Bruan (

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

:) is a small crofting hamlet on the east coast of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

Lybster Lybster (, gd, Liabost) is a village on the east coast of Caithness in northern Scotland. It was once a big herring fishing port. The Waterlines heritage museum is located in Lybster Harbour and provides information on the history and geology o ...

Caithness Caithness ( gd, Gallaibh ; sco, Caitnes; non, Katanes) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. Caithness has a land boundary with the historic county of Sutherland to the west and is otherwise bounded by ...

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...

and is in the

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

council area of

the Highland The Highland is a historic multiunit residence at 66 Highland Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts. The three story brick building was built in 1892 to a design by architect Samuel D. Kelley. It is one of the city's more elegant late 19th-cen ...

. In 1845, the minister of Bruan in a famous sermon on the unjust

Highland Clearances The Highland Clearances ( gd, Fuadaichean nan Gàidheal , the "eviction of the Gaels") were the evictions of a significant number of tenants in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, mostly in two phases from 1750 to 1860. The first phase resulte ...

and the Highland Potato Famine stated: :''It is true we often see the wicked enjoy much comfort and worldly ease, and the Godly chastened them every morning; but this is a dreadful rest to the former and a blessed chastisement to the latter''.

Castle Gunn

Next to Bruan, and 7 miles south of

Wick Wick most often refers to: * Capillary action ("wicking") ** Candle wick, the cord used in a candle or oil lamp ** Solder wick, a copper-braided wire used to desolder electronic contacts Wick or WICK may also refer to: Places and placenames ...

, on a cliff-side rocky perch, lying parallel to the rocky coast, on the almost inaccessible isolated rock, are the ruins of Castle Gunn, which are considered the first castle of

Clan Gunn Clan Gunn ( gd, Na Guinnich) is a Highland Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern Scotland, including Caithness, Sutherland and, arguably, the Orkney Isles. Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans, being descended from the No ...

. At the time the castle was built, Clan Gunn were at the height of their power, and were thought to own the whole of Caithness. Snaekoll Gunnison was reputed to have built the castle. The castle is reputed to have been destroyed by the King of Norway, in revenge. The story goes that the King's daughter married a chief of Clan daughter, although the chief had already married and secreted his wife away in the Castle Gunn. When the second wife arranged to sail from Norway to the castle, the clan arranged for a beacon to be placed on a dangerous rock at

Ulbster Ulbster is a scattered crofting hamlet on the eastern coast of Caithness, within the parish of Wick, in the Scottish Highlands, within the Highland Council area. The town of Wick is located seven miles north of the village along the A99 road. To ...

, so wrecking the ship with all hands on board including the princess being killed. In revenge, the King killed the clan chief, and large number of Clan Gunn were slain.

References

Populated places in Caithness {{Highland-geo-stub