Stage Five: Spittal Byres to Watten (7.2 miles/11.6 km)

Spittal Byres to Mybster = 1.5 miles/2.4 km

Mybster to Watten = 5.7 miles/9.2 km

From Spittal, return to the crossroads at Mybster. This is on the busy A9 and there is no alternative to the grass verges. The rest of the journey is on minor roads that are usually quiet.

Watten is a small village with a big history. It currently has a hotel, shop and garage with fuel pumps. It is on a bus route between Wick and Thurso. In recent history, its main claims to fame are that it was the site of an important prisoner-of-war camp during the Second World War and that it was the birthplace of Alexander Bain, inventor of the electric clock and fax machine (the clock can still be seen in the village hall). Long before that, Watten was an important religious centre with a joint monastery and convent and various sites nearbye associated with the early saints. The joint convent, well and monastery dedicated to Katherine lay to the West of the Church of Scotland manse. The Katherine would have been Katherine of Alexandria as there was a link between this saint and the Sinclairs, who were the local ruling family. (For details of this story, see under the heading of Catherine/Katherine in www.wickstferguschurch.org.uk/page16.html ) The same site will give you details of the other saints associated with Watten – Magnus, Tarlogan, Mary, Fumac.

For further information click here.