Freswick (/ˈfrɛzɪk/ FREZZ-ik[1]) or Skirsa, is a small remote hamlet, overlooking Freswick Bay to the east, in eastern Caithness, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.[2] The village of Skirza lies directly northeast of Freswick.
Freswick | |
---|---|
Remains of Buchollie Castle | |
Freswick Location within the Caithness area | |
OS grid reference | ND3667 |
Council area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
The name Freswick probably originates from the Old Norwegian Frøysvík meaning 'Freyr's bay'. Current Fresvik is a village in Norway. It is also suggested that Freswick stemms from 'Frisians' wick',[3] similar to the toponyms Vreeswijk and Friezenwijk[4] in the Netherlands. There is a connection with former Frisia and Freswick concerning early-medieval brooches that have been found. A fragments of Viking-Age fibula, so-called penannular brooch type, found at Freswick by Bremner in 1939 has similarities to a fibula fragment found at the hamlet of Hallumerhoek, province Friesland in the Netherlands.[5]