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In March 2006 we had our first decent snowfall for a while. It lasted for a few days gradually building up the snow depth, and finally when it stopped we were presented with a bright day, plus a few clouds to add some interest to the scenery. Off I went in search of winter landscapes, becoming rarer now even in my short time in the North-west Highlands. I just hoped the snow gates were not closed at Dundonnell; they weren't!
On leaving the coast at Dundonnell there is a very long climb to a height of about 350 metres, and up there, inland from the warmer coast, the weather can be dramatically different and the road impassable. However our local roadman had done a good job and driving conditions were fine. Eventually I reached Loch Droma, got out of the car, put on my backpack with my gear, and walked off to seek out a viewpoint.
As soon as I stepped into the snow it was up to my thighs, and walking became very hard work; a good pair of snowshoes would have helped. Loch Droma was beautiful, as it is in all conditions. It had completely frozen over and was now covered with a thick layer of snow. There is a little group of trees to the left, and in normal conditions this would be revealed as an island, and above those trees are The Fannich hills on which a herd of deer was foraging for food. In the far distance, on the right, is An Teallach, one of Scotlands great mountains.
I made the most of this opportunity by taking a variety of views of Loch Droma.
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.
An Teallach; Gaelic, ‘The Forge’, according to Wikipedia from its colour in certain lighting rather than its shape. From personal experience I can agree with this explanation. In the summer, during a good sunset, and when looking east over Gruinard Bay An Teallach can appear bright red with the reflected light from the sunset in the west. However Professor Watson says that the being called the forge is due either to its smoke like mists or from supposed resemblance to a forge.
Dundonnell In Gaelic Acha dà Dòmhnaill means the 'Field of two Donalds'.
Fannich; Fannich Hills, named from the loch of that name. Gaelic Fainich the meaning of which is uncertain. Watson has this to say:- In spite of its Gaelic ring Fainaich is rather an obscure and difficult word. Assuming that the ‘f’ is radical and does not represent an aspirated ‘p’ we may compare it with Welsh gwaneg a surge, gwanegu, to rise in waves, Welsh gw corresponding to Gaelic f, as in Welsh gwern, Gaelic fearn, alder. Another step backward would lead us to an early Celtic van- or ven-, which suggests a comparison with the Gaulish Lacus Ven-etus, now Lake of Constance, and the two Gaulish tribes of Veneti, both maritime. But the name is one in which it is unsafe to be positive.
Loch Droma; Gaelic; the Ridge Loch.
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