Murkle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murkle |
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 Murkle Bay Looking across Murkle Bay to the headland known as the Spur of Murkle. Viewed from the shore at East Murkle where the flagstone beds are fringed by a narrow beach of shell sand. |
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 Murkle
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| OS grid reference | ND161682 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | KW14 8 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
Murkle is a small village in the Scottish Highlands. It's made up of two parts: East Murkle and West Murkle. You can find it about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Thurso. Murkle is located in Caithness, which is part of the Highland region of Scotland.
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What's in a Name? The Meaning of Murkle
The name Murkle has an interesting history. It comes from an older name, Morthill. This means "Field of Death." It got this name because a big battle happened here long ago. This battle was fought against the Danes during the early medieval period.
The Sinclairs of Murkle: A Family History
The Clan Sinclair is a famous Scottish family. Some members of this clan were closely connected to Murkle. They were known as the "Sinclairs of Murkle."
Important Sinclairs of Murkle
Here are some key members of the Sinclair family who lived in Murkle:
- James Sinclair (1567–1642): He was the first Sinclair to own Murkle. James was the second son of John, Master of Caithness. His grandfather was George, the 4th Earl of Caithness. James married Elizabeth Stewart. She was the daughter of Robert Stewart, who was the Earl of Strathearn and Orkney. Robert was also a son of King James V.
- Sir James Sinclair (died 1662): He was the second Sinclair of Murkle. He took over after his father, James.
- John Sinclair (died 1705): He was the third Sinclair of Murkle. In 1698, he also became the 8th Earl of Caithness.
- Alexander Sinclair (died 1765): He was the 9th Earl of Caithness. After he died, the title of Earl of Caithness passed to another family branch.
How the Sinclairs Got Their Land
The original Murkle estate was put together over many years. James Sinclair and his family bought land between 1586 and 1637. They bought it from different owners. These included the Earls of Caithness and Sutherland, and the Bishops of Orkney and Caithness.
The land owned by Sir James Sinclair included East and West Murkle. It also included Clairdon, Ormlie, Thurdistoft, and other areas. Later, in the 1700s, the family also bought more land like Isauld, Brubster, and Brims.
Legends and Old Stories of Murkle
Murkle is a place with some fascinating old stories and legends.
The Mermaid and the Fisherman
One popular legend tells of a mermaid. She is said to have fallen in love with a local fisherman. The story says that she still holds him captive in a nearby loch (a Scottish lake) to this day.
Murkle in the Orkneyinga Saga
Murkle is even mentioned in an old Norse story! The Orkneyinga saga is a historical tale about the Earls of Orkney. In chapter 9, it talks about "Ragnhilda, King Eric's daughter." Her husband was Arnfinn, the fifth son of Earl Thorfinn. The saga says that Arnfinn died at Murkle in Caithness. This left Ragnhilda a widow.
