Breunalach was the stinking land, but named for what? Cruaidh-Leac, Loinn-na-Biorag, and Cladhan are from Richard Perry’s memoir of Glen Feshie. Allt Ghealain rises on The Maim and flows into the Dhé, east of Crathie. Allt an Beal rises on Càrn Damhaireach, the rut cairn, and flows into Allt Cristie Beag; Alexander says that broom related names appear so frequently because it was important for thatch and fodder. Am Beitheachann, which Watson gives as the little birch place, flows into the Quoich Water; this is now a fir wood and presumably birch were the pioneer species. Cnoc Chalmac is dedicated to St Colm. Canup is from the Gaelic, A’ Chairbh, the bent ridge (of a girth-saddle). Watson thinks that Drumargettie was named for silver, i.e. money, rather than pale grass. No-one now knows why Mòine Taibhseach was named the ghostly peat-moss. Tom Chluig is north-west of Bridge of Gairn.
bibliography
William Alexander: Place-names of Aberdeenshire
James Macdonald: Place-names of West Aberdeenshire
Richard Perry: In the High Cairngorms
Adam Watson: The Place Names of Upper Deeside
James Macdonald: Place-names of West Aberdeenshire
Richard Perry: In the High Cairngorms
Adam Watson: The Place Names of Upper Deeside
photography
sun striking Cnoc Chalmac, from Shiel of the Herds of Lawsie: Hannah Devereux, 2015
Gathering was commissioned by Hauser & Wirth, for the
Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar; the project was launched in 2015 and will conclude in
2018.
The artist residency at University of Aberdeen is
funded by The Leverhulme Trust; the project was launched in July 2016 and will
conclude May 2017.