Tongue, Highland
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2008-03-22T21:49:27Z
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{{infobox UK place
|country = Scotland
|official_name= Tongue
|gaelic_name= Tunga
|scots_name= Tunga
|population = 1,000+
|os_grid_reference= NC591570
|map_type=Scotland
|latitude=58.47839
|longitude=-4.41799
|unitary_scotland= [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]
|lieutenancy_scotland= [[Sutherland]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]]
|constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]] constituency in the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament region)|Highlands and Islands]] electoral region
|post_town= LAIRG
|postcode_district = IV27
|postcode_area= IV
|dial_code= 01847
}}
'''Tongue''' ([[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]: ''Tunga'' from Old Norse ''Tunga'' ) is a coastal [[village]] in northwest [[Highland (council area)|Highland]], [[Scotland]] (in the western part of the former county of [[Sutherland]]. It lies on the east shore above the base of the [[Kyle of Tongue]] and north of the mountains [[Ben Hope]] and [[Ben Loyal]].
The area was an historic crossroad for Gaels, Picts and Vikings, and it was the last group who named it. "Tongue," in this case, is from the [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] "Tunga." Contrary to popular belief, it does not refer to the shape of the Kyle of Tongue (though the kyle ''can'' be described as "tongue-shaped"), but 'tunga' as a geographical term refers to a piece of land shaped like a spit or tongue. That particular piece of land, on which the village and the kyle are located, is the terminal [[moraine]] of the Kyle of Tongue glacier.
Tongue is the main village in a series of [[crofting]] [[township]]s, that run through [[Coldbackie]], Dalharn, Blandy, the harbour of Scullomie to the deserted township of Slettel. The village saw a key battle between a [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] treasure ship and two ships of the Royal Navy in [[1746]], which resulted in the Jacobite crew trying to slip ashore with their gold. They were then caught by the Navy, supported by local people who were loyal to [[George II of Great Britain|Hanover]], which cost [[Bonnie Prince Charlie]] valuable support in the run-up to [[Battle of Culloden|Culloden]].
Tongue House is the historic seat of the [[Clan Mackay]], after they abandoned [[Varrich Castle|Caistreal Bharraich]] (Castle Varrich). The ruins of the castle, built at Tongue in the [[eleventh century]] after the clan were expelled from their ancestral Province of Moray to County Sutherland, are a popular tourist attraction.
The Village includes a youth hostel, a craft shop, a general store and garage, a bank and a post office and two hotels the Tongue Hotel and the ben. It is connected to the west side of the Kyle by a causeway, built in 1971.
In Gaelic - 'Tunga' indicates the village; whereas ''Caol Thunga'', indicates the kyle.
[[Image:Castle varrich.JPG|thumb|left|Castle Varrich and the Kyle of Tongue]]
[[Category:Sutherland]]
[[Category:Villages in Highland]]
{{Highland-geo-stub}}
[[nl:Tongue]]