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Viewed from the western shore of Loch Maree, Slioch completely dominates this scene. There is a section of road just south of the Bridge of Grudie where the road turns sharply due east, heading straight for the shores of Loch Maree, and to Slioch. As you drive this stretch of road Slioch seems to grow immensely, completely filling your field of view, and it never ceases to impress me no matter how often I repeat the journey.
To get this particular view I left the car and walked down to the shore, the little peninsula of Scots pines adding some foreground interest and colour. As is usual I waited some time until nice light and shade came along to enliven the scene. This view was shot in March, we still had snow and the grasses and bracken were still in their winter colours, which I personally prefer to the greens of summer.
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.
Grudie River; Gaelic, Abhainn Grùdidh. Professor Watson gives the following explanation; The root is most likely ghru, gritty, which is at the bottom of such words as grothlach, a gravel pit; grùdair, a brewer; grùid, the liver; allied with English grit, Welsh grut, grit or fossil. To sum up probably translates as ‘gravelly river’.
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”.
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.
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