The landscape of the North-west Highlands and the Gaelic language are intimately connected. Other languages have contributed to the richness of our place names, notably Norse, but the North-west Highlands have for centuries been a Gaelic landscape.
Place Name Sources
In listing the meanings of place names I have relied on authoritative sources wherever possible, including the following;
- 1. Professor W J Watson’s book ‘Place Names of Ross and Cromarty’ reprinted in 1996
- 2. Gaelic Place Names of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve (SNH/Roy Wentworth)
- 3. Place names of Loch Maree Islands National Nature Reserve (SNH/Roy Wentworth)
- 4. Gaelic in the Landscape published by Scottish Natural Heritage
- 5. Scottish Parliament Place Names A-B
- 6. Scottish Parliament Place Names C-E
- 7. Scottish Parliament Place Names F-J
- 8. Scottish Parliament Place Names K-O
- 9. Scottish Parliament Place Names P-Z
- 10. Apamapa, an introduction to Place Names by Nevis Hulme with an emphasis on the Gairloch Area.
- 11. Place names of Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Alex MacBain
- 12. Guide to Gaelic Origins of Place Names in Britain by Ordnance Survey
- 13. Scottish Place Name Society Index of Celtic and Other Elements in W.J.Watson's 'The History of the Celtic Place-names of Scotland'.
- 14 'Gairloch and Guide to Loch Maree' by J H Dixon.
Sources 2 and 3 above are not available on-line but can be purchased from Scottish Natural Heritage.
The source I use most often (because it covers all of Ross and Cromarty in considerable detail) is Professor Watson's 'Place Names of Ross and Cromarty'. Professor William J. Watson, 1865-1948, was a toponymist, that is one who makes a study of place names. He is considered by specialists, such as the Scottish Place Name Society, to have been the pre-eminent Scottish scholar in this field. I have a well thumbed copy of this excellent book but an online version has been published by the Internet Archive and it can be viewed by clicking the link in the list of sources given above.
The Apamapa website deserves a special mention. It concentrates on Wester Ross place names with a particular emphasis on the Gairloch area. Created by Nevis Hulme and also incorporating research conducted by Roy Wentworth from 1996-1999 it is the best resource available for place names in the area surrounding Gairloch. It also has a truly excellent introduction to place names and their study covering topics such as the history of and accuracy or otherwise of place names on OS Maps, and the correct pronunciation, spelling and grammar of the Gaelic language. This introduction illuminated for me many otherwise mysterious aspects of Gaelic place names and the language.
In some cases there are conflicting explanations for place names and where this is so I have listed the different explanations.
In a few cases I have been unable to find any explanation for certain place names and I have indicated where this is so. If anyone can add to the information given or suggest corrections to the place name explanations under each photograph I will be very happy to hear from them.
The place names have also been organized into lists as well as being explained under the photographs they relate to. Use the links below to access the appropriate list.