With only Caithness further to the north, this is one of the most northerly of Scotland's mainland counties. To the south lies Ross & Cromarty with which Sutherland shares the characteristic of traversing the country from North Sea to the Minch. Although being one of the largest counties in Scotland, it is sparsely populated with only the coastal fringes supporting most of the residents. The clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries have been well documented with Sutherland probably being most widely known - the Earl of Stafford and the Duke of Sutherland are titles that are not held in high regard by the Scots, Highlanders in particular. Many of the glens of Sutherland were cleared with the people "persuaded" to move to the coastal areas. Many of the fishing ports of Sutherlands east and west coasts were populated by these crofters, many of whom could not even swim. Towns and villages like Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, Berriedale, Dunbeath, Latheron and Lybster used to ha ... < more >