Catacol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Catacol
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 The Twelve Apostles at Catacol Bay |
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 Catacol
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| OS grid reference | NR909496 |
| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF ARRAN |
| Postcode district | KA27 |
| Dialling code | 01770 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Catacol (which is Catagal in Scottish Gaelic) is a small village. You can find it on the Isle of Arran in Scotland.
Contents
Exploring Catacol's Location
Catacol is on the northwest side of Arran. It's just a short drive along the coast from Lochranza. The name "Catacol" comes from an old language called Old Norse. It means 'gully of the cat'. This might be because wildcats once lived in the area.
The village sits at the bottom of Glen Catacol. This is a valley with steep sides. The Abhainn Mor river flows down this valley. A bridge crosses the river just before it reaches the beach at Catacol Bay. The beach itself is made of small, smooth stones called shingle.
Famous Buildings: The Twelve Apostles
The most famous part of Catacol is a row of cottages. They are known as the 'Twelve Apostles'. These houses were finished around the mid-1860s. They were built for people who had to leave their homes. This happened when much of the island's land was set aside for deer. Hunting deer became very popular with rich landowners.
The idea was that these former farmers would become fishermen. So, each of the twelve cottages has a different shaped window on the first floor. This was so a woman could put a candle in her window. Her husband, out fishing on the Firth of Clyde, would know it was her signal by the window's unique shape.
However, many farmers moved away instead of becoming fishermen. They were upset about being forced to leave their land. Because of this, the houses stayed empty for two years. People called them "hungry row" during that time.
Unique Trees and Other Sights
Catacol is home to a very special tree. It's called the Catacol whitebeam. This tree is extremely rare. It only grows in this area of the world. Scientists think it's a mix of two other trees. These are the native rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and the cut-leaved whitebeam. There might only be one or two of these special trees left!
There are also some other interesting things to see. You can find an old anchor stuck in the grass near the beach. There's also a small jetty that isn't used anymore. An old boat winch is also nearby.
Past Life: The Catacol Bay Hotel
The village used to have a hotel. It was called the Catacol Bay Hotel. Locals often called it 'the cat'. Sadly, it closed permanently in September 2018. The owner decided to retire.
The area around Catacol is very pretty. It has grassy hills and open moorland. There are also small patches of woodland. These woodlands are found in the steep, narrow valleys.
Images for kids
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The former Catacol Bay Hotel, known as 'the cat'.
