Muir of Ord

Muir of Ord

The centre of the village
Muir of Ord
Muir of Ord shown within the Highland council area
Population 1,812 [1]
OS grid reference NH5250
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Muir of Ord
Postcode district IV6
Dialling code 01463
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Muir of Ord (Scottish Gaelic: Am Blàr Dubh) is a village in Highland, Scotland. It is situated near the western boundary of the Black Isle, about 9 miles (14 km) west of the city of Inverness and 5 1⁄2 miles (8.9 km) south of Dingwall.[2] It has a population of 3,026,[1] and sits at an elevation of 115 feet (35 m) above sea level.[2]

History

Named Tarradale until 1862,[3] historically access to the village was limited by the natural obsticals of the River Beauly and the River Conon. This changed in 1814 with the construction of the Conon Bridge. Cattle drivers used the new routes to transport livestock and markets were set up in 1820 close to where the village now lies.[3] In 1835 whisky distilling operations were legally granted in the village and by 1885 the Mill of Ord produced 80,000 gallons per year. The village grew extensively in the 19th century due to the establishment of the distillery and goods industries.[4]

Castle Hill Henge

Also known as the Muir of Ord Fort, it is a Neolithic or Bronze-age henge and national monument of Scotland situated 300 yards from the Muir of Ord railway station.[5] Today it is situated on the green of the Muir of Ord golf course, The henge measures 85 by 65 feet (26 by 20 m) and is surrounded by an 18-foot ditch that is four foot deep.[6] There also are two standing stones about 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) away from the henge.[5]

Amenities

The Glen Ord Distillery Visitor Centre

Just outside of the centre of the village is the Glen Ord Distillery, one of the few remaining whisky distilleries on the Black Isle.[7] The Black Isle Show,[8] one of the largest agricultural shows in Scotland, is held every August in a showground near Muir of Ord. The showground is a popular exhibition site thanks to the surrounding flower fields.

Muir of Ord used to have a local football team in the 2000's, Muir of Ord Rovers F.C., that competed in the North Caledonian Football League.[4]

Transport

The major route of the A9 road passed through the village until 1982 when it was bypassed by the Kessock Bridge.[9] The village is also served by Muir of Ord railway station, opened in 1869 it is on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line between Dingwall and Inverness.[10]

The Muir of Ord community website

References

  1. 1 2 [http://wwwold.highland.gov.uk/plintra/iandr/cen/pop_towns.htm Census 2001 Population of Main Highland Towns & Villages, Highland Council, accessed 7 March 2008 Archived 27 May 2012 at Archive.is
  2. 1 2 OS Explorer map: 432: Black Isle (Map). Ordinance Survey.
  3. 1 2 "Muir of Ord". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Muir of Ord Drovers Football Club". Ambaile, Highland history and culture. 2004.
  5. 1 2 "Our 13th Green - Castle Hill Henge A Scheduled National Monument" (PDF). muirofordgolfclub.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Castle Hill, Muir Of Ord". Canmore.org. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Glen Ord Distillery
  8. ↑ Black Isle Show
  9. ↑ Brocklehurst, Steven (6 March 2014). "Life and death on the A9". BBC News (Scotland - Highlands & Islands).
  10. ↑ Brailsford 2017, map 18C.
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