Behind the statue is Marrel Hill (Creag Marail) and the crofts on the steep brae of West Helmsdale.

"The Emigrants commemorates the people of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who, in the face of great adversity, sought freedom, hope and justice beyond these shores. They and their descendants went forth and explored continents, built great countries and cities and gave their enterprise and culture to the world. This is their legacy. Their voices will echo forever thro the empty straths and glens of their homeland."

Thus reads the inscription on the "The Emigrants" statue in Couper Park, overlooking the village (and harbour) of Helmsdale in the Parish of Kildonan and the County of Sutherland in Northern Scotland.

The statue depicts a kilted father leading his child forward towards the North Sea, while the mother looks back wistfully at the Strath (Gaelic: wide valley) of Kildonan from whence they have come.

You really need to visit the site, look westwards (as does the mother) to the beautiful green strath and then seawards (as does the father) to the seemingly endless grey sea, to fully feel the sentiments expressed in the statue.

In September 2008 a matching statue, known as the Selkirk Settlers Monument, was unveiled in Winnipeg, Canada (Many members of the Red River Settlement there came from the Parish of Kildonan in Sutherland, which explains why so many towns/villages - now suburbs of the City of Winnipeg - contain the word Kildonan in their names)

you can read more about the statue, and its background, in:

<a href="http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/emigrants_statue.htm" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/emigrants_statu...</a>