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As you go round the Applecross peninsula settlements are few and tiny. This small village, Ardheslaig, is situated on a peninsula jutting out into Loch Shieldaig.
Beyond the village and Loch Shieldaig is another peninsula, beyond which is Loch Torridon. The two dominant mountains are Beinn Alligin and Liathach.
This view was taken only about 100 yards from the single track road and Highland Council is to protect the views at Ardheslaig from the main road. They have published a PDF about this as part of the 2006 Wester Ross Local Plan.
North-west Highland Place Names
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. In listing the meanings of place names I have relied on authoritative sources wherever possible. For further information about sources please refer to North-west Highland Place Names in the main menu.
Applecross; For a full explanation of the origin of this name the reader is referred to Professor Watson’s excellent book – click ‘North-west Highland Place Names’ in the main menu for further information. Summing up his comments it appears that the name means the ‘estuary of the Crosan’ which is the river (Abhain Crosan) that flows into Applecross Bay. The word Crosan is of uncertain origin but is assumed to be Pictish, meaning unknown.
Ardheslaig; The name Ardheslaig has Gaelic and Norse roots. Norse hesla-vik means ‘hazel bay’, and with the Gaelic ard added the name means ‘the point of the hazel bay’.
Beinn Alligin; Listed as Beinn Ailiginn by Watson. This mountain is named after the stream Abhainn Alligin The name Alligin is usually connected with àilleag, a jewel, a pretty woman which may possibly be correct but Professor Watson says the single l in àiliginn is a serious difficulty.
Liathach; Gaelic, ‘the hoary place’.
Loch Shieldaig; In Gaelic it is Sìldeag derived from the Norse síld-vík meaning ‘herring bay’.
Loch Torridon; Professor Watson gives a detailed account of Torridon starting with the recorded history of this name – Torvirtayne 1464; Torrerdone 1584; Gaelic Toir(bh)eartan compare with the Irish tairbheart, to transfer, carry over, the infinitive of tairbrim. This would give the place the meaning of ‘place of transference’ with reference to the portage from the head of Loch Torridon through Glen Torridon to Loch Maree. The name applies specially to the strip of land at the head of the loch.
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