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Over twenty years ago I made my first visit to Plockton on a train based holiday. My wife and I had travelled from Glasgow to Inverness and from there we took the train over to Scotland's west coast . The railway journey from Inverness heading west is well worth doing just to sit and relax as you are transported through the West Highland mountains and lochs.
We took the train to the end of the line, Kyle of Lochalsh, and used that as a base for a few days. There are lots of walks to take from there, and in those days there was also the Skye ferry that could be used (free for passengers) to get you over to the island.
On one of our days out we decided to take the train from the Kyle to Plockton and spend the day exploring the village and it's surroundings. The day was very misty and cool and after walking down from the station to the village this was the first view I had of Loch Carron as viewed from Plockton. It is beautiful in the mist. I would have been amazed if I had been told that within an hour we would be enjoying a warm sunny day in brilliant sunshine!
We didn't know on our arrival that this was the annual Plockton gala day. As the day progressed the activities began with boat races on the loch and various forms of street entertainment. Later in the day Bill Black's Scottish band set up outside the Plockton Hotel in Harbour Street and tourists and locals alike put on their dancing shoes to enjoy Scottish dancing in the street.
Any time a car appeared and tried to make it's way through the dancers Bill Black would call out to the driver, "C'mon, get aff the dance flair!"
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.
Kyle of Lochalsh; Kyle is derived from the gaelic Caol meaning ‘narrow’ generally referring to areas where waterways narrow. For the meaning of Lochalsh see Loch Alsh.
Loch Alsh; In Gaelic it is Loch Aillse reputedly meaning ‘foaming lake’ or ‘loch of spume’. However, Professor Watson traces its roots back to Ptolemy who called it Volsas or Volsas Bay. The Professor states that the modern Gaelic favours an origin from Volsas, and that Dr A MacBain would connect it with a root vol, to roll, as a wave.
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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