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The first time I ever visited Plockton, many years ago, I arrived by train and the village was shrouded in mist. Nothing of the fine surrounding landscape could be discerned. However, within the hour this tranquil mistiness had given way to brilliant sunshine.
Twenty years have elapsed since that first visit and the same conditions repeated themselves on this one, although on this occasion it took rather longer for the mist to clear from Loch Carron. This was because I arrived in Plockton at 5am! I was hoping to photograph landscapes in the early morning light that reveals so much of the land's shape. I was very disappointed in that regard, all the preceding day's weather forecasts had omitted to mention the banks of thick sea fog that would envelope the west coast.
However, it's an ill wind that blows no good, and the day turned out to be a super one for harvesting images. As the mist started to lift many excellent photographic opportunities started to appear, and ultimately the surrounding landscape was bathed in sunshine while the sea lochs were still swathed in sea mist.
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.
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 Carran, 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.
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