Highlands on eBothy Blog

welcome to the next generation environment environment

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The First Generation Environment enters our modern consciousness with the Picts, Vikings, Highlanders and sundry other groups to whom the environment was a source of fear. A place to be hurried through and not to be caught out at night. Devils, demons, gods, nymphs and sprites inhabited every rock, pool and hill. Places were named after the effects of the environment. Names like Carn Gluasad (moving), Aonach Air Chrith (shaken), Sgorr Gaoith (wind), Sgurr an Fheadain (chanter, from the noise of the wind). They also reflected the later conflicts of the First Generation. Names such as Meall an Fhudair (gunpowder), Coire a’Mhusgein (muskets), Beinn a’Chleidheimh (sword) and the politics, Sgurr nan Spainteach (Spanish), Stob Coire an Albannaich (Scotsman), Drium an Eireannaich (Irishman).

the first snows have arrived

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Had to go to Inverness on business today so managed to take some pics of the first snows of the winter, down to about 1500 feet. Not a drop on the Cuillin of either Skye or Rum though. It’s all on the mainland. Looks wonderful. Forecast for tomorrow is horrendous!

alladale project presentation at the mcofs agm

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

We were across at Glenmore Lodge for the MCofS AGM at the weekend, although we were primarily there for the birding seminar (which was a complete washout unfortunately), the hog roast (which was superb) and the ceildih (which we just watched as we were caught up in animated blethering with new friends we’d made!). We popped along to the lecture by Hugh Fullerton-Smith, Paul Lister’s project manager for the Alladale “re-wilding experiment” and I was interested how both Hugh and the assembled mountaineering audience would react to each other. I’ve blogged about this before, in Wild animals and fences and To wolf or not to wolf and I was hoping some of the confusion might be cleared up about the fence.

new online gear shop for the highlands

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

It’s a cracking wee shop and now it’s selling online. 9-1-4 Outdoor now has an eShop, with low postal rates to IV post codes. 9-1-4 is the place I finally found a new top after scouring the big names shops in the big cities. Thoroughly recommended. Also, if you live in the Eilean Donan/Skye/Kintail area, Patrick runs the Lochalsh Trail Club, a local hillwalking club.

whither gaelic

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I was reading the latest issue of An Gaidheal Ùr and came across an article by Joy Dunlop titled, “S truagh am meas a th’againn air ar dualchas fhèin”, which means “It’s sad the estimation we have of our own heritage”.

The article concerns Joy’s evening singing in the hall in Oban, a place I know well, being the hub for the southern islands, which I cycle toured for years in my early teens. It’s also a place I associate quite strongly with Gaelic. I know of three giants of the Gaelic world with Oban connections. Iain Mac a’Ghobhainn (Ian Cricthton Smith), Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul (Angus Peter Campbell) and Anna Latharna Nicgillìosa (Anne Lorne Gillies). Also, Argyll has very ancient Gaelic roots, with the Gaelic of Islay being the closest to the original language of the highlands, with the dialects becoming more diluted by Norse the further north you travel.