File:Rumsdale Shepherd's House - geograph.org.uk - 1429922.jpg

English: Rumsdale Shepherd's House The ruin of a 19th century shepherd's house.

The following additional information has been contributed by Christina Baldwin whose McLeod ancestors were shepherds here: Rumsdale, Caithness has been a place of human habitation for centuries. Rumsdale was not exempt from the major land use changes of the early 19th century, initiated by Sir John Sinclair. Small tenants were removed and a large sheep farm stocked with Cheviot sheep was established. When Sir John Sinclair got into financial difficulties, James Horne assumed the title of the Langwell estates in 1813, and then added Rumsdale to his holdings. Horne saw it would be advantageous to him to use Rumsdale as summer grazing for the Langwell flocks, prior to the annual drive to the autumn sales in Lairg or further south. Donald Horne, James's nephew was engaged in ‘improving’ the lands of Rumsdale. In 1822 he removed six Rumsdale tenants. On the death of James Horne in 1830 Donald inherited his uncle’s properties. In 1841 Donald Horne bought Benalisky and added that to Rumsdale. In 1855 the Rumsdale property (including Benalisky and Glenmore) was 11,397 acres and was carrying 1600 sheep in summer and about 500 over winter – wethers probably. The Glutt of 6766 acres was also the property of Donald Horne. He sold both properties to Sir Tollemache Sinclair in 1863 for a total figure of £16,500 John McLeod was born in Farr, Sutherland in 1795 but moved to the Borgue of Ausdale (Ousdale) which his father Donald McLeod tenanted for many years. About 1804 Ausdale was cleared by Sir John Sinclair, with many tenants moving to nearby Badbea in the harshest of conditions. John McLeod took work as a young shepherd at Uagbeg (now Wag). John fell in love with orphaned resident of Badbea, Christina Sutherland. They married in Kildonan in 1822 and moved to Rumsdale where John McLeod was the chief shepherd. John and Christina McLeod settled in and were faithful shepherds at Rumsdale for the next 44 years. Eleven McLeod children were born and reared at Rumsdale. Family legend tells of the sons helping take sheep on the old droving tracks, south to the sales. Census returns show farm staff also residing with the busy McLeod household at Rumsdale. Daughter Mary McLeod married Donald Ross who also gained employment as a shepherd on Rumsdale. In 1855 sons William and James McLeod emigrated to the Wairarapa, New Zealand and became successful sheep farmers there. Over time seven of the McLeod sons and daughters became New Zealand citizens. The McLeod family bonds established at Rumsdale continue to this day in New Zealand and Caithness.

When Rumsdale changed hands in 1863, John and Christina McLeod retired to Rangag. John died in 1869 and Christina in 1872. The body of each was carried across old coffin trails to the Dalnawillan cemetery, for burial near to Rumsdale, the place they had spent the busiest and best years of their lives.