Image Details
For over two years Highland Council's road builders laboured over the construction of a wide modern road to replace the old single track road that meandered through Glen Docherty. The old single track road simply followed the footpath that had been created over hundreds of years by the people who had lived in the West Highlands.
I had great misgivings about this and felt that the glen would lose its character and be left with a great gash of a road that would split and spoil this magnificent vista. The contractors began their work at Achnasheen, the start of the single track road, and several miles away from the Glen.
It was over a year before the approaches to the Glen were reached, it was a major undertaking through rough terrain, and I was pleased to see that this stretch was being carefully landscaped to the surrounding land and some beautiful walling at the road sides was being constructed.
Eventually, on completion of the stretch of road through Glen Docherty, and allowing time for nature to do its work, the impact of the new road was much less than I had feared. The only down side is that it now enables fast driving through this wonderful landscape giving less to time to savour its beauty. However for those who have to travel through here regularly on business I appreciate that for them this is a vast improvement.
This photograph was taken from near the viewpoint and is looking North-west to Loch Maree.
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.
Achnasheen; Gaelic Ach-na-sìn meaning ‘field of storm; sìan, stormy weather.
Glen Docherty; Listed by Professor Watson as Glen Docharty; Gaelic Gleann Dochartaich, from the negative prefix do and cartach, ‘scoury’, or ‘place of scouring’; ‘Glen of evil (i.e., excessive) scouring’ which describes it well.
Loch Maree; Gaelic Loch-Ma-rui(bh), Loch of St Maelrubha, an Irish monk who came to Scotland in 671A.D founding a church in Applecross before coming to Loch Maree where he founded another church on the island now known as Isle Maree. Professor Watson writes in his ‘Place names of Ross & Cromarty’ on page 230 “That Loch Maree was formerly called Loch Ewe is clear from the fact that the River Ewe issues from it, that Kinlochewe (meaning ‘Head of Loch Ewe’) stands at its upper end, and Letterewe on its north side”.
Images; Copyright © Gordon C Harrison All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Moral rights asserted in all countries and under any acts that may require such assertion.