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Coigach Gazetteer
Introduction
The following placenames, translations, and site descriptions were compiled from many sources.
Perhaps the most useful source has been the web page of Andrew Muir, who is married to a third cousin of mine and now lives at Polbain; CONTACT INFO
Other sources include my cousin Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO), and the book "Achiltibuie" by Ann Barnes (SOURCE).
Maps used include the 1894 Ordnance Survey map. The copy I have is one inch to a mile scale (1:65,560), titled "ULLAPOOL 101", and was reprinted in 1987 by Caledonian Books in Aberdeenshire.
Another map used as a source for this file is the 1976 Ordnance Survey, Sheet 15, Second Series, titled "LOCH ASSYNT". It's scale is 1:50,000 and it includes a few placenames not on the earlier map. Of course it also misses a few, and has different spellings for others.
From the Ordnance Survey map I am slowly adding National Grid references to all the places mentionned in this file. I have created a small file that explains the National Grid, and how you can use it to calculate distances between places, see howfar.htm
Less helpful in detail, but useful to set Coigach in context of the rest of Scotland is the Michelin "Great Britain Scotland" map, #401 of their series. The copy I have is 18th edition, 1998/1999, and its scale is 1:400,000. The map includes an index, though of course given the scale only the larger Coigach communitees and features are included.
A great help in understanding the english meaning of the gaelic placenames is MacBain's Dictionary. This online source includes a searchable index!
My mother learned gaelic at school in Ireland, and enjoyed long chats with her father in law (my grandfather) on differences between Irish and Scottish dialects of the language. Mom has been my advisor on placename meanings, and how the spelling was reflected in pronounciation.
The Spring 1999 Newsletter of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association "Treasna na dTonnta" has a great article by Brian Wilson about the Summer Isles of Coigach (SOURCE INFO), from which I have lifted lots of useful data.
A few of the places that follow are from the neighboring Parish of Assynt, as one of the sources I have used for this file is the book "Suilven's World" (SOURCE), which dealt with both areas. The people of the two districts were well known to each other, and had many intermarried families.
The place names were spelled many different ways in the records up till the twentieth century, and any genealogist looking through records must be prepared to sound out names of people and places, and expect the unexpected! In some cases I have provided alternative spellings I have found in records.
The Ordnance Survey has recently put its own Gazetteer back on line! It includes National Grid referances, longitude and latitide, and info on ordering maps. It has a very fast search engine, and covers all the U.K. Unfortunately, though it is based on the 1:50,000 map, it omits many of the smaller Coigach features, and it shortens grid referances to 1 kilometer accuracy. Still a great resource though; Ordnance Survey Gazetteer
Genealogy notes are in other files, and where there are places in this file that have genealogy notes in others I have included a link at the end of the geographical information noted for that place.
I have scratched together a small history of Coigach, that file is here; history.htm
If you see any Coigach places, or spelling variations that I have missed, please email me the data at; dmacdon2@becon.org
Index by Gaelic roots
Spelling was not standardized in the 19th century, and even today it is not unusual to find places spelled different ways on contempory maps or books. What is, and has always been, standard is the meaning behind the names.
Most of the Coigach place names, when traced to their gaelic roots serve as a description of the geography of the area. The people spoke gaelic, and the place names were spoken long before they were either written in gaelic, or transferred to maps by people whose language was english. A few of the place names have norse or english roots as well of course, but even those words represent "adoptions" into the local gaelic dialect.
The following index is broken down into sections, each starting with definition of a word, then links to placenames in the file that use that word as root.
Acarseid :
"Anchorage". See :Acarseid Eilean a'Chleirich
Achadh :
"A field". Normally all Coigach placemes that begin "Ach" have this as a root. See :Achadh' a Bhraighe, Achiltibuie, Achduart, Acheninver, Achlochan, Achmelvich, Achnahaird, Achnancarian, Achvraie (See notes at Achadh' a Bhraighe),
Allt :
"A stream or burn". See: Allt Achadh' a Bhraighe (See notes at Achadh' a Bhraighe), Allt a' Choire Reidh (see an Choire Reidh), Allt an Dhu (variant spellings include Altandhu, and Altandow), Allt an Loin Dubh (and variant spelling of Allt an Loin Duibh), Garbh Allt, Allt Gleann an Strathan, Allt nan Coische, Allt nan Uamh
Aird :
"A Point". See :Achduart, Achnahaird
Buidh :
"Yellow". See :Achiltibuie,
Chleirich :
"Cleric", refers to a priest or monk. See :Eilean a'Chleirich
Choire (Corrie):
"Choire" means a kettle or cauldron, when referring to geography the expression describes a steep walled valley, usually near the top or between mountains, often with a small loch, and usually having a small stream exiting. See :an Choire Reidh,
Dubh :
"Dark". See :Achduart, Allt an Dhu (variant spellings include Altandhu, and Altandow), Allt an Loin Dubh (and variant spelling of Allt an Loin Duibh)
Eilean :
"A small island" (in size larger than an Iolla though!). See :Eilean a'Chleirich
Gilly :
"Boy". See :Achiltibuie
Gleann :
"A glen". A glen was a valley usually with steeper sides than a strath, which were usually more flat bottomed. See :Gleann an Strathan,
Inver
"A river mouth or inlet". See :Acheninver
Lochan
"A small loch" (plural is "Lochanan"). See :Achlochan,
Mealbhan
McBain's Dictionary gives the definition as either "sea bent (Suth.)", or "sand dunes with bent (W.Ross)", I think the second definition is closer to the meaning of the one place in this gazetteer with the word as a root. Bent is a type of grass. See Achmelvich
Tighe :
"House". See :Achiltibuie
Start of Entries
Acarseid Eilean a'Chleirich:National Grid: NB 927 023
"Anchorage of Island of the Priest". See Eilean a'Chleirich. Not a common gaelic expression, the only other occurance I can see on my 1894 Ordnance Survey map is up-loch from Ullapool, on the other side of the loch, where the small bay in front of the village of Loggie is referred to as An Acarseid ("The Anchorage"). The harbour on Tanera Mor is called "The Anchorage", which is probably an anglicisation of the expression.
Achadh' a Bhraighe:
National Grid: NC 045 059
A small community, and an allt (stream) of the same name, just inland from Acheninver. Though the "Achadh" part of the name clearly refers to a field, sources I have consulted do not give a clear translation for the rest of the name. Today the name is spelled as "Achvraie", in the 1841 census it was "Achdavray".
Achduart:
National Grid: NC 049 037
Field of the dark point (?)This small village is on the south side of the Rudha Dubh Ard ("Cape of the Dark Point or Promontory"). Its nearest neighbors were Culnacraig to the east, and Achnancarian on the other side of the point to the north-west.
Acheninver:
National Grid: NC 043 054
Field of the inlet (or river mouth)This small village is on Horse Sound, opposite Horse Island. The "inver" part of its name refers to the mouth of the river Allt Achadh a'Bhraighe. The village of Achadh a'Bhraighe is quite close, just inland. Other near neighbours are Badenscallie to the north-west, and Achnancarian to the south-east.
Achiltibuie:
National Grid: NC 025 085
Field of the yellow haired boy or "gilly" (not universally accepted, other sources suggest it might be a corruption of Achadh Tighe Buidhe; Field of the Yellow House).
The largest village in Coigach, it is on Baden Bay (see notes at Badentarbet), across from Tanera Mor. Its nearest neighbors were Badentarbet to the north east, and Polglass to the southwest.
Local legend has it that three brothers settled Coigach; the gilly referred to in the name was presumably blonde, possibly a cultural memory of the norse settlements?
One of the other brothers was "Sgal", for whom Badenscallie is possibly named. I assume the third brother was Gille Dhuibh, the dark lad commemorated by a small cape at Acheninver named Rubhan a Ghille Duibh. The brothers used to meet at a great stone in the moor about equal distance from all three called Clach-na Comhalach, Trysting-Stone, that I have not found listed on the Ordnance Survey maps.
Achlochan:
National Grid: NC 025 070
Field of the little loch. It is on a small peninsula just west of Polglass, named "Rubha Dunan". The swampy ground between Achlochan and Polglass is labelled as "Loch Pollan Dunain". Dunan is the gaelic diminitive for Dun, so I assume there was a small "Dun", or hill fort at Achlochan.
Achmelvich:
National Grid: NC 058 247
Field of the sand dunes.This village and bay are in Assynt Parish, across Enard Bay from Coigach. Though beyond Coigach it has a nice name, and there is a youth hostel there, good enough reason to be included in this gazetteer!
Achnahaird:
National Grid: NC 007 135
Field on the point. It is on the north coast of Coigach, the small Achnahaird Bay opens off the larger Enard Bay, across which is the Parish of Assynt in SutherlandShire. The sand dunes are said to be quite beautiful there, and today there are a campground and trailer camp.
Achnancarian:
National Grid: NC 045 048
Uncertain translation of the name, though the "Achadh na" part clearly refers to a field, the rest is vague. This small community is on the path between Acheninver and Achduart on the south west coast of Coigach. In the 1881 census it was enumerated as "Cammasnacarrian", Cammas refering to the bay on Horse Sound below the village.MacBain's dictionary does not clearly suggest a translation, however there are three possible roots for the second part of the name;
- "Cairnean" = an egg-shell
- "Cairn" = a heap of stones
- "Cairnag" = a she-terrier, used for hunting a small fish found in stony shores at ebb-tide (amongst the cairns).
Less likely is that the name comes from Beinn nan Caorach ("Mountain of the Sheep"), one of the spine of mountains above the coast.
Allt a' Choire Reidh:
See an Choire Reidh
Allt Achadh' a Bhraighe:
See Achadh' a Bhraighe
Allt an Loin Dubh:
National Grid: NC 160 092
Stream (or burn) of the dark glade.
This stream drains the area between the mountains Cul Mor (2786 feet, 849 meters), An Laogh (546 meters), and Cul Beg (2523 feet, 769 meters). The valley it flows through is known as Gleann Laoigh.
Three small Lochs feed it; Loch an Laoigh, Loch nan Ealuchun, and from them into Lochan Dearg. From there the river continues on to Loch Gainmheich, added to by a small allt that falls spectacularly from the tiny Lochan Dearg a' Chuill Mhoir. The waters then flow down into the large Loch Skinaskink, and from there down the Polly river to the sea at Enard Bay on the north side of Coigach.
Allt an Dhu:
National Grid: NB 984 126
Black (or dark) stream (or burn). Spelled many ways in the records, including on the 1894 Ordnance Survey map as "Altandow", I have used in these web files the most common 19th century spelling; "Altandhu".There was a schoolhouse at Altandhu from at least the 1841 census.
Altandhu was across Loch Altain Dubh from the Isle Ristol, and was the closest community to Reiff (excepting hamlets of a few crofts like Camusglassellan).
Allt nan Uamh:
National Grid: (acckkk! cannot find it on the map!)
Stream (or burn) of the caves. (Possibly an Assynt location that has crept into this Gazetteer?)
Ardmair:
National Grid: NH 110 980
The sea promontory. A small peninsula points from Ardmair to Isle Martin, which is labelled on the 1894 Ordnance Survey map as "Rubha Beag", which means small cape.
Badentarbet:
National Grid: NC 013 102
The thicket on the isthmus, or the clump of the portage. This village of a few crofts is situated between Achiltibuie and Polbain, with Loch Bhatachan behind, and Tanera Mor across the bay in front.The Bay in front was shown as "Baden Bay" on the 1894 Ordnance survey map, the 1974 version names it "Badentarbet Bay".
Badenscallie:
National Grid: NC 037 063
Possibly the name means "Thicket of the spirits", but there is some disagreement between sources. Local tradition derives the name from Sgal, one of the three brothers who settled Coigach. The second was Gille Buidhe the yellow lad who settled at Achiltibuie. I assume the third brother was Gille Dhuibh, the dark lad commemorated by a small cape at Acheninver named Rubhan a Ghille Duibh. The brothers used to meet at a great stone in the moor about equal distance from all three called Clach-na Comhalach, Trysting-Stone, that I have not found listed on the Ordnance Survey maps.The burial ground at Badenscallie was the main one for Coigach, though some burials also happened on Tanera Mor.
Bein Eun:
National Grid: NC 105 065
A mountain of Coigach at 1973 feet. Loch Lurgainn wraps around it on the north.
Beinn nan Caorach:
National Grid: NC 080 053
Mountain of the SheepA mountain of Coigach between 2000 and 2,100 feet. It shares cliff faces on the north-east with the larger Ben More Coigach. Below those cliffs are Lochan Tuath.
Part of the mountainous spine of Coigach, a number of allts (rivers) flow from its flanks, and between it and the neighboring summits down to Lochbroom. Shown on my 1894 Ordnance Survey map are Allt Achadh a' Bhraighe to the north-west, Allt a' Choire Reidh just west of Culnacraig, and Allt nan Coische to the right of Culnacraig, draining more from the flank of Ben More Coigach.
Loch Bhatachan:
See Loch Vatachan
Blairbuie:
National Grid: NB 973 141
"The yellow moss". It is spelled "Blairbuidhe" on the 1894 Ordnance Survey map. This small collection of houses appears in census records as "Blair of Reiff", it is just east of the village of Reiff.
Bottle Island:
National Grid: NB 954 020
Unsure of the origin of the name. It is one of a collection of islets and rocks in the middle of Lochbroom, part of the Summer Isles archipeligo.
Cammasnancarrian:
See Achnancarian.
Camuscoille:
National Grid: NC 002 156
Bay of the woods.
This collection of a few crofts on the north coast of Coigach was one of the furthest north in Coigach. Faochag is to the northwest, and Achnahaird to the south-east.
Not a very large bay, the peninsula to the northwest is not named on my maps, and to the south-east is Rubha a' Chairn.
Camusglassellan:
National Grid: NB 968 155
Bay of the little grey island. 1894 Ordnance Survey map calls it "Camas eilean ghlais".
Caolas a Mhill Ghairbh:
National Grid: NB 978 080
"Channel (or Firth) of the Broken (or Rough) Pieces". This channel passes between Tanera Mor on the east, and several of the smaller Summer Isles on the west, including Tanera Beg. The name probably refers to the clutter of small rocks and
Carn Deas:
National Grid: NB 964 025
The name possibly translates as "The Southern Cairn". It is one of a collection of islets and rocks in the middle of Lochbroom, part of the Summer Isles archipeligo.
Carn Tar:
National Grid: NB 961 025
The name possibly translates as "Cairn of the Sea". It is one of a collection of islets and rocks in the middle of Lochbroom, part of the Summer Isles archipeligo.
There is a possibility that this islet should be "Carn Tar", that is how it appears to be spelled on the 1894 Ordnance Survey map, and the 1974 version though more clear, has a small case letter l at the start of the second word!
an Choire Reidh:
National Grid: NC 086 053
The smooth corrie.
A corrie is a steep walled valley, usually near the tops of mountains, presumably this one lacked the craggy rocked sides common to the other Coigach corries! It is between the peaks of Beinn nan Caorach and Sur an Fhidhleir, and from it an allt (Allt a' Choire Reidh) flows down to Lochbroom just east of Culnacraig.
an Coire Gorm:
National Grid: (have not found on the map yet!)
The grey corrie.
Culnacraig:
National Grid: NC 066 035
Culnacraig means "Behind or back of the rock or cliff", an appropriate name, as the village is set between Lochbroom and the cliff face of Ben More Coigach, which rises to a spectacular 2438 feet!
Doire Dubh:
National Grid: NC 138 104
The dark copse. This wooded area is on the south shore of Loch an Doire Dhuibh, on the north flank of the mountain Cul Beag.
Dornie:
National Grid: NB 988 103
Dornie, also spelled "Dorney", today is said to have the best harbour in Coigach. Around the coast to the north, on the other flank of the small mountain (526 feet) called Meall Dearg (the red knob or rounded hill) is the village of Old Dornie.
Isle Ristol, one of the Summer Isles, is quite close, as is the village of Polbain.
Eilean a'Chleirich:
National Grid: NB 925 020
This is one of the larger Summer Isles, and is situated in the middle of Lochbroom. The high point is marked as 78 meters. It often appears in records and maps with the english translation of its name as "Priest Island" (Chleirich was a gaelic name for priest, and was pronounced similar to the english word cleric).
Brian Wilson has described the geography of this Island in his article on the Summer Isles in the Spring 1999 Newsletter of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association (SOURCE INFO) as follows;"Rock strata tilted and cliffs contorted into a random jumble of broken ramparts, cave, and blow-holes, the island looks like an automobile's crumple-zone after a crash."
Wilson goes on to mention how though the island is very exposed to the weather and sea swells, it has a lush damp interior, with drinking water in the small lochans, and a very populous natural environment of birds and marine animals, appropriately the island is now owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
A bay on the east side of the island is called Acarseid Eilean a'Chleirich, acarseid means an anchorage, and though there are no easy landings on the island, Acarseid was probably the ancient harbour.
The Island has a long prehistory, with ancient midden heaps found in some of the caves, stone circles, signs of cultivated ground, and the ruins of a small church that probably was used by the priest the island was named for; likely an Irish or Celtic follower of St. Columba in the 6th century.
Wilson's article says that after the failure of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion the French landed a crew on the Island, to assist the escape of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Coigach came out during that Rebellion in favour of the Stuarts, and the people suffered greatly from government repression for decades after; probably the Hanoverians were aware of the escape attempt and used it as part of their justification. In the end, Bonny Prince Charlie escaped further south, leaving from an island off Skye.
Wilson also mentions "The Outlaw" who was banished to the Island in the 18th century as a punishment for stealing sheep. The exile prosperred, and his family were there till the mid 19th century!
Eilean Dubh:
National Grid: NB 973 035
Eilean Dubh, "the Dark Island", is one of the Summer Isles, toward the center of Lochbroom. The only inhabitants today are an American couple who stay part of each year there.
Eilean Mullagrach:
National Grid: NB 957 115
This small island is just west of the larger Isle Ristol. It rises to 46 meters. Far as I am aware, it was uninhabited during the 19th century. The article in the Irish Sea Kayaking Association Newsletter of Spring 1999 (SOURCE INFO) says it is "a roughish tussocky lump used mainly for sheep grazing".
Faochag:
National Grid: NB 975 173
The name means "periwinkle", a type of shellfish.
I have recently created a small file on Faochag, see faochag.htm.
am Fuaran:
"The well (or spring)". The name of the pub at Altandhu! Apart from the symbolic relavence of naming a pub for a spring, the Lochan (small Loch) above Altandhu is named Lochan Fhurain Mhoir, "the small Loch of the great spring".
Garbh Allt:
National Grid: NC 095 027
"The rough stream". This allt drains the southern cliff area of Ben Mor Coigach. The area where it reaches Lochbroom is known as Geodha Mor.
Geodha Mor:
National Grid: NC 083 023
"The great creek". Though this name is given to the coast area between Ben More Coigach and Beinnan Beaga, the Great Creek referred to is called "Garbh Allt"; the rough stream.
Glas Leac Beag:
National Grid: NB 926 051
This small island is one of the Summer Isles, and is the last past by the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway in the middle of Lochbroom. Its' name translates as "The Small Green Slab". Glas Leac Mor is far off to the north-east, but within view.
Glas Leac Mor:
National Grid: NB 953 095
"The Large Green Slab" is one of the smaller Summer Isles, south-west of Isle Ristol, and north west of Tanera Beg. Far as I am aware it was uninhabited through the 19th century. The smaller island, Glas Leac Beag, is off to the south west, closer to the center of Lochbroom.
Horse Island:
National Grid: NC 024 043
The name of this island is unusual, as it seems to be of english origin, rather than gaelic or norse like the other Summer Isles. The Canmore website refers to it as both Horse Island though, and as "Eilean Eich".
This 169 foot (60 m.) high island is uninhabited, and seems to always have been so even though it is one of the larger Summer Isles; understandable as there is no fresh water. It is across Horse Sound from Polglass, Badenscallie, Acheninver, and other smaller communities.
No horses, but the northern part of the island (separate at high tide) is named Meall nan Gabhar "Hill of Goats", and the height of land (60m) is Sgurr nan Uan "Lambs Peak". Carrying on the animal theme, a small isle 2.5km SSW is called Meall nan Caorach "Rounded Hill of the Sheep"!
There are rumours of a hastily burried Spanish Galleon on the island! A cache of possibly Spanish coins was discovered there in the 19th century.
Horse Sound:
National Grid: NC 035 045
Name of this sound clearly takes its name from Horse Island, one of the Summer Isles off the southern coast of Coigach.
Inverpolly
National Grid: NC 070 144
Inver means an inlet or river mouth (most famous use is in the name "Inverness"), and Inverpolly was located where the River Polly enters Polly Bay (which itself opens off the larger Enard Bay).
According to testimony before the Napier Commision in 1883 the people of Reiff used to summer pasture their ponys at Inverpolly up to the 1820s, when the land was rented to southern sheep farmers. The 1841 census has only a Shepherd family living there, the parents not born in the County, but the oldest child was 10.
Leum an Fheidh:
National Grid: NC 084 016
The deer's leap.
Evocatively named! It is on the "Postman's Walk", a pathway along the cliffs between Beinnan Beaga and the sea, about a kilometer and a half north of Isle Martin. You can just imagine the 19th century postman surprising a deer on the path, and watching with dismay as it leapt to the rocks below!
Lineranich:
National Grid: NC 124 091
The pool of the ferns. 1976 Ordnance Survey spells it as "Linneraineach".
There was a Shepherd and his family here in the 1841 census. This shepherd's station is on the north shore of Loch Lurgainn, the road from Drumrunie into the Coigach peninsula passes Lineranich (as it was spelled in 1841).
Loch Broom:
National Grid: NC 000 000
Loch of the showers.
Loch Camus an Fheidh:
National Grid: NB 993 117
A small loch, it drains through a short river between Old Dorney and Altandhu, I assume the small bay on Loch an Alltain Dubh that the river drains into is known as Camus an Fheidh. Loch Camus an Fheidh translates as "Loch of the bay of the deer".
Loch eader dha Bheinn:
National Grid: NC 116 033
The loch between two mountains. The mountains referred to are Ben More Coigach at 2438 feet, and the smaller Beinnan Beaga at 902 feet. From this renote little loch a stream runs down through Loch a'Chlaiginn to the River Runie.
Loch Lurgainn:
National Grid: NC 115 090
The shank loch. Possibly so named because its elongated shape, it is wrapped around the north side of Beinn Eun, facing Stac Polly and Cul Beag. It is one of the largest of the inland Lochs of Coigach.
Loch na Beiste:
National Grid: NC 004 125
A small loch between Achnahaird and Altandhu. I think the name mean "Loch of the animals".
Loch Poll an Dunain:
see note at Achlochan.
Loch Vatachan:
National Grid: NC 018 109
Loch of the copses. Also spelled "Loch Bhatachan". It and the neighboring Loch Raa divide Rhu More from the rest of Coigach. The nearest community to this inland Loch is Badentarbet to the south.
Lochan Fhionnlaidh:
National Grid: NC 128 097
The small, pale loch.
This small loch is at the top of the saddle between the mountains of Cul Beag and Stac Pollaidh, it drains north to Loch an Doire Dhuibh though a small allt. Loch Lurgainn is to the south.
Lochan Fhurain Mhoir:
National Grid: NB 989 128
See am Fuaran.
Lochan Gainmheich:
National Grid: NC 139 115
The small loch of the fine sand.
Situated with three of the larger Coigach mountains around it; Cul Mor, Cul Beag, and Stac Pollaidh, it drains Loch Lon na h-Uamha, Loch an Doire Duibh, and the Allt an Loin Duibh through a channel into Loch Sionascaig.
Lochan Tuath:
National Grid: NC 105 055
Translates as either "The small loch of";My guess is that it refers to the north, as this small loch is on the northern flank of the largest mountain in the district; Ben More Coigach.
- The People
- The Left
- The North
Meall nan Caorach:
National Grid: NC 012 013
The rounded hill of the sheep.
This tiny island is in in the middle of Lochbroom, the ferry to Stornoway passes within a kilometer. Its nearest neighbors are the slightly larger isles of Carn nan Sgeir a few hundred meters to the north.
Meall nan Clachan:
National Grid: NC 133 024
The rounded hill that has a pile of rocks.
This rather steep hillside falls from Beinnan Beaga across the Runie river from the village of Strath Kainaird. A small river drains Loch a' Chlaiginn down the slope to the Runie.
Meall Dearg:
There are two features in Coigach with this name, which means "The red knob or rounded hill".
National Grid: NB 986 106
This first Meall Dearg is a small mountain (526 feet, 163m.) On the coast of the northside of the mountain is the community of Old Dornie, and on the south side is the village of Old Dornie. Across a narrow strait is Isle Ristol. See notes at Dornie.
National Grid: NC 148 087
This second Meall Dearg is a lower peak of the mountain Cul Beag.
Meall Leathad an t-Sithein:
National Grid: NC 045 102
The side of the rounded hillside where there is venison. This small hillside (595 feet) is part of the height of land between the north and south of Coigach.
Morefield:
National Grid: NH 110 950
A string of crofts, just west of Ullapool. The name seems an odd combination of english and gaelic; mor is the gaelic descrptive word for big or large, but field is a clearly english word. A better all gaelic description of the geography of the community might have been "Achmore", but that name was already in use for a small community on the far side of Lochbroom, on Annat Bay.
Old Dornie:
National Grid: NB 985 115
See notes at Dornie.
Polbain:
National Grid: NB 995 102
The white pool. This small community is on the road between Altandhu and Achiltibuie. Andrew Muir (CONTACT INFO) lives there today, his webpage includes photos and details on the letting cottage he rents out there!
Polglass:
National Grid: NC 033 074
The gray (or pale) pool. This is a small community between Achiltibuie and Badenscallie.
Priest Island:
See notes at Eilean a`Chleirich.
Reiff:
National Grid: NB 965 144
The cape or promontory. The gaelic spelling is rubha, and many points along the coast use the word as part of a descriptive placename.
The village of Reiff is westernmost on the peninsula of Coigach, the area is generally referred to as "Rhu Mor"; The big cape. At Reiff is a small sea-loch, Loch of Reiff, which acts as harbour. In various records the communities of Blairbuie, Camusglassellan, and Faochag, are included as part of Reiff.
Rhegreanoch:
National Grid: NC 095 166
I would welcome suggestions as to the meaning of this name!
This place is where the road fom Badnagyle to Inverkirkaig crosses the small river (allt) galled Allt Gleann an Strathan. It was a Shepherd's Station in the 1841 census spelled "Regreinach". The Russel family living there had a three year old child not born in the County, and a one year old that was, indicating they were new comers of a few years at most.
Rhu Coigach:
National Grid: NB 980 180
"The Cape of Coigach". This cape is the north-west most point of Coigach, just above the small community of Faochag.
Rubha Dunan:
See notes at Achlochan.
Rubh' a Mhadaidh-ruaidh:
National Grid: NB 983 100
"The Cape of the Fox". Literally a mhadaidh-ruaidh was a red dog, and the expression was used to describe a fox! This small cape is half a kilometer west of Dornie.
Isle Ristol:
National Grid: NB 970 113
The Summer Isle closest to the mainland, it is no longer inhabited, except by a number of sheep. Today like most of the other Summer Isles it is under care of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Till the middle of the 19th century it was a fish drying base, with a handful of families, and a small inn for visiting seamen.
One source on the web says at low tide there is a causeway from Old Dornie on the mainland, but another source refers to a five minute paddle by sea kayak; I suspect if you plan to walk out tall wellies would be a must! The sandy beach on the north of the island is said to be especially fine.
Rhubha Mor:
National Grid: NB 985 145
"The Great Cape". This name is given to the northwest area of Coigach.
Ruadh Loch:
National Grid: NC 008 139
"The red loch" is a small loch between the Brae of Achnahaird, and Achnahaird Bay.
Rudha Dubh Ard:
National Grid: NC 043 038
Rudha Dubh Ard means "Cape of the Dark Point or Promontory" It is a small cape between Culnacraig to the east, and Achnancarian to the north-west.
An t-Sail:
National Grid: NC 070 071
Possibly the name means "The Heel". It is a wide topped mountain of 1,605 feet between the communities on the south shore of Coigach, and the central lochs.
Loch Sionascaig:
National Grid: NC 115 144
Spelled many different ways, I have recently read the name originally meant "the split hillocks".
One of the largest of the Coigach inland lochs, it is in the northern area of Coigach, above Stac Pollaidh and Cul Mor. Today it is surrounded by the Inverpolly Forest, and the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve. The 1894 Ordnance Survey spells it as "Skinaskink", and the 1841 census had a Shepherds family living somewhere there, with the place spelled "Shiniskaig".
Stac Mhic Aonghais:
National Grid: NB 954 057
This is one of several rocks or "Stacs" rising from the ocean that the ferry from Ullapool to Stornaway passes. An article on the Summer Isles in the Spring 1999 Newsletter of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association (SOURCE INFO) gives an interesting tale about Aanghaiss Care, who left on the Stac as a punishment, later stole his captors boat and escaped!
Stac Pollaidh:
National Grid: NC 108 107
The pitted stack, or the steep hill of the peat bog. It is a spectacular mountain rising to 2009 feet on the northwest side of Coigach. Some sources spell it as "Stack Polly".
Summer Isles:
Uncertain origin, but thought to be from "Simmer Skit" in old norse, in early 18th century as "Simmer Isles", from an expression meaning boundary isles, marking them as the last of the Hebrides.
Mostly uninhabited by humans today (save Tanera Mor), they have a large population of seals and birds.
"Treasna na nTonnta", the newsletter of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association is available at their website (SOURCE INFO), the Spring 1999 issue (#17) includes a great article by Brian Wilson describing the area, his article has helped explain many of the barely legible placenames on my 1894 Ordnance Survey map.
Tanera Beg:
National Grid: NB 964 074
This smaller island takes its name from Tanera Mor, whose name comes from old norse as "Hawarymoir" - Island of the Haven. Though small in size, at 768 feet it is highest of the Summer Isles, and the panoramic view from the top is said to be extrordinary!
Tanera Mor:
National Grid: NB 990 070
Known in Viking times as "Hawarymoir" - Island of the Haven. It is the largest of the Summer Isles, and is the last one still permanently inhabited, with a schoolboat, cafe, and post office that issues its own stamps! The fish farm in the harbour is the major employer today. Nearby is the smaller island Tanera Beg (Mor means large or great in gaelic, beg means small).
Tanera has a large natural harbour, and was before Ullapool in the late 18th century set up as a fish processing station for the Coigach district. The uncertain herring shoals were less kind to the Island Tanera than the mainland Station at Ullapool, and it went from boom periods when 200 boats and ships from across Scotland would crowd the harbour, to struggling periods when there was hardly enough fish for the permanent residents.
When ships laden with fish went to Ireland they returned with stones and dirt as ballast. That explains why a part of the island is called "Ireland Park", as the soil there originated in Ireland!
Tanera was noted for its stills, and in 1900 was bought by Captain MacDonald; "a notorious local smuggler". Of course my own MacDonald ancestors at nearby Reiff were good people, and so I am sure the Captain was an incomer to Coigach!
There is a 19th century picture of the pier at Tanera on the Tate Gallery website; Tate Gallery
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This file, and others dealing with history and genealogy of Coigach, links from my homepage at:
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~coigach Any suggestions for additions or edits please feel free to email me, Donald MacDonald-Ross, at:
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