The village of Lairg stands on the south eastern shores of Loch Shin and is approximately 50 miles north of Inverness. The village’s strategic position, in the centre of Sutherland, makes it the hub of the northern highlands, with roads leading to Ullapool and Lochinver to the west, Durness and Tongue to the north and Dornoch and the A9 to the east. The railway station is approximately 2 miles to the south of the village.
In the early part of the 20th century the village benefited from the generosity of the landowner Sir Edgar Horne when it was one of the first places in the highlands to get electricity in 1924, and many other facilities followed. Although not now the bustling village it used to be, it is still the largest inland village in the north, and from its crofting heritage holds the largest one day sheep sale in Europe.
The other Christian churches in the village are the Free Church, the A.P.C Church, Lairg Christian Fellowship and the Episcopal Church, which holds its services in the Church of Scotland church.
The Primary School and Learning Centre are next to the Medical Centre and Dental surgery, along with the modern Community Centre. Secondary schooling is in Golspie, with bus transport provided, or alternatively in Dornoch. There are two food shops, petrol, a long establish sporting tweed shop, a hotel, restaurants, post office, chemist, pet shop, hairdresser and a small library, a Bank of Scotland with external ATM, and a caravan park. There are sailing and fishing Clubs on Loch Shin, and beside the Loch at Ferrycroft there is a visitors’ centre with forest walks, and a football pitch.
In June, Lairg has a Music Festival, in July there is Gala Week and in August the Crofters’ Show which celebrated its centenary in 2011. Traditionally there is an “open-air” service (inter-denominational) at the beginning of Gala Week. These events are well attended by the wider community. We also have the celebrated biggest lamb sale in Europe where people come from miles around to buy and sell and this a mainstay of our crofting community.
Lairg is benefiting from development funding contributed from the nearby wind farms.
Other facilities and events are available in the village, more information may be obtained from the web-sites listed below:
www.lairginitiative.co.uk www.visitlairg.com www.lairglearningcentre.org.uk