Meikle Ferry disaster

On 16 August 1809, in clear weather conditions, the overloaded ferry capsized and ninety-nine people died.

[1] This saved travellers between the towns of Dornoch and Tain a long land journey around the inlet.

[2] In the early 19th century, the ferry was a large boat capable of transporting carriages, horses and cattle with a yawl available for foot passengers.

At the time of the tragedy, the boats on the crossing were reported to be in a poor state of repair with frayed ropes, torn sails and defective rudders.

As many as forty people were turned away (partly at the suggestion of Sheriff Donald McCulloch of Dornoch) but this still left the boat overloaded.

[8] Of the drowned, fifty six belonged to Dornoch, twenty four to Creich, ten to Golspie, seven to Rogart and two to Lairg.

Witnesses remarked on the horror of the scenes and the dangerous efforts some people made to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones.

[citation needed] The sinking was witness by James Mitchell, a civil engineer who worked with Thomas Telford.

This was designed and built by Telford [2] The Dornoch Bridge was opened in 1991 and crosses close to the original ferry route.