Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCH LOMOND & AROUND
The 'bonnie banks' and 'bonnie braes' of Loch Lomond have long been Glasgow's rural
retreat - a scenic region of hills, lochs and healthy fresh air within easy reach of Scotland's
largest city (Loch Lomond is within an hour's drive of 70% of Scotland's population).
Since the 1930s Glaswegians have made a regular weekend exodus to the hills - by car, by
bike and on foot - and today the loch's popularity shows no sign of decreasing.
GAELIC & NORSE PLACE NAMES
Throughout the Highlands and islands the indigenous Gaelic language has left a rich legacy of place names.
They're often intermixed with Old Norse names left by Viking invaders. The spelling is now anglicised, but the
meaning is clear once you know what to look for. Here are a few more common Gaelic and Norse names and their
meanings.
Gaelic Place Names
ach, auch
- from
achadh
(field)
ard
- from
ard
or
aird
(height, hill)
avon
- from
abhainn
(river or stream)
bal
- from
baile
(village or homestead)
ban
- from
ban
(white, fair)
beg
- from
beag
(small)
ben
- from
beinn
(mountain)
buie
- from
buidhe
(yellow)
dal
- from
dail
(field or dale)
dow, dhu
- from
dubh
(black)
drum
- from
druim
(ridge or back)
dun
- from
dun
or
duin
(fort or castle)
glen
- from
gleann
(narrow valley)
gorm
- from
gorm
(blue)
gower, gour
- from
gabhar
(goat), eg Ardgour (height of the goats)
inch, insh
- from
inis
(island, water-meadow or resting place for cattle)
inver
- from
inbhir
(rivermouth or meeting of two rivers)
kil
- from
cille
(church), eg Kilmartin (Church of St Martin)
