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Loch Assynt
Loch Assynt maps
Historic maps of Loch Assynt and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Loch Assynt maps
Loch Assynt area books
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Memories of Loch Assynt
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Sutherland 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
Awakening
Rising; stiff; cold; yawn; stretch; coffee; aroma; warmth; well-being; window; half-light; clothes; camera; motor car; dreary car park; utterly still; silent; intensely lonely; hesitant walk; height gained; mountain peaks on fire; dark water; vast, gloomy bay; soft sand; sudden burst of light; flood of warmth; feeling of exhilaration; awe; respect; love of nature; humility; transcendence from care; sense of perspective; timlessness; feeling of belonging; watch; time to get back; don't want to; slow walk; look back; emerald ocean; brilliant sand; azure sky; warm breeze; heaven on earth; turn around; reluctant walk; back to reality?; No!; rather, I'm walking away from it; but it is in my heart and I can return here in my mind at any time and remind myself of what is really important and of who and what I truly am.
Mothers Birthplace
My Mother, Alice Rae Gibson Clark Mackay was born in Loch Eriboll in 1902. Ive visited the wee hamlet many times, and met the Clarke family, currently the land owners, who have a home at the crook of the road, amidst an array on old war memorabelia, such as tanks. My Mum lived in a wee house down the lane that goes to the sea. where we, a family of 5 were evacuated from London in 1940. The croft is still there - neglected, and weed covered, but no doubt the little well from where they got their drinking water, is still there amongst the bracken back of the croft. Mother is buried at Balnakeil, Durness, beside her husband Alex MacDonald, late of Lerinbeg, Durness. Beautiful country.
Mother told us tales from the first war, where she and her sisters learned semaphore, so as to send messages to the sailors on the Navy ships that anchored in the loch.
Two Pieces of INFORMATION
* My father ALICK JOHN MACKAY was born in Dalcharn in 1912. His brothers, my UNCLES, were Phillip MacKay and Jimmy MacKay. My cousin is Kenneth MacKay and Barbara MacKay in Bettyhill. * Alick's son, me, emigrated to Canada in 1966 and immediately found all kinds of people from Sutherland who were in Canada for many years. The lady who previously owned the Bettyhill Hotel lived in Calgary and was 94 years old when she died. Canada's DEFENCE MINISTER, Peter MacKay from Nova Scotia has roots in Dalcharn. His grandfather was born in Dalcharn. James MacKay the explorer from near Helmsdale was born in 1761 and died in 1822. The book on his distinguished life was authored by Helen Widener (Texas) and is called "A Man to Cherish". He was a cartographer to the Louis and Clark Expeditions in the Missouri Region. He spoke several native languages and married a native. He has statues to him in Louisana Territory. See his book at Strathnaver Museum. SLAINDTH. Visit me at bertmackay@shaw.ca or my brother in Inverness... Read more
Fantastic Township
I have very fond memories of Coldbackie. It’s one of those fantastic undiscovered gems in Sutherland. My grandparents bought a croft there in the 1950s and I spent much of my childhood playing at the beach, in the woods, or by the burn separating it to Blandy. Have a look at the link below for more info on the township: My memories on Coldbackie
I Received A ''Royal Humane Society Award For Bravery'' For This...
I lived in Barbaraville (Alder Cottage) from roughly 1982-1987 with my parents before I moved away to work.
I loved this village and had many, many memories but one which is a big achievement for me was when ...
Two young guys from the village had made a 'homemade' raft and ventured out into the shallows of the bay but as any of you familiar with the bay will know there is a tremendously strong current during the change of tides.
Unfortunately due to these currents dragging them out towards the souters (tide going out) and the fact they were sinking!! the alarm was raised in the village. A teacher from Tain Royal Academy (who lived 3 or 4 houses down) arrived banging at the door, I since 12 have had my own boat hence arriving at my door considering I was 15 years old at this time.
The two of us waded out to reach my boat and made our way out to drag these two guys... Read more
Barbaraville..... My Childhood Home
I was born and brought up in Barbaraville, spending the first 27 years of my life there before moving to Culloden, near Inverness.
I will always remember it as an idyllic little place to grow up as a child. Many a happy hour was spent excavating the little sandbank just down from Sutor View in search of 'buried treasure' and fishing for sticklebacks in the burn at Delny.
I remember well the Jackdaw Hotel (a wild place!) with its own real live Jackdaw in a cage by the reception desk. The hotel is no more as it is now Mull Hall Residential Home where my 100 year old granny, Mabel, now lives.
I went to school at nearby Kilmuir Easter Primary which closed when I was in Primary 6 - it is now a furniture workshop and store. The late Miss Pirie was the formidable headmistress back then ... a brilliant teacher who drummed the importance of respect and decency into us ... I... Read more
