The Battle of Altimarlach, 1680: A Late Clan Battle in Caithness

At a glance

Date	13 July 1680
War	Dispute over the Earldom of Caithness
Where	Altimarlach Burn, near Wick, Caithness
Winner	Campbell of Glenorchy
Loser	Sinclair of Keiss
Noted for	often called the last clan battle in Scotland

Background

Debt forced the 6th Earl of Caithness to resign his estates to his creditor, Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, who was then created Earl of Caithness. The Sinclair heir, George Sinclair of Keiss, disputed this and seized the lands; Campbell marched north to evict him.

The battle

Campbell used a concealed reserve; the Sinclairs, caught crossing the ravine of the burn, were broken and routed. Militarily Campbell won — but Sinclair won the war in the courts, was confirmed Earl of Caithness the next year, and Campbell was compensated with the title Earl of Breadalbane instead.

Numbers & legend: troop figures are wildly inconsistent (Campbell ~700–1,100; Sinclair ~400–1,500) and the casualties are traditional estimates — give a range, not a figure. The famous line that the pipers played the Campbells across the burn “dry-shod on the bodies of the dead” is folklore. “The last clan battle in Scotland” is a popular claim, disputed against Mulroy (1688).

The site today

A memorial cross stands near the field, with interpretation at Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. Not on the HES Inventory.

The clans & people involved

Clan Campbell of Glenorchy — victorious (with MacNab and MacIver by tradition).
Clan Sinclair of Keiss — beaten in the field, but victorious at law.

Sources

Battle of Altimarlach — Wikipedia; Calder’s History of Caithness (partisan).

📝 Kevin’s note: a photo of the Altimarlach memorial / the Wick River — add from our own visit.

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