To celebrate the creation of this section of the Haggis Highway events will take place on 5th, 6th and 7th October 2012.
The events are as follows:
Wick ~ Bar Blether GC3PQ71 - Friday 5th October from 19:00
Wick ~ Dinner GC3PQ89 - Saturday 6th October from 17:00
Dunbeath ~ Lunch GC3PQ8R - Sunday 7th October 10:00~12:00
The old castle at Braal is of Norse origin, though probably not in its present form, and is of striking contrast to other castles in Caithness.
Situated among woods on the west bank of the Thurso River at Halkirk, it is without doubt the best preserved of the Norse castles. It was the principal seat of John, 24th Earl of Caithness (1206-1231).
The castle was originally known as Brathwell and was granted by Robert II to his son David along with the Earldom of Caithness which was in abeyance at that time. In 1450, James II bestowed Braal with the Earldom on the High Admiral of Scotland, Sir George Crighton. When he died in 1455 the Earldom was restored to the heir of the ancient line, William Sinclair. The Sinclair earls held Braal until usurption by Glenorchy in 1676. During the period of their ownership it was one of their secondary residences and often used as a place for the incarceration of prisoners.
There are many stories of the old castle at Braal. The most infamous is of Bishop Adam who ended his days tragically on 11th September 1222. The Bishop was paid his taxes in butter, traditionally a spann for every 20 cows. He increased the taxes to a spann of butter for every 15 cows, then 12, then finally every10 cows, effectively doubling the tax. The locals took exception to this, gathered on the hill near the village, seized the Bishop, locked him into a small house and burnt him.
King Alexander was very annoyed - well I think it could be classed as very annoyed - when he cut the hands and feet off of 80 people in retaliation.
This cache is just beyond the new Braal Castle
It is a small container with FTF certificate, log book and room for small swaps.