sale was handled by anEdinburgh based estate agent,John Clegg and Co.[18] The proposed break-up of the estate was a cause of concern for the crofters as the boundaries of the lots cut across grazing land, creating the possibility of some crofters having to deal with more than one landlord. The crofters also believed that some of the portions would be directly administered by the owners, rather than a professionalfactor.[19]
The Assynt branch of theScottish Crofters Union met on the 6 June 1992, to discuss the sale. There the crofters decided to attempt to raise enough money to buy the estate and run it themselves.[20][21]
Assynt Crofters' Trust, acompany limited by guarantee, was formed to make a bid for the land. Membership of the trust was open to crofters within the estate. The trust aimed to buy the estate and keep it under the control of the crofters, and to develop the area by initiating projects such as house building, job creation and tree planting.[22] Funding for the trust came from many sources. Each crofting family was asked to raise £1,000. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, part ofHighlands and Islands Enterprise donated £50,000, whileScottish Natural Heritage gave a grant of £20,000.Highland Regional Council donated £10,000. Much of the money, however, came from a public appeal for funds. This appeal raised over £130,000 from 824 individuals.[23] Money came from throughout the United Kingdom, as well as abroad. Political figures such as the local Member of Parliament,Robert Maclennan,[24]Ray Michie,Alex Salmond,Winifred Ewing andCharles Kennedy donated, as did the rock bandRunrig.[23] A secured loan of £90,000 was received from Highland Prospect Limited, a company set up by Highland Regional Council to promote investment in the Highlands by providing grants and low-interest loans.[25]
The trust made two unsuccessful bids, of £235,000 and £245,000 respectively. This caused the trust to adopt a more aggressive stance. They threatened to use right-to-buy provisions of crofting law to buy the crofts.[26] This option, requiring legal action, would be expensive and time-consuming; and would deny the crofters complete control of the estate.[27] The option was therefore kept in reserve in order to make the estate less attractive to other potential bidders—compulsory purchase of the crofts would force the new landowners to sell much of their newly acquired land for a fraction of its value. To assist this strategy, the crofters enclosed and divided an area of common grazing land, an action which would give them the option of buying the common land as well as the crofts themselves. Pressure was also exerted on the main creditor of Scandinavian Property Services, the SwedishÖstgöta Enskilda Bank, as the trust wrote telling them of their proposed strategy.[26]
On 4 December 1992, the trust submitted a final bid of £300,000. This was accepted after four days. On Monday, 1 February 1993, Assynt Crofters' Trust became the owners of the North Lochinver Estate, which they renamed theNorth Assynt Estate.[28]
In June 2005 the Glencanisp estate, including the mountainsSuilven andCanisp and the neighbouring Drumrunie estate, with the mountainsCùl Mòr andCùl Beag, were bought by the local community.[29] TheAssynt Foundation aims to create local employment and safeguard the natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of the community and future generations, and for the enjoyment of the wider public. The estates of Glencanisp and Drumrunie totalling some 18,000 hectares are managed by the Assynt Foundation on behalf of the Assynt community.
| Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area | |
| Location | Highland,Scotland |
| Area | 1,298 km2 (501 sq mi)[30] |
| Established | 1981 |
| Governing body | NatureScot |
Assynt has a wide range of habitats, from rocky and sandy shores to high mountains, with areas of woodland, upland heath and dwarfjuniper scrubland.[31] The area has a large number of freshwater lochs, which host birds such asblack-throated divers.[31] With a highly indented and rocky coastline the area provides excellent habitats for manyseabirds, and is one of best places in Europe to seecetaceans such aswhales,dolphins andporpoises.[32]Ptarmigan inhabit the mountain areas, wheregolden eagles may also be seen.[31] Besides the large numbers ofred deer, other mammals seen in Assynt includemountain hares,water voles,otters andpipistrelle bat.[31]
The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Project is a community partnership project which aims to bring environmental and economic benefits to the Coigach and Assynt regions of North West Scotland. The partnership includes landowners (private and community), the local community and charitable organisations, with theScottish Wildlife Trust being the lead partner. The project is described as an "ecosystem restoration project", and aims to "bring woodland connectivity, species-rich flora and fauna, and economic growth back to the Scottish uplands".[33]
A large part of Assynt, known asInverpolly, was formerly designated as anational nature reserve but since 2004 the designation has been limited to the area surroundingKnockan Crag. The Inverpolly area is classified as aSpecial Area of Conservation, one of three in Assynt along withInchnadamph andArdvar and Loch a' Mhuilinn Woodlands. Many of the loch and lochans are designated asSpecial Protection Areas.[34]
Communities in Assynt include:
TheDisney+ originalStar Wars seriesAhsoka used the Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estate as anoutdoor location with the permission of the Assynt Foundation.
