Something I noticed while exploring Caithness for the first time were the overlapping flagstone dykes that could be seen in various locations across the landscape. Flagstone is a type of sandstone, and the cut stones had been hammered side on into the ground. They withstood the winds better than conventional post and wire fences. Flagstone was quarried locally and used industrially for numerous functions, building, pavements, fireplaces etc. Some was exported and flagstone pavements are evident in many of our cities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. The flagstone quarried locally in Caithness, had wonderfully varied surface patterns, some appearing almost fossilised.
One very dreich ( miserable ) day I spotted this group of cattle sheltering behind the remnants of one. It summed up how atmospheric and bleak the landscape up there can be. I went back years later and bought a chunk to use as a fireplace in my home in East Lothian. It still gives me pleasure every time I light the fire.