The Clan Mackay launched a raid from Strathnaver towards Thurso until they encountered resistance from the locals at Dounreay.

[2] The Mackays then pulled back to Sandside, where they were joined by reinforcements and slaughtered the defenders on the coast north of Reay.

There they were joined by the Mackay forces that had been posted on Drum Hollistan to protect their rear.

[4] Ian Aberach manoeuvred his opponents into a loop of the bay below Sandside House and slaughtered them around the ancient fort of Cnoc Stangar.

[4] A row of some 60 stones still standing at grid reference ND007660 in 1915 were said to mark the graves of some of those killed in the battle, but they had disappeared by 1964.