Image Details
It was the last day in October and the low autumnal sun was creating nice lighting on the landscape. On a whim I decided to take a run down to Gairloch, specifically to photograph Flowerdale, the entrance to which is just opposite the harbour. I was cutting it fine, it is a half hour drive and I was getting concerned that I would miss the action!
As soon as I turned off the main road and into the small car park at Flowerdale I was presented with the most wonderful lighting on the autumnal scene showing Flowerdale House and the stream Abhainn Ghlas. I looked round to the sun, still just slightly above the hill behind me. I didn't have long before the shadow of the hill would blot out the light on Flowerdale.
Working quickly, but always taking time to use a tripod, I grabbed some shots. With some in the bag I relaxed and considered the next shot more carefully, and decided this time to include the small stream in the foreground. Next I decided to shoot a closer shot of Flowerdale House amongst the autumnal trees even light levels were dropping all the time. I got that too (it can be seen elsewhere on this website) and a minute later the light started to die. I certainly cut it fine this time.
The large house is Flowerdale House, historic seat of the Mackenzies of Gairloch. It was originally built in 1738 by Sir Alexander MacKenzie replacing the original Mackenzie residence on the estate referred to as 'An Tigh Dige' - The Moat House. The new house was extended considerably in 1904.
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.
Abhainn Ghlas; Gaelic for ‘Gray River’, a river running through Flowerdale to exit into Loch Gairloch. Although the village commonly referred to as Gairloch nowadays extends for several kilometers along the coast it is reputed that the original Gairloch was sited where Abhainn Ghlas exits into Loch Gairloch.
Flowerdale; Refers to the area in Gairloch around Flowerdale House. According to Professor Watson the Gaelic name is Baile Mór which he says translates as ‘Big-stead’. To me this implies it is referring to Flowerdale House, the seat of the Mackenzies of Gairloch, originally built in 1738 and at that time it was called Tigh Dìge, ‘the Moat House’. Professor Watson then goes on to say that at the time of writing his book ‘Place Names of Ross and Cromarty’ (1904) the house is called Tigh Dìge nan Gorm Leac, that is ‘Moat House of the blue flags’, i.e., roof slates, it was the first house in the area to be roofed with slates. Osgood Mackenzie (1842-1922), writing in 1922, explained the origin of the name Flowerdale. He said that the name was given by tourists on seeing the profusion of wild flowers in the Baile Mor Glen (Big Town or Village) but that during his life the house was only ever called Tigh Dige and the place in which it was situated Am Baile Mor.
Gairloch; Gaelic, village named after the loch of the same name, Loch Gairloch, An Gearr-loch, the short loch.
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