Monday 10 January 2011

Achosnich

Achosnich means the field of sighing. While there must have been good reason for so naming this tiny settlement, today it's a peaceful place, a clutch of small dwellings set in a small valley of green fields cut into rugged, majestic scenery. It is seen, above, on a winter's morning, with the sun low in the south, the picture taken from the slopes of Bheinn Buidhe looking eastwards towards a distant Ben Hiant.

Achosnich is still an active crofting village with its fields supporting sheep and highland cattle, but its permanent population has fallen to four, one of whom is over 90. This is a view of the village from the nearby Sonachan Hotel.

The settlement grew at the point were the road to the Lighthouse turns off from the Portuairk road. Most of its houses are new, some modern, wood-framed built to fit in with the older, but one, the long building to the right, has been painstakingly clad in local stone so it blends into its landscape.

This picture shows the centre of the village, in which are found the three, original stone croft houses. Here, also, is a house which is available for rent, link here.

A map of the area is here.

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