Càrn Eighe (as it appears on modern maps) is a mountain in Strathglass to the west of Inverness. Its name has a confusing history. ... Continue Reading about Càrn Eighe ~ Càrn Èite
Birnam ~ Braonan
Birnam (Brannan in 1345) most likely reflects braonan, ‘little wet place’. The same element also appears in Loch Bhraoin in Wester Ross - ... Continue Reading about Birnam ~ Braonan
Lamlash ~ Eilean MoLaise
The name of Lamlash (Helantmlaysche late 14th Century) on the Isle of Arran has a complex history. The settlement sits on the coast facing ... Continue Reading about Lamlash ~ Eilean MoLaise
Dunnichen ~ Dùn Eachain
The Irish Annals record a battle in 685 between the Picts and the Northumbrians at a place called Duin Nechtain, which in modern spelling ... Continue Reading about Dunnichen ~ Dùn Eachain
River Clyde ~ Abhainn Chluaidh
The River Clyde is one of the oldest Scottish names for which we have a record; the Egyptian geographer Ptolemy in 50 AD wrote it as klōta. ... Continue Reading about River Clyde ~ Abhainn Chluaidh
Lochnagar ~ Loch na Gàire / Beinn nan Cìochan
The name of this famous mountain is puzzling: Why does this mountain have the name of a loch? The exact reason is unknown but the name comes ... Continue Reading about Lochnagar ~ Loch na Gàire / Beinn nan Cìochan
Linlithgow ~ Gleann Iucha
The burgh crest The name Linlithgow (first recorded in 1138 as Linlidcu) is of ‘British’ origin, that is, a language that existed in ... Continue Reading about Linlithgow ~ Gleann Iucha
Three Kings Rock / Creag Harail / Mic an Rìgh
There is a sea rock at NH857727 of the coast of Nigg which is marked on a number of maps as ‘Three King’s Rock'. In the Robertson ... Continue Reading about Three Kings Rock / Creag Harail / Mic an Rìgh
Hill o’ Hirdie, the Clootie Well at Munlochy and Saint Curitan
The habit of tying a piece of rag or cloth to a tree so that people might be cured was once a more commonplace practice in Scotland but has ... Continue Reading about Hill o’ Hirdie, the Clootie Well at Munlochy and Saint Curitan
Glaic an Rìgh or `the King’s Hollow’
As a place-name researcher I come across much material which does not get included in the database but is nonethtless interesting. This ... Continue Reading about Glaic an Rìgh or `the King’s Hollow’
New Book on Scottish Gaelic Place-Names
Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba are delighted to announce the edition of Scottish Gaelic Place-Names: The Collected Works of Charles M. Robertson, ... Continue Reading about New Book on Scottish Gaelic Place-Names
Fieldworker required for Eriskay
Do you have an interest in place-names and natural heritage? Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA) and Scottish Natural Heritage are creating a ... Continue Reading about Fieldworker required for Eriskay