Thursday 2 March 2017

Lochan Sron nan Sionnach

With the wind round in the northwest this morning, and the sun out, we walked up the track past the community's water supply, drawn from the Abhainn Chro Bheinn, one of the few watercourses which is called a river but which isn't any bigger than some of the other burns.

From the end of the track there are several routes that can be followed. The one we chose climbs steadily and, as one rises above the surrounding hills, so more and more views open out. This picture looks across the croft lands of Ormsaigmore to the Sound and Mull.

We didn't want to walk far, so our objective was Lochan Sron nan Sionnach, the lochan of the fox's nose, tucked into a small glen with Meall an Fhreiceadain rising behind it.  The Gaelic word fhreiceadain means guard or watch - which makes one wonder who or what they were looking out for.

As we walked along the shores of the lochan we watched a lone stag as he passed a small flock of sheep. He walked slowly, almost reluctantly, looking at them as if he envied them their friends.

From the high ground just to the west of the lochan there are views through to the northwest. The hill at left is Beinn na h-Imeilte, while the further of the line of peaks in the centre distance is Meall Sanna.

This looks across the centre of the peninsula towards the lighthouse. The lochans visible to the left are Lochan nan Ealachan, the lochan of the swan, and Lochan na Crannaig, the crannog lochan.

Moving rapidly towards us was a cloud which promised to soak us so we hurried down the hill - unnecessarily, as the cloud moved away to the east, leaving us to finish our walk in warm sunshine.

This is an ideal walk if you want something short but energetic, and which also offers good views.

Map courtesy StreetMap.

5 comments:

  1. loch na crannaig means The Pulpit Loch

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  2. This is lovely, I'd like to see more maps of your daily walks so we can all see where you're going.

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  3. and according to various dictionaries:
    churn, crosstree (nortical), perch, crow’s-nest, fillet (band for hair), hamper, mill-clapper, pulpit, snood, crannog and island dun.

    No wonder I have been unsuccessful in learning Gaelic from a book.

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  4. Hi Jon
    Interesting article on the Strontian floating church
    http://www.wicketgate.co.uk/issue85/e85_1.html
    I'm never sure about sending links so you had better check. Our old friend Riddell who cleansed our ancestors to Australia. Cheers Liz & Bruce

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  5. Many thanks, Elizabeth. I had seen this article before but had lost it, so am very grateful for the link. I’ll put the link onto the Heritage Ardnamurchan website. Jon

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