"Castle Varrich, Tongue". A postcard sent in 1910. The imprint says 'R. Garden, Tongue.'

Another view of Castle Varrich, by Humphrey of Wick.

Cape Wrath, a Lilywhite postcard. GWW took a similar image, but the distant boat on this one enhances the impact the headland makes.

"Coldbackie Bay." If you know where to look you can make out in the far distance, on the left, my parent's house at Talmine.

"Melness House, Talmine", with its fine view of Ben Loyal. A Raphael Tuck postcard. When we first came up to Talmine in the 1960s, we would rent this farmhouse for a couple of weeks in August each year.

"Ben Loyal from Kinloch." One of five rather faint postcards, presumably taken by an amateur. ....

"Watch Hill". Looking across the Kyle of Tongue. An interesting photo: the little specks on the sandbank appear to be people, probably collecting seafood. See William Daniell's aquatint of Ben Loyal, c1820.

Talmine Bay, with its small harbour, a sheltered spot for shipping, though here with no boats present.

Castle Varrich again...

...and a wider view of the Kyle. Photographer of these five images unknown.

Scullomie Harbour, Coldbackie. Note the cultivation proceeding on the right.

Tongue Ferry and Ben Hope

A scarce and interesting photo by W. Bell Jones. Presumably William, Postmaster of Hawarden in Wales who seems to have been much interested in local history. See the JISC record of his papers held at N.E. Wales Archives.

Three images of the Tongue Hotel, one with horse and carriage (Humphrey, Wick)....

...and another, with a car in attendance (R. Garden, Tongue). This card sent in 1910.

Here, the Hotel doing good business in the days of early motoring. Publisher unknown.

"The Clachan, Bettyhill." Note the ploughing, using a horse(?). Card by J.A. Munro, Bettyhill.

"Hope Lodge, Tongue." The Lodge looks down onto Loch Hope. Here, some sort of walled garden with gardner can be seen. Card dated August 1912.

"The New Dam on the Inver, Sutherlandshire." Card sent 1913. Imprint A. McKenzie, Lochinver. The exit from Loch Assynt into the Inver was dammed to control the amount of water flowing into the river.

"Ardureck [or Ardvreck] Castle on Loch Assynt. Famous as the place where the Duke of Montrose was held after his capture.

The Sutherland Arms Hotel, Lairg. A Horse and Cart awaits...(William Wallace, proprietor)

...and here, a car, the cart pushed to one side.

And here, cars sweep into the drive. My parents would be sad to know it was demolished in 2007 - it was a regular port-of-call on our way south.

"Loch Shin and Lairg." A postcard issued by the Sutherland Arms Hotel, Lairg, date unknown.

"Langwell, Invershin." Posted in 1907. More stooks...

A small sliver of Sutherland lies on the east coast. "Helmsdale, looking North-West." By McLeod, Helmsdale, posted in 1910.

"High Seas at Helmsdale Harbour, Sutherland." A later J.B. White postcard.

The heavy industry of Sutherland! Brora Colliery and Brickworks. A card posted in 1906.

Brora Colliery and Brick Works

A similar view, sent in 1927.

"Brora, looking South." A card sent in 1932, but probably the image is earlier.

I believe these two cottages now house the Rock Stop Cafe. The Stack of Glencoul is the hump in the distance, and the whole area is a geologist's delight. "A Wayside Cottage near Kyle Sku Ferry, Sutherland." A J.B. White card.

Another view of Glencoul, this a J.B. White photo. "At Kylestrome Pier, Sutherlandshire."

Kylestrome Lodge

This is an early 20th century postcard issued by W. McDonald, Scourie. Kylestrome Lodge overlooks what was the ferry at Kylesku.

"Kempy Bay & House." A rare card looking north on Loch Eriboll, with Ard Neakie in the middle distance. The fishing fleet are in.

The pier for the Heilem Ferry on the west shore of Loch Eriboll, with Ben Hope behind. The pier no longer exists in this form. "Heilem Ferry, Loch Erribol, Sutherland." J.B. White.

A very scarce image of the lighthouse at Loch Eriboll. The lighthouse is on the east side of the loch, not at the very mouth, but rather some 8kms to the south. It is now unmanned, and is the third structure to be placed there. This photograph is presumably of the first lighthouse, built in 1894.

"U.F. Manse and Church, Durness." GWW? A card posted in 1908. The sender had had a "great geological treat near Cape Wrath...A wonderful land for geological problems and scenery."

Two views of the picturesque Culag Hotel, Lochinver....

....This, a card by "A, Mackenzie, The People's Shop, Lochinver."

And this, a rare view of the rear of the Hotel, showing a well-cultivated kitcheb garden. Again, A. Mackenzie, Lochinver.

"The Post Office, Lochinver." Printed in Glasgow by J. Newman. Is that the postman in the distance?

"Loch Lagard and Ben Stack in the distance."

"Badcall Bay, Scourie, Sutherlandshire." A postcard for the Hotel at Scourie, proprietor W.E. Ross. The fish curing establishment can be seen on the left, middle distance.

Scourie Bay

A view, sent in 1921. Published by 'H. McLeod, Merchant, Scourie.'

"Stuck in a Snowdrift near Lairg, Rhean." Rhian lies to the north of Lairg.

"Motoring under difficulties near Lairg." The area to the north of Crask has always been tricky when snow fell. The Inn at Crask (the only habitation there) was always a useful refuge for the traveller.

"Kinbrace", posted in 1904. On the back, the writer describes Sutherland as "a wee bit wild." Not too wild for these cyclists though.

"The King of Spain Arriving at Dunrobin, 20.9.1928." He was a guest of the Duke of Sutherland, who can be seen waving on the edge of the pier.

"The Beach, Lochclash, Kinlochbervie." There are more photos of Kinlochbervie in my Kinlochbervie set.

Loch Inchard, Kinlochbervie

A very early postcard, publisher unknown.

"Talmine Bay." An early photograph, looking across to what is now called 'The Old Post Office' - the nearest house in this photo.

"Brora Harbour". A postcard sent in 1904.

The Harbour, Brora.

An early Valentine postcard, sold by J. Simpson, Brora.

"Naver Jetty". Strath naver, a postcard sent in 1917.

"Crossing the ford on the road to Cape Wrath, Sutherland." A photo by J.B. White - the car dates it to the 1930s I suspect.

"Fancy-dress Cycle Parade, Dingwall, 4th July, 1917." Good to see that even in the gloom of the First World War, some people managed some fun.

Forsinard Station, Mr Calder stationmaster

Unknown photographer.

Fishwives walking race Dornoch

An image published by R.R. Johnstone, Dornoch. No date.

Lairg from Ferry

A GWW postcard sent in 1905. There had clearly been a ferry at Lairg before the bridges were built.

On the Shin, Lairg.

There are now two bridges at Lairg. This was the pedestrian bridge over the River Shin, this an early 20thC postcard, published by SM Gibson & Co.......

Lairg Bridge

...and this was the road bridge, called the "New Bridge." The code on this WR&S card, 544/37 suggests perhaps 1937 vintage. The bridge depicted here was replaced in 1986 with the Black Bridge.

Bonar Bridge

The second bridge to be built here is visible in this early 20thC image published by G. Munro.

Bonar Bridge looking West

One of two LSS cards, this one sent in 1905.

Bonar Bridge West End

Another LSS image. The road is better now, and the grass verge gone.

Lairg Lamb Sales, Lairg, Sutherland.

An F&W postcard, subtitled "Pause for Reflection."

Part of Tarbert, Scourie.

A postcard published by H. McLeod, Scourie. Tarbert is sometimes spelt Tarvert.

Mail carts at Altnacealgach Hotel, Sutherlandshire.

Situated in a remote spot near Ledmore. There is still accommodation available there, though the building has been replaced following a fire.

Golspie rural scene

A card by J. Fraser & Son, Golspie, sent in 1911.

Fisherman's Cottage near Lochinver.

An FWH postcard.

The Kyle, Bonar Bridge

A postcard published by James Moir and sent in 1932.

Inchnadamph Hotel

A postcard issued by the Hotel, proprietor Morrison.

Herring, Inver

A very scarce postcard, pre-WW1. Is this Inver, the small village near Dornoch, or a scene near Lochinver on the west?

Portvasgo, Talmine

This must be one of the earliest photos of Portvasgo, the bay near Talmine. The card was published by R. Garden, Tongue. His shop in Tongue was sold to Gordon Burr in 1912.

Smoo Cave, Sutherland.

A postcard sent in 1936. "This depicts Beatrice outside a huge cave in Sutherland where we were fishing at the beginning of the month. The shop printed all my very mediocre snapshots onto postcards...."

Tongue ferry Ben Hope