Branault is a crofting township on the road to Kilmory and Ockle. It has a permanent population of seven adults. Its name is derived from the Gaelic Bra'-nan-allt, the head of the streams.
It is an appropriate name, for Branault lies in the valley of the Achateny Water, a small river which flows out onto the north coast near Achateny. Above Branault, seen in the picture above, the stream is called the Allt an Doire Dharaich, and it drains an exceptionally beautiful, open valley, a place where herds of red deer and Ardnamurchan Estate animals graze. Its headwaters are Loch Mudle, visible here in the distance, and the streams which come down into that loch.
From the number of derelict stone houses, Branault once had a far higher population: these old croft houses, arranged in a ragged line and each surrounded by trees, are clearly visible from the Achateny road. Today, the Cameron's neatly tended farm is the only one which remains.A map of the area is here. Photos were taken in March - hence the snow on the hills.
Looks like a nice place my great great grandparents were from here orginally but had to move elsewhere because of the decline in crofting
ReplyDeleteHi Drew -
ReplyDeleteThere is an early photograph of Branault on the west Ardnamurchan Vintage Photograph site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainmacdonald/4284690071/in/pool-westardnamurchanvintagephotographs
The site is collecting early photographs of the area. if you have some which you'd like to share, please add them.
There are still many Stewarts in the area.
Jon
Cheers Jon
ReplyDeleteMy great great grandfather James Stewart was born in Branault worked a croft with his uncle at Swordle Chaol but they got forced out in the 1850's because the landowner Sir James Riddell wanted to turn area over to sheepfarming. After this he moved on to Glenmore then Aschonish then Calve Island, Gorten then finally Acarsaid. Bit of old personal history but always felt sad that he like many others were forced from there homes.
Unfortunately not got any older photo's but have viewed the photograph site and was very impressed by the content.
Drew
Hi Drew -
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you again. James Stewart's is a sad and terribly story, yet so many of those Scots who were forced out did so very well for themselves across the World. One of my ambitions is to see a heritage centre set up in Kilchoan where such stories could be collected - but another important purpose would be to celebrate those successes.
Hi Jon
ReplyDeleteWould be great to see that happen Jon still visit the area regularly as have relations who live near the peninsula and have became interested in the local history after researching my own family tree. Sure there would be many people with stories to tell all over world as I came across lots of people from Canada, America and Australia looking for their own Ardnamurchan ancestors whilst I was researching mine.
Drew
Hi Drew -
ReplyDeleteWould love to know which branch of the Ardnamurchan Stewarts you belong to. I have been lent a wonderful book called 'The Story of my Stewart and Campbell Origins' by Matthew Murray Chisholm. Does the name mean anything to you?
Sadly the book is a limit edition print and the author has none to spare, as it would have been one of the first books I would put into the future "West Ardnamurchan Ancestry Archive".
Would it be easier to contact me at jehaylett@btinternet.com?
Jon
Great idea and content Jon. I look forward to the opportunity to see the photographs and read some more of the history of the area. Thank you for sharing Jon.
ReplyDeleteSlainte,
Jon Green
Hello Jon. I am an Australian with Cameron forebears. My uncle did a lot of research in 1970s and now retired I am taking the opportunity of looking into them. He traced back our Cameron line to a James Cameron born in 1801 in Ardnamurchan. James' father was Donald Cameron and his mother Mary (nee Cameron). A bit of poking around on the internet and I see that a Donald Cameron and Catherine Cameron had a child, Chirsty, baptized in 1778 on 12 September in "Braynan outs". Is this possible a variation (or erroneous transcription) on the name for Branault (Bra-nan-allt)? Your opinion would be most appreciated. I am at a dead end here. Thank you, Gary Howard
ReplyDelete