Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Sutherland, Scotland

The old crofting county of Sutherland is situated in the far northern Highlands of Scotland. It is bordered to the south by the county of Ross-Shire and to the north-east by the county of Caithness. The population of Sutherland is 14,000, a density of around 2 people per square km, making it the least densely populated county in the UK. It was the early Viking settlers who came to Caithness that named everything to the south "The Southlands" which is how Sutherland came by its name. Sutherland is made up a number of small communities amongst which there is Brora, a fishing village with a rich and industrial heritage, Kinlochbervie, which is a crofting community stretching around the northern shore of Loch Inchard, and Tongue, which is one of the main villages on the north coast of Sutherland. The estate agents in Sutherland say the principal settlements of Dornoch, Golspie, Brora and Helmsdale march in sequence up the eastern coast, on the Moray Firth. Lairg guards the centre of the county, gateway to the north and west. Lochinver, Kinlochbervie and Durness are the principal settlements in the rugged northern and western area. People searching for property for sale in Sutherland will discover the count’s main industries include tourism, call and contact centres; construction; agriculture; aquaculture; and sea fisheries. The south and east of the county are just an hour from Inverness and its airport, and easy to commute to. There is a good selection of houses for sale in Sutherland, including cottages, farmhouses, bungalows, modern detached family homes, town houses, croft houses, and working farms.

Amenities for properties in Sutherland

Families considering Sutherland property will discover education in the county is well catered for. The Highland Council provides 22 primary schools and four secondary schools, and there is provision for special needs, and Gaelic is also taught. The North Highland College (part of the proposed university of the Highlands, UHI) offers education and training in a wide range of subjects, and there is a network of Local Learning Centres. Shopping in the small towns and villages in Sutherland is generally restricted to small convenience stores and individual shops. There are a limited number of supermarkets in the county, with Morrisons in Alness and Tesco in Wick. The nearest large town is Inverness, which has a large shopping centre, supermarkets, restaurants, arts and culture. For the active looking to buy property in Sutherland, there are a wide range of pursuits from horse riding and pony trekking, surfing, sail boarding, land yachting, kites and kite buggying, sub-aqua diving and sailing and places to climb and walk. There are several good golf courses in the county, including Brora, an 18 hole links course designed by James Brai, a 9 hole course in Helmsdale, and Royal Dornoch - another links course made famous by Tom Watson.

Whilst visiting Sutherland during the cold clear winter months and late Autumn months you will be certain to see the Northern lights -"Aurora Borealis" - considered to be one of the world's most magnificent natural phenomena.

In the height of the summer, the hours of daylight are long and it may not get dark until after 11pm, particularly the further north you travel. In winter, daylight hours are reduced to around 7 hours at the lowest point in December.

Transport for Sutherland

If you are searching for houses for sale in Sutherland, the county has modern travel and communications connections with the rest of the country. The main A9 trunk road links Sutherland to Inverness and the south, as does the railway line. There are airports within easy reach at Inverness and Wick. Sutherland is easy to get to and yet once you are there the residents say you feel that you are a million miles away from the rest of the world.

Surrounding areas

While searching for property to buy or property to rent in Sutherland, you may like to extend your search and explore neighbouring counties for property for sale in Morayshire, Ross-Shire and Caithness.