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Polbain
Polbain maps
Historic maps of Polbain and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Polbain maps
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Memories of Polbain
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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
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.
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
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
Very, Very Happy Early Childhood
I spent eight years of my early childhood in Portree, my father James Argo was the Manager of the now Clydesdale Bank on the corner of the Square, my friend was Donnie Stewart whos father owned the largest store and sold almost everything. He owned a small boat and he and Annie McKinnon and I used to row in the bay and even rowed across to a small island. I loved Scoorybreck and my best girlfriend was Moira MacAllum. I think they are all dead now. I used to worship in the Episcopal church opposite the Drill Hall where they used to show lantern slides periodically. I have returned many times just to recall such happy memories. Roy and Rosemary Kemp were other friends, their father was the tailor.
