Emigrants Statue, Helmsdale: A Monument to Loss, Resilience, and Highland Identity

Overlooking the harbour in the small coastal village of Helmsdale, the Emigrants Statue stands as a solemn and striking tribute to those who were forced to leave the Highlands during the Clearances. Erected in the year 2007, the statue honours the thousands of people who were displaced from their homes in the 18th and 19th centuries and sent abroad, many of them from Sutherland and the surrounding glens.

Set against the vast backdrop of sea and sky, the statue is both a memorial and a message, reminding visitors of the emotional toll of emigration and the enduring strength of Highland communities.

A Family in Departure

The bronze sculpture, created by artist Gerald Laing, himself a Highland resident, depicts a family of four—a father, mother, and two children—turning back for one final look at their homeland.

• The father clutches a Bible, the mother wraps an arm around the younger child, while the elder child reaches out toward the hills

• Their faces show a mix of sorrow, determination, and uncertainty

• The piece powerfully captures the moment of leaving, when generations were scattered to places like Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand

This is not just a statue—it is a story carved in bronze, deeply tied to the identity of the Highlands.

Part of a Global Connection

The Helmsdale Emigrants Statue is part of a transatlantic pairing with a second sculpture in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where many displaced Highlanders eventually settled.

• Together, the two statues symbolise departure and arrival, honouring the journey and the cultural ties that still connect the Highlands to its diaspora

• The initiative was driven by Dennis MacLeod, a Canadian of Sutherland descent, whose generosity helped bring the project to life

A Place of Reflection

Set on a small hill beside the Timespan Centre and River Helmsdale, the statue is easy to access and deeply moving.

• Benches offer a place to sit and take in the sea breeze and solemnity of the site

• Interpretive plaques explain the historical context and artistic intent

• Many visitors leave stones or flowers at the base, turning the statue into a site of quiet pilgrimage

It’s an essential stop for anyone seeking to understand the deeper narrative of the Highlands beyond its landscapes—a moment to pause, reflect, and remember.