Image Details
This photograph was taken in Poolewe from the bridge over the River Ewe, looking south, and on the left to the area of Poolewe known as Riverside. Riverside is a popular walk with both locals and tourists, offering easy walks along the river, and beyond, to sterner tests of fitness with much longer walks into the wilderness.
The River Ewe is actually the shortest river in Scotland, running only three kilometres from where it begins at Loch Maree, to its end where it flows into Loch Ewe. From the other side of the bridge it is only 100 metres to where the River Ewe meets Loch Ewe.
It has long been known as a fisherman's river, and for permits to fish on this river contact should be made with Inveran Estate. There are many famous pools on this river, and starting at the bridge, there are the Sea, Lady's, The Hen House, The Flats, The Manse, Ken's, The Ash, McCordie's, Lower, Middle, and Upper Narrows pools, most of which are reached from the bank, or with thigh waders.
Following a few days of heavy rain the river can make a considerable noise as it runs in spate down from Loch Maree, and is spectacular to look at! There is an excellent book, The River Ewe, by Kenneth C MacKenzie, containing a great deal of interesting history concerning the River Ewe, and much detail of interest to the keen angler.
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.
Inveran; In Gaelic it is Inbhirean, meaning the ‘little’ estuary where the waters of Loch Kernsary fall into the northern end of Loch Maree.
Loch Ewe; Professor Watson said “that he had taken iu, with hesitation, from the Irish eo, thus ‘Loch of the yew tree’; the fact that Tobar na h-Iu in Nigg showed the article is practically decisive in favour of iu being there at least a Gaelic word. No Pictish name is accompanied by the Gaelic article. But the Ewe may be a Pictish name derived from the same root, or from a totally different one.”
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.
River Ewe; The River Ewe, Gaelic, Abhainn lu. Professor Watson said “that he had taken iu, with hesitation, from the Irish eo, yew tree ; the fact that Tobar na h-Iu in Nigg showed the article is practically decisive in favour of iu being there at least a Gaelic word. No Pictish name is accompanied by the Gaelic article. But the River Ewe may be a Pictish name from the same root, or from a totally different one.”
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