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Achanalt
Achanalt maps
Historic maps of Achanalt and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Achanalt maps
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Memories of Achanalt
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Ross-Shire memories
A Weekend to Remember
We were on holiday in the village of Killin, Perthshire, when my daughter announced she wanted to explore further north, no special destination, just to 'up and go'. I was concerned at her taking this trip alone, and volunteered to accompany her. What an adventure! We went over the loch on the Kylescu ferry (now sadly a relic on the loch side - now there is a bridge over the loch. We visited a hotel close to Cape Wrath, and had a most pleasant lunchtime drink and sandwiches with the 'locals'. A television was on in the lounge bar, and we passed a comment about the reception to one of the local gentlemen - "Aye lassie" he said, "and that is on a good day" as we viewed a news report through what looked like a snow storm. On to Ullapool, where we had booked an overnight stay at the Ferryboat Inn. Our room overlooked the loch, and after a light evening meal we made our way to a local ceilidh.... Read more
Lochcarron Pro War Years
In the mid forties to 1950, my father was the manager of the Lochcarron hotel.
Despite being very young at the time I do remember the place and have some great stories to tell to people who were there around the same time.
Cath
Life in Cannich And Fasnakyle
My family and I moved from Elm Park in Essex to Scotland in the last weeks of 1948. My father Leon A. Lalonde had accepted a position as Chief Mechanical Engineer with John Cochrane and Sons, a construction company. They had previously been awarded a large contract to build a Hydro Electric Scheme in Glen Affric. Moving to Scotland in the middle of winter was not an ideal time to relocate house and home.
On our arrival we stayed in the comfortable Affric Hotel for two weeks while Dad found us a place to live. Finally he was able to secure a small house called "Fasnakyle Cottage". It was a crofters cottage, containing a living room, one bedroom, a bathroom and kitchen. Each room was very small, but overall the place was warm and cozy and served us fairly well. We did not have running water as most of us know it. We hauled our water in a large 500 gallon tank trailer from Cannich every few days, drained it... Read more
INVERNESS
Thoughts of Inverness come flooding back when I remember my time off work at the Glen Affirc Hydro Electric Project in 1949-1950. My two friends from work Bill Collins and Andy Anderson and I would climb into my Morris 8 roadster and head for the 'big city' for a night out. We'd enjoy a lovely venison dinner and a few drinks at a good hotel. Then later on we'd go to the Caledonian Ballroom to their saturday night dances. The young ladies were lovely and we never ran short of dance partners.
This was a wonderful ballroom. It had a sprung floor, making it easier to dance on and less tiring for the dancers as the night wore on. There were two orchestras, one played Old Time Scottish Music the other Modern Dance Music. Each would play a set for about fifteen minutes and then the other would take over. We always had a great time here and then we'd head back to camp at Cannich in my little... Read more
Grandmother Lived at Balnain House
My grandmother was widowed in 1920, her husband having stayed in the Army to tend the graves in France where he succumbed to influenza. Grandmother was left to bring up 6 children on her own with little money. She was given a brand new council house (Dunain Road I think) but could not afford the rent and had to move into a 2 room flat in Balnain House. How on earth she managed I will never know - there was one toilet for 4 families.
It was great to see the old house being renovated but an absolute disgrace that it is no longer a music venue but offices for SNH - most of the rooms are unoccupied meaning it will once again fall into disrepair.
Caledonian Hotel Ballroom
This wondeful hotel was a show-topper in 1948. I could never have afforded to stay here. However my friends and I often came here Saturday evenings to enjoy the party atmosphere and dance the night away.
The highlight of this hotel's ballroom was the 'sprung floor' Plus the advantage of having two stages, one at each end of the ballroom, This meant that on one stage held a 'Modern' dance band, and a Highland Dance Band on opposite stage. Each would play a fifteen minute set and then the other band would play a set. This allowed for continual dancing and everyone had a fantastic time.
The sprung floor made it easier to dance on and we looked forward to our regular Saturday nights here.
I understand the sprung floor and twin bands is a thing of the past,
Can anyone confirm this?
Family
My name is Philip Beach- my Grandmother hails from Inverness. Her maiden name was Isabel Martin, born about 1890, her sister's name (married) was Euphemia Archibald who lived to be 101 in my hometown of Rochester, NY USA. Isabel married Powlus (or Paulus) Beach, and moved to Nova Scotia, Canada in the mid 19 teens. They had 6 children- 5 girls and a boy, my father Charles Osker Beach. I currently live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and I am 50 years old. Does anyone have a memory of my family?
