| Gaelic name | Spainiadail |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Static image name | Old_mill,_Spinningdale_-_geograph.org.uk_-_598487.jpg |
| Population | 81 |
| Os grid reference | NH664901 |
| Coordinates | 57.88111°N 4.25352°W |
| Post town | Ardgay |
| Postcode area | IV |
| Postcode district | IV24 |
| Unitary scotland | Highland |
| Lieutenancy scotland | Sutherland |
Spinningdale (Scottish Gaelic: Spainiadail [1]) is a hamlet in the Parish of Creich, on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth in eastern Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies 5 miles (8 kilometres) northeast of Bonar Bridge and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.
As "dale" occurs at the end of the name, Spinningdale was probably originally a Norse name with dalr meaning 'valley' (unlike places beginning with "Dal-" which usually come from Gaelic Dail meaning 'meadow'). It may have come from Norse Spenja-dalr meaning attractive valley. [1] It was referred to as "Spanigidill" in 1464, the pronunciation of which bears a close resemblance to modern Gaelic.[2][3]
The A949 road, the old A9 before the 1991 opening of the Dornoch Firth Bridge, passes through Spinningdale.
On 1 February 2008 a fishing trawler named Spinningdale was wrecked on rocks near St Kilda.[4]
Notable residents
- James Robertson Justice, actor, lived in a cottage in Spinningdale from 1954 to 1970.[5]
References
- ^ "Spinningdale - Spainiadail". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
- ^
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ^ "Crew rescued from stricken boat". BBC News online. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ^ "Against The Wind: The Bluster Of James Robertson Justice | A Sketch Of The Past". Archived from the original on 2015-04-03.