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Leaving Ullapool and heading northwards the road climbs a long hill through an area known as Morefield. While the town of Ullapool was planned as a fishing village, Morefield in times past would have been a crofting community with it's long fields descending to the shore.
In this photo the remains of the dividing drystone walls are clearly seen. It is from the North that arguably the most dramatic views of Ullapool are found, with Loch Broom clearly visible and the majestic peak of Beinn Dearg beyond.
The official county border between Wester Ross and Sutherland is still a few miles distant, yet I always feel once I've reached the top of this hill, not far from this viewpoint, that I've left Wester Ross behind and the land now has a different feel.
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 Dearg; Gaelic; ‘the Red Hill’.
Loch Broom; The name Loch Broom is an anglicised version of its true Gaelic name which is Loch Bhraoin. Bhraoin means a 'drop of water or rain' and is named after the river Abhainn Bhraoin that flows from Loch a' Bhraoin high in the Braemore (Am Braigh Mor).
Morefield; Gaelic a’ Mhór-choille, meaning ‘the great wood’.
Sutherland; From the Norse Suðerland, that is ‘South Land’. It may seem odd that the far north of Scotland should have a name which means ‘South Land’, but if you were on Viking raiding party from Norway it would have been an obvious name to choose.
Ullapool; Gaelic is Ullabul derived from the Norse Ulli-bólstaðr meaning ‘Ulli’s stead’.
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