Image Details
A typical Wester Ross view with crowded mountains and lochs slicing through them for many kilometres inland, this photograph was taken from the hill Creag nan Garadh above Plockton looking more or less due east along the length of Loch Carron on Scotland's west coast
In the foreground can be seen Duncraig Castle just jutting up from the far side of the tree-covered peninsula. This was originally built in the 1860's as a grand baronial home. Since the death of the original builder, Sir Alexander Matheson, it has served a variety of purposes, including a naval hospital and a domestic science college. The castle is now privately owned once again and is available as accommodation for visitors who would enjoy the experience of living in a castle.
In this image, Loch Carron appears to split in two, but the loch apparently running off to the right is just a bay, while Loch Carron actually continues to the left in this photograph, eventually ending at Strathcarron. The West Highland railway runs right along the southern shore of this loch (right), and if you peer at the larger image you may just be able to make out the station at Duncraig down at the shore of the tree-covered peninsula (to the right of a small island). This makes this part of the West Highlands easily accessible even to those without a car.
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.
Creag nan Garadh; Also known as Greag nan Garraig, Gaelic for ‘rock of the dens’.
Duncraig; From the Gaelic Dùn Creige meaning ‘castle rock’ or ‘castle cliff’. The old name was am Fasadh, ‘the dwelling’.
Loch Carron; Named after the River Carron which enters this sea loch after a course through Glen-carron and Strath-carron. In Gaelic it is Loch Carrann, Carrann meaning ‘rough’. The root is kars-, rough, as seen in
Plockton; The Gaelic name is Ploc Loch Aillse meaning ‘the lump of Lochalsh’ this due to the humpy promontory which ends in Rudha-mór.
Strathcarron; The strath of the Carron – see Loch Carron.
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