Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Glencoe, Scotland, ranks among the most famous historic sites in Scotland, notable because of the infamous massacre, in 1692, of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, the smallest of the Clan Donald sects. Although worse atrocities involving greater slaughter have occurred during Scotland's turbulent past, the Massacre of Glencoe has earned a unique place in the lore of the Highlands because of its treacherous and brutal manner of execution. Tour Glencoe. Tour Scotland.
Glencoe and Beyond. This perceptive and informative study examines all these aspects and shows ultimately that chiefs, tacksmen, clansmen, and even southern sheep-farmers were all individuals reacting to the circumstances in which they found themselves, and that these circumstances themselves were characterised by a great deal of economic turbulence. It has been widely accepted in the past that sheep-farming in the Highlands was developed and undertaken by southern incomers; some modern historians have even dismissed the possibility that Highlanders could have become sheep-farmers because they lacked the necessary skill and capital. Ian S. MacDonald's meticulous research disproves this and illustrates that in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that while some southern sheep-farmers did indeed move into the Highlands, they were in fact greatly outnumbered by native Highlanders, who saw a future in sheep-farming, initiated it themselves, and pursued it vigorously, as is shown when the Minister of the Parish of Kilmanivaig wrote about sheep-farming in 1842: It is supposed that there are upwards of 100,000 sheep reared in this parish every year, Mr Cameron, Carychvilly [Corriechoille], the most extensive grazier in the north, stated a few years ago, that in the preceding year he had clipped upwards of 37,000 sheep, Mr Greig of Tullach [Tolloch], and the Messrs M'Donnell of Kappoch, are supposed to have each near 100 square miles under sheep: the one on the north and the other on the south banks of the Spean. Glencoe and Beyond: The Sheep-farming Years, 1780-1830.
Glens of Silence. During the last years of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth, tens of thousands of Highlanders were forcibly removed from land on which their families had lived for generations. Often evicted in the most autocratic and brutal manner, they were moved to marginal and unworkable areas, often on the coast, while the land from which they were wrenched was given over to large-scale sheep farming. Many were subsequently forced to make new lives for themselves in the Lowlands or colonies after their failure to make any kind of living on such unproductive soil, a dismal situation which was compounded by the potato famine of 1846. Stunning colour photographs depict the actual townships as they are today and the landscapes from which so many were banished, each conveying not only the natural beauty and colour of some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery, but also capturing the spirit of these places that witnessed such traumatic and shattering events. The Glens of Silence: The Landscapes of the Scottish Clearances.
The Story of Loch Ness. Known throughout the world for its legendary inhabitant, Loch Ness has inspired folklore and fascination in the hearts of those who visit it for centuries. But what of the characters, the history and the myths which enchanted inhabitants and travellers alike long before the first sightings of the so-called Loch Ness Monster? Katharine Stewart takes us on a journey through the past and the politics, the heroes and villains, and the natural beauties that are the true source of the magic of Loch Ness. Where did the name Loch Ness come from, and how did Cherry Island come to be? What can be said of the wildlife that makes its home around the loch? Who determined the fate of the Loch Ness valley as we know it today?
While the depths and secrets of Loch Ness may never be revealed entirely, Stewart provides the answers to these and so many other questions in this compelling guide to one of Scotland's most famous places. The Story of Loch Ness.
Fishing for Wild Trout in Scottish Lochs. A detailed study of the natural history of Scotland's trout. The ecological and social development of loch fishing is examined and the diversity of lochs and key factors affecting successful fishing. A section describing the legal implications of where one can fish is included. Fishing for Wild Trout in Scottish Lochs.
This book explains and interprets the origin of superstitions connected with Scottish lochs and springs. It sheds light on how these misinterpretations have come about and how the imagination can distort reality. Partial Contents: Worship of Water, How Water became Holy, Saints and Springs, Stone Blocks, Healing and Holy Wells, Water-Cures, Water-Spirits, Charm-Stones, Sun-Worship and Well-Worship, Wishing-Wells. Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs (1893).
Trossach Glens. The Glens of Trossach includes: Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, South Tayside and Lochearnhead, Callendar to Comrie and Crieff and the Ochil Hills. Trossach Glens: A Personal Survey for Mountainbikers and Walkers (Scottish Glens).
Lochs and Glens of Scotland. The part played by the last ice age in moulding and sculpting the landscape, and directing and redirecting the flow of rivers and lochs has given us much of our scenery, but the underlying structure was determined by earlier geological history. To this we owe the slabby magnificence of the Torridonian sandstones found in the North-west Highlands, the rugged grandeur of Glencoe, the granite plateau of the Cairngorms. The distinctive appearance of each stretch of country is due to the character of the underlying rocks. At Elphin in Sutherland, after travelling through wastes of peat and ancient rock and seeing those extraordinary sandstone structures Stac Pollaidh and Suilven, we come into a green haven, a patch of the limestone that outcrops from Durness on the north coast down to Skye. Further south, in Wester Ross, one can drive over the rugged desolation of the Bealach nam Bo, look across the Applecross peninsula, and come down to the jewel-like green of that ancient holy place, the sanctuary of Saint Maol Rubha, endowed with a more generous geology. Lochs and Glens of Scotland.
The Dambuilders: Power from the Glens. In the 30 years between the end of World War II and 1975, the construction schemes of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board changed the face of the Highlands and brought electricity to almost the whole of the country north of the Highland Line. Nothing on such a scale had been attempted before, and the "schemes", as they were called, symbolized far more than huge devices for the generation of electricity. Fired by the idealism of Tom Johnston, the Board's founder, the schemes brought regeneration and hope. This book is a vivid account of the schemes and includes eyewitness stories from many of the workers, from dam builders, engineers, tunnel tigers, linemen, who made the electrification of the Highlands a reality and now, often for the first time, tell what it was like. The names of the schemes, Loch Sloy, Glen Shira, Tummel-Garry, the Conon Valley, Glen Affric, Strathfarrar-Kilmorack, Glenmoriston-Garry, Shin, Breadalbane, Ben Cruachan - are vivid in the memories of all who worked on them, in an epic of hard physical labour in a beautiful landscape. By the time the last scheme was opened in Foyers in 1975, the engineers commissioned by the Board had built some 50 major dams and power stations, almost 200 miles of tunnel, 400 miles of road and over 20,000 miles of power line. The Board had to overcome adverse weather and thrawn geology, as well as political opposition. At the peak of construction the workforce numbered around 12,000 and included men from Ireland and many parts of Europe as well as indigenous Scots. They are all proud of what they achieved. The Dambuilders: Power from the Glens.
Glen Roy is the valley of the River Roy which flows south to join the River Spean at Roy Bridge. Loch Lochy and Glen Roy: Spean Bridge, Invergarry and Fort Augustus (Explorer Maps).
Glens of Angus. The aim in this series of books is to provide the mountainbiker and walker with information on an intended route so they know something of what to expect. One of the problems is that O.S. maps give no indication as to whether an 'other road' is metalled, a path or a forest fire break, or anything in between. Many bridges shown on O.S. maps do not exist. Rivers are difficult to judge in size from the map, and a building may be anything from a pile of stones to a maintained bothy. All is revealed without removing the sense of adventure and exploration. Gradient profiles help to assess how strenuous a route is, and each hand-drawn page contains a wealth of information. The object is to save wasted leisure time and enable the armchair explorer to plan ahead or relive experiences. "The Angus Glens" include: the glens of western Angus: Isla, Clova, Doll, including the Backwater Reservoir; the eastern glens: Lee, Esk, and the Drumtochty, Fetteresso and Durris forests; and the Deeside glens: Callater, Gelder, Girnock, Muick, Tanar. Glens of Angus (Scottish Glens).
Glen Garry is the valley of the River Garry which flows east from Loch Quoich to Loch Garry. It belonged to the MacDonnells of Glengarry. Their chief raised a regiment, the Glengarry Fencibles, in 1774. Between 1802 and 1804 many of the Glengarry Fencibles emigrated to Glengarry County, Ontario, where the regiment was re-formed and fought against the American invaders in the war of 1812.
Glenfinnan is a village at the mouth of Glen Finnan and at the head of Loch Shiel, on the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig. It was here that Prince Charles Edward Stewart gathered his supporters and raised his standard at the start of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. A tall column topped with a statue of a clansman stands as a memorial on the lochside, erected by Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale in 1815. Glenfinnan is also known as one of the most spectacular points on the West Highland Railway line, with an impressive twenty one arch concrete viaduct, built by Sir Robert MacAlpine. Ardgour and Strontian, Glenfinnan, Loch Eil and Loch Shiel (Explorer Maps).
Glen Esk is the most easterly of the Angus glens, the valley of the River North Esk, which flows east from the Grampian mountains and then southeast. The Glen Esk Folk Museum, is housed in a former shooting lodge, is at Tarfside, nine miles northwest of Edzell. Glen Esk and Glen Tanar: Aboyne and Mount Keen (Explorer Maps).
Glenelg is a village in a remote Highland peninsula, lying across the Sound of Sleat from Skye. A ferry crosses to Kylerhea, following a route once popular with cattle drovers. Two well-preserved brochs are nearby, in the care of Historic Scotland. The area featured in Gavin Maxwell’s novel Ring of Bright Water and a cairn marks the site of his cottage. The Saga of "Ring of Bright Water": The Enigma of Gavin Maxwell.
Glendevon is the valley of the River Devon running east through the Ochil Hills to the village of Glendevon. The fifteenth century Glendevon Castle belonged to William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas. It was extensively rebuilt in later centuries, and is now privately owned. Ochil Hills (Superwalker).
In 1845 the people of Glencalvie were evicted from their homes by the Duke of Sutherland and took shelter in nearby Croick Church, one of the Parliamentary churches, built in overcrowded parts of the Highlands in the 1820s. Tour Sutherland.
Glen Brittle is the valley of the River Brittle which flows from the Cuillins in Skye, west and then south to enter Loch Brittle. The village of Glenbrittle lies on the coast at the end of the glen. Overlooked by the spectacular Cuillin Mountains, Glenbrittle Youth Hostel is a great place to spend a few days. A fantastic base for walkers and climbers.
Glen Affric is the forested valley of the River Affric which flows northeast through Loch Affric to join the River Glass near Cannich. The glen is surrounded by Munros, making it popular with walkers and climbers. Glenaffric Forest also offers walks and wildlife. Glen Affric and Glen Moriston (Explorer Maps).
Glen Trool is located in Galloway, about ten miles north of the attractive little town of Newton Stewart. It is a deservedly popular beauty spot in mainly lovely high hill country. It is pleasantly approached from Newton Stewart by following the road, which runs close by the river Cree, as far as Bargrennan. Fork right here and another right turn across the Minnoch Water brings a first glimpse of Loch Trool in its magnificent setting of heather clad hills. Galloway Forest Park North (Explorer Maps).
Glenshee, the Fairy Glen, has a strong tradition of the Fingalians whose fighting capacity and exploits of adventurous courage are still spoken of in Highland history. Their period of time is generally supposed to have been the fourth century. It is said the Fingalian warriors hunted the wild boar when it roamed in upper Glenshee. Glenshee and Braemar: The Cairnwell and Glas Maol (OS Explorer Map).
Glen Tilt extends north eastwards for about twelve miles from Blair Atholl. There the river Tilt joins the Garry. A road penetrates seven miles up the glen but the track through to Mar on Deeside is a right of way. King Robert the Bruce is said to have come this way from Deeside whilst heading westward with his force to the battle of Dalrigh which was fought at Tyndrum near the Perth and Argyll county boundary in 1306. Atholl: Glen Tilt, Beinn Dearg and Carn Nan Cabhar (Explorer Maps).
Glen Rosa is one of Scotland’s most attractive glens. It runs north-west from Brodick, on the Island of Arran, before turning north. Small trout abound in the clear waters of the little river Rosa and no roadway mars the perfection of its setting. The wide valley mouth above Brodick is graced on its northern face by Brodick Castle. It was once stormed by the armies of Robert the Bruce and he later used it as a base for the mainland campaign which terminated at Bannockburn in 1314.
Monday, 26 February 2007
Low and high level walks for families or individuals visiting the Fort William area, to walk within their limits. Walk the best mountains and glens in the area on some of the less frequented routes around Glen Nevis. Sixteen page booklet complete with simple sketch maps. 17 Walks in Glen Nevis.