Path to grave of Lybster village founder cleared by Caithness volunteers

A path in Lybster leading to the grave of General Patrick Sinclair was cleared of overgrowth last weekend (Sunday 31st May, 2009) by the Caithness Countryside Volunteers and Highland Council’s Countryside Ranger.

Dieter Tuerlinckx, Highland Council’s East Caithness Countryside Ranger said: “It was a very hot day and my thanks go out to all the volunteers who turned up to help.

“The grave of Lybster village’s founder is a landmark, not only for the people of Lybster, but also for tourists looking for their ancestry. The local school have used it for excursions in the past.

“Impenetrable gorse bushes were completely blocking the path leading up to the grave and worming our way through this thorny obstacle and trying to locate the exact spot of the grave was quite an adventure. Fortunately we were successful in slashing and hacking our way to the burial ground, where Patrick Sinclair still rests in peace.

“The path is clear now, and hopefully it will get used more to keep it open for the future.”

The Sinclairs of Lybster have long roots running back to the Sinclair earls who ruled Caithness that was once a much larger area taking in much of Sutherland. Tracing further back, the family has connections to the Norwegian earls who controlled the north of Scotland for centuries.

For further information on the grave of General Patrick Sinclair see www.caithness.org.

If you are interested in joining the Caithness Countryside Volunteers, please get in touch with dieter.tuerlinckx@highland.gov.uk, or link on to the website caithnesscountrysidevolunteers.org

The Countryside Rangers are part of The Highland Council Planning’s and Development Service