Image Details
Although this loch is attractive from the roadside I wanted to get a broader view of the surrounding landscape at Shieldaig and Leacnasaide. I decided to climb through the rough and forested hillside south-west of the Shieldaig Hotel and once I gained open ground at the top of the hill I was rewarded with the above view .
In the foreground is the village of Shieldaig, the hotel being barely visible through the mass of trees in the foreground. Beyond is Loch Shieldaig in which is situated Eilean Shieldaig. On the far side of Loch Shieldaig is the Leacnasaide peninsula on which a few houses can be seen.
Beyond Leacnasaide is Loch Gairloch in which two more islands can be seen, the nearest (leftmost) being Eilean Horrisdale and further away the much larger Longa Isle. The distant peninsula on the far right of the photo is part of the mainland at a place called Big Sand.
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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.
Big Sand; According to Watson it s called in Gaelic Sannda Mhor, derived from the Norse Sand meaning ‘sand’ or ‘beach’. Dixon agrees on the meaning but quoted a different Gaelic name for the place, Sanda a chorran, ‘the sand of the shingly beach’.
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 Shieldaig; Named after Loch Shieldaig.
Leacnasaide; Gaelic Leac nan Saighead meaning ‘Flat Rock of the Arrows’. The story of the slaughter of the M’Leods by archery from this place is given in J H Dixon’s ‘Gairloch and Guide to Loch Maree’.
Loch Gairloch; Gaelic An Gearr-loch, the short loch.
Loch Shieldaig; In Gaelic it is Sìldeag derived from the Norse síld-vík meaning ‘herring bay’.
Longa Island; From the Norse Lung-ey meaning the ‘ship isle’. The passage between it and the mainland is called An Caol Beag, ‘the little narrow’.
Shieldaig; Village named after Loch Shieldaig. In Gaelic Shieldaig is Sìldeag derived from the Norse síld-vík meaning ‘herring bay’.
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