Castletown, Highland

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Castletown is a village in Caithness, Highland, Scotland. The A836 links the village with Thurso and Tongue in the west and with John O Groats in the east. The B876-A99 links the village with Wick in the southeast.

Much of the village is built on the old townland (or fermland) of Stanergill. The Stanergill Burn was the eastern boundary of the townland. It flows now through the eastern end of the village and so into Dunnet Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The name Stanergill can be read as meaning Stone Valley and much of Castletown was built during the 19th century boom years of Caithness as a source of flagstone. Much of the stone was processed in the harbour area of the village, known as Castlehill, and many of the streets of London were paved with it. The harbour was built by James Bremner. Castletown's main building is the 'Drill Hall'. This is mainly used for parties, discos and small clubs such as the indoor bowls. The building that used to be used was the 'Traill Hall'

More modern industry in the village includes manufacture of food-storage freezers, which used to be known as Norfrost but is now Ice Tech, employing many Polish workers.

Castletown is the main settlement in the parish of Olrig.

[edit] Local government

Castletown is in the Caithness North West ward of the Highland Council, which elects one councillor by the first past the post system of election. New wards, and single transferable vote elections, are to be introduced in 2007. Castletown will then be within the Landward Caithness ward, which will elect four councillors.

[edit] Sport

Castletown do have a football team who are Castletown FC. Their strip is almost identical to that of Glasgow Celtic. The pitch is regarded as the best in Caithness and Sutherland, and many Highland finals are held at the venue.