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The southern shore of Loch Torridon is carved into many fine bays such as in the above photograph. Projecting from the southern shore is a long thin peninsula named Sròn an Dubh-aird and together with the broader wooded peninsula to the left has formed a very sheltered bay. The bay is called Ob Gorm Mor and this is Gaelic for the 'big green bay'. It is fed by a small freshwater stream, and that combined with the shelter makes for good conditions for mussels to grow. It is also an excellent anchorage for small ships which visit Loch Torridon.
There are within this bay rows of buoys from which ropes are suspended on which mussels grow. The buoys appear as three curving white lines running across the small bay and because I felt they were very distracting in a landscape photo, I removed them.
The peninsulas on either side of Ob Gorm Mor were the site of a thriving fishery from the late 18th century until its demise at the beginning of the 20th century. John Knox in his "Tour through the Highlands of Scotland" writes in 1787: -
"Here (Loch Torridon) are several anchoring places and 2 good harbours, called Great and Little Ardmore, with water from 4 to 14 fathoms, and good anchorage. They are situated contiguous to each other on the south side of the loch, near fresh water and at the bottom of sloping country, which though covered at present with heath could be cleared and drained with great facility.
Here Mr Mackenzie has erected a large and commodious curing house after the model of those on the coast of Labradore and other northern parts of America. It is the first of the kind that has been erected in Scotland. The principal design of the building is to dry cod and ling in any weather under cover, an improvement of the greatest importance in that watery climate.
The buildings have likewise all manner of conveniences for curing herrings, a branch that may be carried on to any extent, for which employ, nature has formed a creek where some hundred boats may lie in perfect safety, under any winds, from whatever quarter they blow."
Beyond the bay is Loch Torridon and on the opposite shore are seen the impressive mountains of Beinn Alligin, Beinn Dearg, and Liathach. Also on the opposite shore, beginning on the extreme right of the photograph, the village of Torridon is situated below the precipitous slopes of Liathach, and on the left of the photograph is the village of Inveralligin.
There are many fine sea lochs in the North-west Highlands of Scotland and Loch Torridon must be considered one of the finest for presenting dramatic and delightful scenery.
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.
Beinn Alligin; Listed as Beinn Ailiginn by Watson. This mountain is named after the stream Abhainn Alligin The name Alligin is usually connected with àilleag, a jewel, a pretty woman which may possibly be correct but Professor Watson says the single l in àiliginn is a serious difficulty.
Beinn Dearg; Gaelic; ‘the Red Hill’.
Inveralligin; Gaelic Inbhir-àiliginn which proves Alligin to be a stream name. The name Alligin is usually connected with àilleag, a jewel, a pretty woman which may possibly be correct but Professor Watson says the single l in àiliginn is a serious difficulty.
Liathach; Gaelic, ‘the hoary place’.
Loch Torridon; Professor Watson gives a detailed account of Torridon starting with the recorded history of this name – Torvirtayne 1464; Torrerdone 1584; Gaelic Toir(bh)eartan compare with the Irish tairbheart, to transfer, carry over, the infinitive of tairbrim. This would give the place the meaning of ‘place of transference’ with reference to the portage from the head of Loch Torridon through Glen Torridon to Loch Maree. The name applies specially to the strip of land at the head of the loch.
Ob gorm mor; Ob, Gaelic, for ‘Big green bay’.
Sròn an Dubh-aird; Listed as Dubh-airde by Professor Watson, ‘the black promontory’. The version on the OS Map Sròn an Dubh-aird would translate as the ‘point of the black promontory’ from the Gaelic SrònI, ‘point’.
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