^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Caithness, Scotland (United Kingdom)

image located by Jason Saber, 20 June 2015

Description of the flag
Flag selection process

Description of the flag

The new flag of Caithness was revealed today at a ceremony today in Wick.
Jason Saber, 26 January 2016

The Nordic cross symbolises the ancient ties of the county to the Vikings. The black recalls the county's geology with the famous Caithness flagstone, whilst the gold and blue refer to the beaches and sea to reinforce the maritime nature of the county and its heritage. In the first quarter is charged a galley, which is the traditional emblem of Caithness, including a raven upon its sail as it appears in the county's civic arms.
Source: http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/8712/public_vote_opens_to_select_a_flag_for_cait
Jason Saber, 20 June 2015

Flag selection process

Plans are a foot to establish a flag for the Scottish county of Caithness: http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Should-Caithness-have-its-own-flag-16052014.htm
Jason Saber, 18 May 2014

The Caithness flag competition has now reached voting stage. The competition attracted 327 entries and is a joint venture between the Highland Council, Caithness community councillors, the local newspaper The John O’Groats Journal and the Flag Institute, sanctioned by the chief Scottish heraldic authority, the Lord Lyon. The public may now vote on these four designs, each of which, the John O'Groats journal reports, “… drew on elements from more than one entry.” rather than being individual submissions.

You may vote for your favourite at this site http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/8712/public_vote_opens_to_select_a_flag_for_cait

The competition is set to run until the end of July 2015 with the winner being announced later in the year at which time Caithness will become the first mainland county in Scotland to acquire its own flag. Hopefully this will initiate further county flag adoptions across the country.
Jason Saber, 20 June 2015

Design A

Design B

The Pictish style wild cat head recalls the ancient Kingdom of Cat of the area. The triangle issuing from the hoist to represents the geography of the county as a peninsula jutting into the sea, the word ness meaning a promontory. Together the cat and triangle play upon the name of the county as 'Cat-ness'. The black colour recalls the county's geology with the famous Caithness flagstone, whilst the white chevron and blue field depict the sea to reinforce the maritime nature of the county and its heritage.
Source: http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/8712/public_vote_opens_to_select_a_flag_for_cait
Jason Saber, 20 June 2015

Design C

The galley is the traditional emblem of Caithness, including a raven upon its sail as it appears in the county's civic arms. The ship is depicted here in the canton to signify its importance with the remainder of the field depicting the sea to reinforce the maritime nature of the county and its heritage. The black canton refers to the famous Caithness flagstone.
Source: http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/8712/public_vote_opens_to_select_a_flag_for_cait
Jason Saber, 20 June 2015

Design D

The galley is the traditional emblem of Caithness, including a raven upon its sail as it appears in the county's civic arms. The ship is depicted here on the sea to reinforce the maritime nature of the county and its heritage, whilst the black background denotes the Caithness flagstone.
Source: http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/8712/public_vote_opens_to_select_a_flag_for_cait
Jason Saber, 20 June 2015

The new flag for Caithness will be unveiled on the 26th of January 2016. This will be the third Scottish County to adopt a flag after Orkney and Shetland and the first mainland county to do so.
John Moody, 12 December 2015