Rosal Township is probably the most informing of the heritage sites kept so well by the Forestry Commission. The site includes display boards that help visitors find their way around the site, understanding quite a lot about how people lived back then- before the clearances.
The township sits on the side of hill at one end of strathnaver glen which runs north east to south west across northern Scotland. Strathnaver has its own place in the history of the Highland Clearances. It was a popular area and there were numerous townships, all of which were cleared by Factors, on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland.
The remains of the township of Rosal, whose lands are first on record in 1269, and which was cleared 1814-18. It remained relatively undisturbed, until in 1962, an excavation and survey,directed by Horace Fairhurst, made it a type-site for clearance depopulation.
This area is littered with cleared townships and probably total around 16. There is a trail, known as the Strathnaver Trail, that follows the north shore of Loch Naver that takes in quite alot of these areas.
The enclosed video is shot by Steven S Reeves
IThe original discussion paper by Horace Fairhurst can be accessed here:
Rosal; Deserted Township
There are plenty of walks and information around this area. The area is managed by the Forestry Commission and they have plenty of walks and trails that can be accessed here:
Rosal Trail
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