Highland Clearances Cottages On Visit To West Coast Of The Highlands Of Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video, with Scottish music, of Highland Clearances cottages and houses on history visit to the West Coast of the Highlands. In the history of the Highlands of Scotland sheep rearing was only introduced on any significant scale in the late 18th or more usually the early 19th century, by the estate owners. The way this was carried out is often regarded as a dark chapter in Scotland’s history, as the highland social structure was destroyed in the process. This is what is known as the Highland clearances, when the population of small farmers, known as Crofters, who used to raise black cattle and drive them in herds to the lowlands to sell were unable to produce enough rent to keep the estate owners satisfied. They were evicted from their homes, often with little regard for their well being, as their goods were thrown out of their small cottages which were then demolished. The people had to go to the cities, to emigrate or to live along the coasts while the whole of the interior of the Highlands was more or less depopulated and sheep flocks, managed shepherds from the lowlands were brought in to provide a more profitable enterprise for the estates. Many crofters emigrated to America, Canada and Australia.

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