Image Details
This scenically situated village in a well sheltered bay is popular both with tourists and with people who wish to have a second home.This particular shot was taken on a fleeting visit to Badachro, I had an appointment and hadn't much time to spare.
The nearest island, Eilean Tioram, has one home on it and is connected by a wooden walkway to the mainland at low tide, and the larger island that shelters the bay, Eilean Horrisdale, is also occupied.
Beyond Eilean Horrisdale is Loch Gairloch and the distant hills at the base of which is the village of Gairloch, in this view extending from Gairloch Harbour (right) to Lonemore.
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.
Badachro; from the Gaelic Bad a Chrotha which is defined by Professor Watson as the clump of the fold. Dixon’s Gairloch defines it as grove of the cruive, from bad, a grove; chro, possessive of cro, a cruive, a fank.
Eilean Horrisdale; According to Dixon’s ‘Gairloch & Guide to Loch Maree’ this is of Norse origin, that the correct name is Eilean Thorisdal which translates as ‘Island of Thorsdale i.e. dale of the Norse God of Thunder, Thor.
Eilean Tioram; Gaelic Tioram is dry, thus Dry Island, because it can be reached on foot at low tide.
Loch Gairloch; Gaelic An Gearr-loch, the short loch.
Lonemore; Gaelic; an Lòn Mór meaning 'the great damp meadow'.
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