Kyle of Tongue, a narrow sea-loch or firth in Tongue parish, Sutherland, dividing the northern district of that parish into nearly equal parts. Opening from the North Sea at Ellan-nan-Ron, and containing in its mouth the small, low Rabbit Islands, it penetrates 9¼ miles south-south-westward, its breadth contracting from 2¾ miles to almost a point. It is encinctured by grand scenery, with the magnificent mountains of Ben Hope (3040 feet) and Ben Loyal (3504) overhanging its head; has shifting sandbanks and small depth of water, yet offers safe anchorage to even the largest vessels at the Rabbit Islands; expands, on the W side at these islands, into the beautiful, well-sheltered, smooth-beached Bay of Talmin, one of the chief fishing stations on the N coast of Scotland; and forms, on the E side, the creek of Scullamie, the retreat of a few fishing boats, easily convertible into a good small harbour.Ord. Sur., sh. 114, 1880.
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