Olrig facts for kids
Olrig is a small area in Caithness, Scotland. It's like a local district. The main village in Olrig is called Castletown. Long ago, before the 1800s, Olrig was split into ten smaller areas called "townlands" or "fermlands." Over time, as farming methods improved, these old boundaries were mostly forgotten. But you can still find some of the old townland names in farm names today, especially those ending with "Mains."
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Discovering Olrig's Past
The name Olrig (or Olrick) might mean "the son of Erick." This name probably came from one of the Norwegian leaders who were important in Caithness after Norway invaded in the early 800s.
Long ago, the Danes also came to Olrig. They landed at a bay called Murkle. But the local people fought them and won. This battle happened on a hill that was named Morthill, meaning "hill of the slain." This is where the name Murkle comes from.
Ancient Buildings and Stories
You can find many old Pictish houses in Olrig. The Picts were an ancient people who lived in Scotland. People also say there was once a nunnery (a place where nuns lived) on the lands of Murkle. A small stream nearby, called Closters, might even be named after the word "cloister," which is part of a nunnery.
At the top of Olrick Hill, you can see what's left of an old watchtower. This tower was likely used to keep an eye out for enemies. It's also believed that a church called St. Coomb's Kirk once stood near the edge of Olrig. This church was probably named after Saint Columba, a famous Irish saint. People think this church served both Olrig and the nearby area of Dunnet.
There's a local story that the church and the house next to it (called a manse) disappeared overnight! The legend says they were suddenly covered by a huge sandstorm. However, today there's no sign of any building in that area, just sand dunes.
The Sinclair Family of Olrig
Members of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish family, became connected to Olrig in the mid-1600s. Here are some of the Sinclair family members who owned land in Olrig:
- George Sinclair: He was the fifth son of Sir James Sinclair of Canisbay.
- Alexander Sinclair: George's son. He died in a duel (a fight between two people) in 1710.
- Donald Sinclair: Alexander's son. He owned lands in Olrig and Bilbster.
- Charles Sinclair: Donald's son.
- Donald Sinclair: Charles's son. He passed away in 1722 and had no children.
- Fenella Sinclair: Donald's sister. She married Archibald Cullen and later sold the lands of Olrig and Bilbster.
Myths and Legends of Olrig
Many old stories and folk tales are told about Olrig. Two of these tales involve a small hill and a well called Sysa. These stories were written down by James Traill Calder in his book History of Caithness in 1887. The well of Sysa dried up in the 1800s because of farming changes, but the hill is still there on the south side of Olrig Hill.
Dorrad's Vision at Sysa in 1014
In 1014, a big battle called Clontarf happened near Dublin. At that time, Caithness was part of the Norwegian earldom of Orkney. During this battle, Earl Sigurd of Orkney tried to become the High King of Ireland, fighting against the current High King, Brian Boru. Both Brian and Sigurd died in the battle.
On the same day as the battle, which was Good Friday, a Norwegian poet named Dorrad had a strange vision. He saw twelve Valkyries (female spirits from Norse mythology) riding horses at Sysa. They seemed to ride into the hill.
Dorrad went closer and found an opening in the side of the hill. When he looked inside, he saw the Valkyries weaving a cloth and singing. Dorrad wrote down what he saw and heard:
- "Blood rains from cloudy web on the broad loom of slaughter. The web of man, grey as armor, is now woven. The Valkyries will cross it with a crimson weft."
- "The warp is made of human entrails. Human heads are used as weights. The heddle rods are blood-wet spears. The shafts are iron-bound, and arrows are the shuttles. With swords we shall weave this web of battle."
- "The Valkyries go weaving with drawn swords, Hild and Hjorthrimul, Sangrid and Svipul. Spears will shatter. Shields will splinter. Swords will gnaw like wolves through armour."
- "Let us now wind the web of war which the young King once waged. Let us advance and wade through the ranks, where friends of ours are exchanging blows."
- "Let us now wind the web of war and then follow the king to battle. Gunn and Gondul can see there the blood-splattered shields that guarded the King."
- "Let us now wind the web of war where the warrior’s banners are forging forward. Let his life not be taken. Only the Valkyries can choose the slain."
- "Lands will be ruled by new people who once inhabited outlying headlands. We pronounce a great King destined to die. Now an Earl is felled by spears."
- "The men of Ireland will suffer a grief that will never grow old in the minds of men. The web is now woven and the battlefield reddened. The news of disaster will spread through lands."
- "It is horrible now to look around, as blood-red cloud darkens the sky. The heavens are stained with the blood of men, as the Valkyries sing their song. We sang well victory songs for the young king. Hail to our singing! Let him who listens to our Valkyrie song learn it well and tell it to others. Let us ride our horses hard on bare backs, away from here, with swords unsheathed."
After the bloody cloth was woven, the Valkyries tore it into twelve pieces. Each took a piece and got back on her horse. Then, the twelve Valkyries rode away very fast, six to the north and six to the south.
The Piper of Windy Ha
Another story from Sysa tells of a cowboy named Peter Water. One sunny day in June, he stopped to drink and rest at the well while on his way home to Windy Ha. He fell asleep until sunset.
He woke up when someone touched his shoulder. A young lady stood beside him, dressed in green, with blue eyes and golden curly hair. Peter felt shy and blushed.
"I have come to make a man of you," the lady said. Peter misunderstood her, but she laughed and explained: "I will help you become successful and make your fortune." She then asked Peter to choose between a book and a pipe.
Both items were magical. In the book, Peter saw himself as a popular preacher. In the pipe, he saw himself as a famous musician. He liked both ideas, but even though he had never played a pipe before, he chose the pipe. He found he could play it immediately and play it very well!
There was one condition: Peter had to promise by the well to return on the same evening, seven years later, when the moon was out. Peter promised he would if he was still alive.
Peter soon became a very popular and rich musician. His fame and fortune grew over the next seven years. He kept his promise and returned to the well of Sysa on that moonlit evening, seven years later. Peter has never been seen since. But people say his pipe can still sometimes be heard playing in Olrig. (However, some people think the sound is just the wind blowing through the radio masts on top of the hill!)
