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From Achnasheen the main A832 road follows the shores of Loch a' Chroisg then climbs to the head of Glen Docherty, and shortly after beginning the descent down this dramatic Glen, the most fantastically beautiful view looking towards Loch Maree presents itself. This view, stretching 28 kilometres from the head of Glen Docherty to the hills at Tollie not far from Poolewe, is one of the finest views of the area. For those driving, there is a viewpont where one can pull off the road to relax and enjoy the view.
The West Highlands were subject to much volcanic activity. This ceased about 50 million years ago and the landscape was subsequently carved by glaciation from around 1.8 million years ago to the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Glen Docherty's 'U' shaped glen is typical of a glen created by glaciation.
The twisting single-track road in this photograph, a route followed by travellers through this glen for centuries required drivers to drive at slower pace here. Why should anyone want to hurry through such a glorious setting! This road has been replaced in 2007 by a modern road which has been sympathetically contoured into the glen and carefully landscaped. I had been concerned that it would be a gash running straight through the glen, but I have to say that the new road blends in well with the landscape. A new photograph with the modern road will be added to this gallery once the vegetation has had time to grow some more.
On the far right at the top of this photograph the snow-capped peak of Slioch can just be seen, then further north there is snow-capped Beinn Airigh Charr's peak . At the far end of the loch, Isle Maree is clearly visible.
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.
Beinn Airigh Charr; Gaelic. Listed by Watson as Binn Airigh a’ Charr and explained as ‘hill of the shieling of the projecting rock or shelf’. Listed in Dixon’s ‘Gairloch & Guide to Loch Maree’ as Beinn Aridh Charr its meaning is given as ‘the mountain of the rough shieling’ from the following roots; Beinn, ‘mountain’, aridh (accepted spelling is àirigh), ‘a shieling’, charr, a corruption of garbh, ‘rough’.
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.
Isle Maree; See Loch Maree.
Loch a' Chroisg; Gaelic; listed as Loch Rosque in Professor Watson’s book 'Place Names of Ross & Cromarty'; ’Chroisg from crasg, a crossing. The crossing referred to is that from Kinlochewe through Glen Docharty (now Docherty), and so on to the low lands.
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”.
Poolewe; Gaelic Poll-iù, ‘the pool on the Ewe river’; Professor Watson states that the village was called by the natives in his time Abhainn Iù, Ewe River. He also said that Ewe, Gaelic iu, he had taken, with hesitation, from Irish eo, ‘Yew Tree’, but concedes that it may in fact be a Pictish name.
Slioch; Gaelic an Sleaghach; Here sleaghach is a noun. The base can hardly be other than sleagh, a spear, but the application is far from clear.
Tollie; Gaelic is Tollaidh, ‘place of the holes’, there are also Tollie Farm, Tollie Bay, Tollie Rock, Tollie Burn and Loch Tollaidh
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