Towards Cam-allt and PhotoAchintee. by Peter Teago Teago

AN CARRANNACH The General Interest Magazine of Lochcarron, Shieldaig, Applecross, Kishorn, Torridon & Kinlochewe Districts

NO: 369 October 2018 £1.00

Applecross War Memorial

After four years of planning and fundraising, our Memorial is now up and soon to be dedicated.

Most communities throughout Britain erected memorials to remember and honour their men who made the ultimate sacrifice during both World Wars. Unlike most of its neighbours in the Highlands, Applecross never built a formal memorial.

The idea of building a monument has been mooted on and off over the years. In 2014, the impetus to rectify this anomaly came with the centenary of the outbreak of WW1 in 1914. A small group of us gathered together to begin fundraising - no mean task given the size of the community.

The Memorial and stone seat have been built by Andrew MacKenzie (Loch Dubh Stone, Lochcarron). The Memorial stone is polished Torridonian Sandstone - part of the Applecross Formation. It sits overlooking Applecross Bay just off the Cruary car park. Kenny MacBeath has done the groundwork which provides disabled access. Very special thanks and appreciation should be given publicly to Andrew and Kenny for providing Applecross with such a beautiful and fitting memorial.

Fundraising has been only a part of the work involved. Invaluable information about Applecross men and their families was vital to the research needed to identify and, sadly, confirm their deaths. This would not have been possible without the extensive information on those who served in both wars - men and women - put together by Alistair and Catriona McCowan of the Applecross Historical Society.

We would like to put on record our sincere thanks to all who supported us in our efforts. Without your help and encouragement this project would not have been possible. In particular, and in no specific order, we (Continued on page 2)

1 (Continued from page 1) AN CARRANNACH would like to thank the Applecross Trust for their generous help - both financial and practical. Alfie Published by An Carrannach Society, Lochcarron. Edwards deserves special mention for his Chairperson: Joanna Macpherson charitable donations and support for the project.

Deputy Chair Roger Cundiff Judith (Applecross Inn) for her unwavering and generous help - given freely over the past four Editorial Content Material for publication must be emailed to Michelle Teago at years. And, of course, all of you who have [email protected] or a phone supported us by attending our various functions call to 01520 722688 and Strupags - you all know who you are and we

Sub Editor Joanna Macpherson thank you most sincerely.

Area Representatives: There will be a formal Service of Dedication for the Memorial on Sunday 11 November - this year Applecross: Lenore Small 01520 744 337 marking the centenary of the Armistice 1914. All are welcome and we hope to see as many of you Kishorn: Carol Cocks 01520 733 213 there as possible. Full details of time and venue in Shieldaig: Lucy Kerr 01520 755 368 Torridon: November’s edition of An Carrannach.

Features: A Word from the Church/On Reflection Gardening – To be confirmed By Jane Ashley and Caroline Wales Nature Notes – Hatty Arthur – 01520 722 551 Email: [email protected]

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2 WEATHER RECORD - SLUMBAY AUGUST 2018

Max Temp Min Temp Rainfall in Date: in oC in oC inches 1 17.30 14.00 0.15 2 19.40 14.90 0.35 3 16.30 12.50 0.13 4 15.30 12.10 0.08 5 16.20 1.80 0.31 6 15.30 11.10 0.10 7 15.70 10.70 0.24 8 15.90 9.80 0.38 9 14.40 8.90 0.28 10 15.90 8.00 ----- 11 17.90 10.80 ----- 12 17.20 12.40 0.24 13 16.70 13.10 0.01 14 15.90 12.80 0.15 15 15.10 11.10 0.31 16 16.10 10.30 0.44 17 14.80 11.80 0.05 18 15.70 8.30 ----- 19 19.10 10.60 ----- 20 18.70 8.40 ----- 21 17.10 10.90 0.57 22 15.30 10.20 0.17 23 14.80 8.60 0.53 24 15.00 8.90 0.41 25 15.80 8.60 0.02 26 13.20 9.20 0.29 27 16.60 11.20 0.01 28 14.30 9.90 0.21 29 15.30 7.10 0.06 30 16.50 4.80 0.01 31 19.20 7.10 0.02 TOTAL AUG 2018 5.52 RUNNING TOTAL 2018 37.24 TOTAL AUG 2017 8.05 RUNNING TOTAL 2017 46.15

3 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND APPLECROSS, LOCHCARRON & TORRIDON Charity No: SCO32334 Times and Places of Worship for October 2018

7th October Lochcarron 10.30am Torridon Community Hall 1.00pm

14th October Lochcarron 10.30am Shieldaig 1.00pm Applecross 1.00pm

21st October Lochcarron 10.30am Kinlochewe 1.00pm

28th October Lochcarron 10.30am Applecross 1.00pm Shieldaig 1.00pm

Minister Rev. Anita Stutter Tel. 01520 722783 Email [email protected]

ALL ARE WELCOME

All Saints (Scottish Episcopal) Mission

FREE CHURCH LOCHCARRON & (part of the world-wide APPLECROSS Anglican Communion)

You are welcome at our services invites you to its monthly service in Lochcarron Church Street IV54 8YP Kinlochewe

Sunday 11am and 6 pm Harvest Festival

(Crèche and Sunday school) Sunday 7th October 2.30pm Midweek Wednesdays 7.30pm (Kinlochewe Church of Applecross Camusterrach IV54 8LU Scotland building) 3 pm every Sunday Celebrant and Preacher: Other events as intimated. Revd Pam Shinkins Scottish Charity SC038169 Everyone made welcome Rev M. Florit 01520 722999 Further info: (01445) 781346 [email protected] (Scottish Charity Number: SCO04655) www.freechurch.org

4 Next, harvest is a sign of God’s intention for human co-operation. Every single thing we eat ON symbolises the unity of human work and effort. Every apple we eat, every loaf of bread, every glass of milk, every bag of crisps – the list is REFLECTION endless - is a symbol of the commercial, industrial and agricultural network of human endeavour in our world. What would be on our dinner tables if we could only rely on what is in October is traditionally the month when the our gardens? Church gives thanks for the harvest with a Of course, harvest is also a symbol of the unity special service. My favourite harvest hymn of the world, for the unity of human endeavour has always been ‘We Plough the Fields and stretches right across it and our shopping Scatter’ which is almost the only one which baskets would be very boring without the doesn’t also have another agenda. Instead it co-operation of nearly every nation. This actually allows us to sing several verses, plus should sometimes be a matter of shame, a rousing chorus, in a simple expression of because we are enjoying food grown by men gratitude for God’s gifts. and women who work for a pittance. Our plenty Of course, a Harvest Festival service is an is their poverty. opportunity to give thanks to the architect of Creation who fashioned the earth so that it The unity of the world blesses aid workers who yields food for us to eat and with whom we co care for so many of the poor and neglected of -operate with good husbandry, intelligent our troubled world. It blesses those politicians agriculture and appropriate storage methods who show vision and conviction to bring justice to make sure there is a plentiful supply. and peace to all, and it blesses all who Thanksgiving there certainly must be, but contribute in so many ways toward equality symbols also help us to celebrate. and freedom for all God’s people. Simple thanksgiving must always be a part of First, harvest is a symbol of the unity of the Harvest Festival for our lives depend on a seasons, for all four must work together, a bountiful God who provides our daily bread. good harvest relying on them all playing an But Harvest must also speak of more than equal part. Thus, if our Winter doesn’t bring gratitude. It symbolises the unity of human enough snow and rain to seep through the endeavour and of a world deliberately ground and fill reservoirs the Spring growth fashioned within the purposes of God, to draw will be limited. If summer has less sun than nations together in inter-dependence and we expect then the grain won’t ripen, and this create the potential for peace. year with too much sun the yield will be much reduced as the quality of seed will also be Reverend Heather Widdows impoverished. This will endanger next year’s harvest. Of course, the dying leaves of Autumn Applecross Historical Society are also important to feed the earth, ready to World Wars- Home and Away receive the seed. One of my favourite religious ladies, the 14th The Society, with support from Tobar an Dualchais, will be holding an event in the Hall on 11th October at Century Mother Julian of Norwich, held a 7.30 pm. hazel nut in her hand and marvelled how a Funded by Bord na Gaidhlig, the Society is thing so small could sustain life and not researching the Applecross community and its service disintegrate. She concluded that it existed personnel during the two World Wars. One of the now, and forever, because God loved it. The outputs will be a published booklet, but at this stage, pattern of seed, growth, fruit and then seed we are keen to share the information gathered to date, again and again is the sign of the unity of and to see what else we can learn from those God’s intention, in which the Seasons fit attending. together into one creative purpose, like a As usual, tea and baking will be provided. Donations, million-piece jigsaw puzzle. on the night to Society Funds. Everyone will be most welcome.

5 NATURE NOTES encircle the body and wings gently with a towel, place it in a August 16th – September 15th 2018 cardboard box and put it in a quiet location (out of the sun, if there is any!). Don’t give it any food or water and release it October – “a great fulcrum of the to the sea at dusk, NOT during daylight hours or over land. It natural year during which the remnants might be a good idea to wear gloves and it is also suggested of summer are balanced against the you keep the bird away from your face. oncoming winter” …. “a month of shifting shades and colours. Gone is the I well remember watching large numbers of Manx gaudy green of spring and summer and Shearwaters early one evening a few years ago, whilst sitting we are in a world of reds and russets, sepias and chestnuts, on the cliffs just below Sabhal Mor Ostaig college on Skye - yellows and ochres … a dazzling autumnal panorama before it was a wonderful sight. the bleak, bare branches of winter”. 90% of the planet’s Manx Shearwaters nest in Britain and Ireland. Remarkably, most of these birds are thought to Sights and sounds of autumn time are everywhere. Curlews occur at just three sites: on the islands of Skokholm and calling from the shore, glorious leaf colours, masses of Skomer off the Pembrokeshire coast and on the Isle of different fungi, wonderfully coloured rosehips, stags roaring, Rhum……there is a sprinkling of other colonies mainly on shrubs covered with webs made by Orb spiders and choruses the west coasts of Ireland, Wales and Scotland, with small of tweets, cheeps and trills made by flocks of Great, Blue, outlying populations in Orkney and Shetland (Birds Coal and Long-tailed Tits as they bustle through the garden Britannica). in their winter groups. Even inside you’ll find signs of Various unusual nature sightings continue to crop up on the autumn as huge house spiders gallop across carpets (I’m sure BBC Scotland website…. the ones in the Bank House wear boots) – male spiders come A fish normally found in tropical waters has twice been into houses in autumn for shelter and mating opportunities. spotted off the west coast. It is the fourth time this year that a Some garden birds are beginning to call again – we have sunfish has been recorded by the Hebridean Whale and heard a Wren in full voice and Robins are announcing their Dolphin Trust. The Ocean Sunfish is the heaviest bony fish presence with their wistful, shrill calls. Our nesting Sparrows in the world, with an average weight of 998kg (2,200lbs) and which disappeared a few weeks ago (where they go I do not they can grow to well over 3 metres in length. The fish was know) seemed to return overnight. Suddenly, they were recorded on August 31st by the crew of a fishing boat off the back, sitting in the gutters and quarrelling as usual. north coast of Skye. A sunfish was also seen off Ardnamurchan a few days earlier. These fish, which drift In the garden ivy is now flowering, a plentiful source of nectar for late-flying butterflies and bees in September and October and the dark berries that last through until spring are a great food source for birds. During the lovely warm, sunny days we had in early September, there were good numbers of Golden-ringed Dragonflies about and Helen Murchison reported seeing large numbers of Peacock Butterflies in her garden, settled on a late flowering buddleia.

Swallows, House Martins and other summer visiting birds have left and our winter visiting birds are arriving. It’s a slightly sad moment when you look up into the sky and realise that our aerial feeders have left but there is, of course, the promise of the arrival of, for example, Redwings, Fieldfares, Whooper Swans, Bramblings, Wigeon and the great visual treat of skeins of Pink-footed Geese crossing the skies. Redwings and Fieldfares were seen in the area at the start of September. As I write this, I am half-watching a large group of the afore-mentioned Tits and travelling around the garden with them are five Goldcrests, Chaffinches and a couple of Tree creepers. Moving from tree to tree, they are foraging and feeding busily whilst keeping in a pretty tight-knit group, constantly giving contact calls. with ocean currents, were once rarely seen in Scotland but In early autumn, especially during/after stormy weather, it is boat operators have reported more sightings in recent years, not uncommon to find grounded Manx Shearwaters, with August being the peak month. They live on a diet of especially young ones and just such a thing happened up on mostly jellyfish and swim at depths of up to nearly 610m Croft Road very recently (not for the first time either). These (2,000ft). birds are related to Albatross and are superb flyers but they have great difficulty moving on land and if grounded will More whales have been found dead on the coasts of Scotland shuffle along on the ground, beating or fluttering their and Ireland following several stranding’s at the end of wings. By September, young birds are leaving their burrows. August. Eleven whales were found dead over the course of Parent birds leave their young at about 60 days old and the one week in August and the Whale & Dolphin Conservation chick then leaves the nest-burrow 6 to 9 days later and heads group said the toll had now risen to at least fifty-eight. In for the open ocean. The chick is on its own and Scotland, twenty whales were found beached in the Western inexperienced and its flight out to sea can be affected by bad Isles, sixteen in Argyll and Bute and two in the Highlands. weather and strong winds which disorientate it. There is also Twenty have stranded in Ireland. the possibility that these birds are attracted by bright lights on boats and on the mainland. A grounded Shearwater is Apparently, many of the animals that died Investigation incredibly vulnerable to gulls and other predators - should Programme and the Inverness-based Scottish Mwere you find one during the day approach it quietly from behind, Cuvire’s and True’s Beaked whales, which are a deep-diving

6 species. Some have been found dead along the shores of North Uist and Harris. The Whale & Dolphin Conservation group have asked the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Government to MacDonald investigate the stranding’s. The Cetacean Stranding’s arine I would like to send my most Animal Stranding’s Scheme are already investigating the occurrence. sincere thanks to the many people who expressed There won’t be any Nature Notes in the November edition of An Carrannach but it will be back in December. sympathy following the recent In the meantime, enjoy all that autumn offers in the natural world. death of my dear Mam, Bunty. Happy listening, looking and watching. She would have been so humbled. The phone calls, HATTY ARTHUR letters, cards, messages, Bank House 01520 722551 flowers, and personal [email protected] expressions were all of great comfort to us, as were the visits, and gifts of candles, food and baking. Special thanks go to the Doctors at the Torridon and Lochcarron Medical Practices who cared for Mam over many years; to the wonderful Staff of the Howard Doris Centre, past and present, who were always so caring, loving and kind, and who most certainly contributed to her achieving such a long life; to Rev. M. Florit for conducting the funeral service with such Thursday 4th October 2018, 8pm, Dornie Hall. sensitivity; to Donald Mull Theatre present TWO a play by Macdonald for his lovely Jim Cartwright presenting; to Angie and her Tickets: £12, £3 U18s team of helpers for organising Box office: 01599 577 296 and preparing such a Or tickets on the door wonderful post-funeral spread; Monday 29th, October 2018, to George MacLeod, 8pm, Plockton Hall. Undertaker, for his efficiency The Dime Notes - The Dime Notes present a and compassion, and to all fresh take on a timeless style, emphasizing the propulsive grooves and sultry melodies which made early jazz those who attended the funeral revolutionary, controversial, and wildly popular. and contributed so generously Tickets: £12, £3 U18s to the sum of £900 for the Box office: 01599 577 296 Howard Doris Centre. Thank Or tickets on the door. you all from the bottom of my heart. Meg MacLean, Annat, Torridon

7 PORTRAIT OF A VILLAGE Life for children in the post-war years was also very

different – the closest thing to email was a message in a Profile: Laela MacLean bottle. Laela and her friends made their own entertainment,

“I would not live anywhere including playing houses – using broken crockery found on else.” the seashore as plates, with rolled-up mud as sausages and pebbles for potatoes. “Children were also expected to help by Peter Barr with the chores,” Laela explains. “We had to feed the hens

and try to help milking the cows, as well as run errands and Lochcarron, September 7, 2018: It's easy to say that help out with housework.” The golden rule for youngsters Lochcarron has changed a lot since Laela MacLean was a then was “don't go near the water,” but when children got girl, but for her and many other people who grew up in the into mischief, they could be disciplined by anyone. “The village, the changes are more subtle than the physical community was an extension of the family,” Laela explains, appearance of the buildings or the number of shops. In those “and everyone knew everyone.” Laela contrasts this with a days, there were many local businesses including two recent conversation with a couple who passed by her garden. butchers, two bakers, three grocers, a dressmaker, tailor and “Are you enjoying your holiday here?” Laela asked them. shoemaker, but village life has been transformed in many “We're not on holiday,” the couple responded. “We've been other ways – most of them under the surface. living in Lochcarron for more than eight years now!” When Laela was born, the family home had no electricity or running water – never mind central heating, TV or The boundaries of Laela's childhood world were dictated by broadband. The arrival of electric power in the early 1950s how far she could walk. “Hunger drove us home,” she says. was a major event. As she wrote in her memoir, The old “We also had no watches – it was time to come home when black kettle, “The Tilly lamp was now, along with its the eight o'clock train passed.” paraffin-filled relatives, relegated to the shed. Electric power Some people may imagine that the diet in those days was had arrived! We danced up and down the stairs marvelling at basic compared with today, but most families had cows, and the two-way switch and darted outside to see the rooms lit there were plenty eggs and vegetables. As Laela wrote in up.” It was not just a new technology, she added, but also an her memoir, the scullery was full of bramble jam and rosehip entirely new vocabulary as words such as light switches, jelly, apple jam and chutney, cheese and salted butter, dried sockets and plugs became part of everyday life – along with fish and potatoes. People also shared their produce and the ever-present danger of electric shocks. helped each other in the fields. “Every activity was a

community activity,” says Laela.

Laela's little “corner of the world” may have changed since

her childhood, but one thing has not changed – she is still

surrounded by family. Her mother (from Northton on

Harris) and her father (a joiner and crofter) may be gone

now, and her husband Monty died in 2006, but from her

8 current home, a few hundred metres from where she was to communicate when they were younger,” she says. born, she can still keep an eye on her two children, Sheila “Speech is a very complex process that we take for granted. and Hector, and her three grandchildren, Mara, Martin and If we had to think about the precise placement and speed of

Kayleigh. Her brother Duncan and her sister Kirsty both our speech organs to produce even a simple word, we live on the hill above the former family home. wouldn't be saying much! Speech, body language , facial

expression and gesture all play their part in communication.”

Laela has not always lived so close to her family, however. The key to speech and language therapy is patience, says

After secondary school, when she boarded in Dingwall, she Laela. “Nothing improves overnight. But when you see the studied speech and language therapy in Glasgow. Even look of satisfaction on somebody's face when they make a though she'd never seen a tram before or visited such a large big breakthrough, you know all the hard work is worth it.” city, she soon found out that city folk knew less about the countryside than people in Lochcarron knew about life in the After she qualified in 1961, Laela worked in Aberdeen for city. In Glasgow, she also saw what life was like for people three years, before returning to Lochcarron to get married in in the slums, visiting homes in the Gorbals as part of her 1964 – she had known her husband Monty since primary training to assess children's language development, using school. “They say you have to work hard to get on and get toys to test their responses. away,” says Laela, “but I didn't want to get away! And I

Laela always wanted to work in a caring profession, but she wouldn't live anywhere else.” laughs when she recalls how many people used to think In the early 1970s, when her children were school age, Laela speech therapy was all about learning to “speak posh.” For went back to work, based in Skye and Lochalsh. “Someone her, it is all about helping people to communicate. “Many discovered that there was a speech therapist living in children with speech and language problems lack Lochcarron, so I got the job!” Apart from a spell looking stimulation,” she explains, “or may not speak because their after her parents, she carried on till 1993, then worked in the elder siblings speak on their behalf.” Laela also helped Howard Doris Centre as a day-care assistant from 1996- children with medical conditions such as Down's Syndrome and autism, as well as people recovering after a stroke, working closely with families and other professionals.

Over the years, speech and language therapy has seen many major advances. For example, during her career, Laela used a technique called Makaton, a universal sign language designed to promote communication, based on the theory that the area of the brain that deals with language is closely connected to the part which controls our hands – stimulate one and it improves the other. Laela also used a “touch talker,” which helps people communicate by pointing at symbols. “Many children simply didn't get the opportunity (Continued on page 10)

9 (Continued from page 9)

2000. Nowadays, she enjoys reading and writing, tending to her garden, knitting for charity, going to Spain every year – and learning Spanish. In her fifties, she also learned Gaelic.

“When I was growing up, we didn't speak Gaelic at home.

Our parents only used it so we wouldn't know what they were saying,” she reveals.

As Laela herself says, “the memory plays tricks” on us, but she believes it is important to remember what life was like when she was growing up, and pass on her memories to the younger generation. “I also wish I'd listened more to my

Granny,” she confesses.

Over the years, many local people have migrated to the city, but now a lot of city dwellers dream of life in the Highlands.

In recent years, Laela has also met people whose ancestors came from Lochcarron returning to live in the village, while others who grew up here like her own daughter Sheila have also returned to their roots. Like Laela, they wouldn't live anywhere else.

Laela says: "I would not live anywhere else.” THANK YOU I would like to thank everyone who sent Available by ordering flowers, cards and baking after my recent stay in hospital. They were greatly online or from local appreciated. retail outlets. To Dr Helen Stuart for attending on the Visit night and to the Broadford, Inverness and Aberdeen ambulance crews, and of course www.lochcarron.org.uk to Dave, for all the cooking and endless for information about cups of tea. I am back to health again, but taking a break local events, where to from doing treatments for a little while. stay, eat, shop and visit.

Many thanks for all the kind thoughts, visits and messages. Mhoira Murray

10 What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and wilderness? Let them be left, Lochcarron Camanachd O let them be left, wilderness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. Top of the table Lovat welcomed Gerard Manley Hopkins Lochcarron to Balgate on the 25th The pegs, like swallows’ tails flutter on the line August in this North Division 2 and the berries on the rowan are already turning to clash. If Lochcarron were going to rusty red. Rose-hips throng the dog-rose bushes, stand any chance of winning the title this year, this was a must win game. Lovat began the plump, almost tomato-like in their range of shape game at a fast pace and were creating a number of chances and colour. And in the middle of the front garden, up front, but nothing really threatening the away goal. silent for the moment, is one small electric device The home side continued to push hard for the opener and to hold the wilderness garden in check- the nearly took the lead through the leagues top goal scorer mower! Raymond Rennie, his half volley from 15 yards was right Through its restoration of temporary and visible on target, but Lochcarron ‘keeper ‘Ronnie’ Cameron made an outstanding save to keep things level. The visitors order, best viewed from one of the upstairs defence was working hard to keep the score level but were bedroom windows, yet more life forms are eventually beaten when Cameron MacMillan crashed the revealed. The metallic sheen of the sloe worm as it ball home into the roof of the net from 20 yards. slithers off to find a new hiding spot; the alert interest of small birds; and the grumpy toad Crisdean Finlayson started to take control in the middle of disturbed by all the commotion. the pitch and Lochcarron were beginning to see more of The gravel path is a tribute to the weeds, whose the ball in the attacking half, Andrew Ford forced a save out of the Lovat goalie and from the resulting corner Niall persistence is relentless and progressive. Scurrying Arnott scored a brilliant overhead volley to continue his back and forth from the trellis surrounding the goal scoring run and square the game up at 1-1 after half oil-tank to the bird -feeder is a determined an hour. Going level gave Lochcarron a lot of extended family of mice-foraging and gathering encouragement to push for another and as the first have crumbs and dropped peanuts. Walking around my was coming to a close they were looking the stronger of garden, the second flowering of roses is coming the two teams, Liam Arnott creating a bit of space on the right tried his luck, but his shot went over the bar and that into bloom and a distinctive red montbretia thinks was the last action of the half. Half time score: Lovat 1, it’s time to show off. Lochcarron 1. The burn, running parallel to the boundary fence has water in it once more-but it is not singing yet, Lochcarron began the second half like they ended the first as it gently trickles down to the road. Though past and went on the attack straight from the throw up, Angus its best, the honey-suckle continues to perfume the Urquhart picked the ball up in the centre, his strong run evening and the almost full moon illuminates the saw him take the ball forward where he put Liam Arnott clear through on goal, but his powerful shot failed to hit mind as much as it does the night sky. the target. Lovat’s fitness was beginning to show and they Some 15 years ago in Lingen (Lower Saxony) I were starting to find themselves in the attacking third visited a garden project where young children and more often, they went close to taking the lead once again their parents were being taught to “let things rot” when Rennie worked a bit of space, struck a rasper of a to encourage wildlife and natural regeneration- the shot, but Lochcarron goalie Cameron produced an over-ordered garden not providing the natural excellent save to keep the scores even. After 60 minutes played Lovat won a free hit close to goal, with Martin Bell habitat that all life forms so need. I think about over the ball he played a short pass into Rennie, he then this when the list of gardening jobs gets no shorter flicked the ball up and on the turn struck a half volley hard and reflect that, as long as I get the mower out and low that gave Cameron no chance in the net, making every so often-my inner gardener is satisfied. The the score 2-1. reward is that the outer garden, in its wild aspect, is a haven for birds, bees, butterflies and The game wasn’t over by any means and the west coast dragonflies. It also attracts the bold pine martin side would go close again, Andrew Ford closing down Lovat’s full back to win the ball and force the home and the hammer-headed woodpecker, who seems ‘keeper into conceding a corner. With only minutes to appreciate the offerings of the bird feeder, and I remaining and both sides showing the effects of the hard in turn appreciate his regular visits. work put in through the afternoon, only one more real But the last word must go to the king of territories chance would come, looking to finish the game off, (no, not the stag!) but the bossy robin-who is past Lovat’s young wing forward took the ball past the wing master at sorting out the pecking order around the back and unleashed a shot but it went just wide of the post. The final whistle was blown, Lochcarron’s chances bird table. Some folk believe that the robin of the league title over, Lovat only one win away from represents the spirit of a dead family securing North Division 2. Full time score: Lovat 2, member- who is dropping by to keep a beady eye Lochcarron 1. on things. Who knows?

Dates for your diary: 6th October – Inverness (A) Sue Mitchell 13th October – Kilmallie (A)

11 The Coming of the Railway it was the prospect of the oil industry that needed to transport heavy freight, which swung the decision in By 1864 there was a railway line from Dingwall giving our favour. For a while Stromeferry was busy with direct access to the South. Joseph Mitchell, a renowned freight, and passenger traffic increased at Strathcarron, engineer, turned his attention to the West coast. He but those days are long gone. What next I wonder? made a preliminary survey and recommended that the Helen Murchison railway should run from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh. The seas teemed with fish, which could quickly be Kishorn Notes transported to the centres of population. Livestock would no longer have to be walked along the drove With October upon us, we find ourselves mindful of road to say Falkirk, as an example, and the tourist John Keats words 'the Season of mists and mellow industry would flourish. fruitfulness'. Certainly, this autumn has been very Joseph Mitchell called a meeting of landowners and fruitful with abundant crops of blackberries, apples possible investors to be held in the Caledonian Hotel in dripping off the trees and an awe-inspiring variety of Inverness on 5th July 1864. fungi to be seen. (See the Fungi Day article) Our Most landowners were enthusiastic supporters but runner beans have produced enough to feed everyone naturally not everyone approved. Lord Hill of on the North Coast 500 route (well...a bit of an Achnashellach was...and continued to be...particularly exaggeration) but we have had an explosive crop. difficult. The mists have been here too, interspersed with Nevertheless a bill was presented to Parliament and in rainbows, patches of bright blue sky and some very spite of objections an Act was passed on the 5th July strong winds. 1865 authorising the construction of the line. It took Nigel and Hilary Macleod lost their Pioneer dingy from three years for difficulties and objections to be its mooring, and it was spotted on the Dell about 9.30 overcome but at last the way was clear for the one evening, a black night with rain lashing down and construction of the Dingwall to Skye Railway to be a high wind. Nigel wishes to record his thanks to the built in three sections. The middle section was to end at observant and considerate young man who knocked on Attadale, but a new engineer John Fowler was adamant his door to alert him of the broken mooring on this that the line reached Strome. horrible night. In the heat of the moment he neglected Work began immediately. A labour force was hired to ask the rescuer his name ...or where he lived, as he and accommodated in huts. Many were fishermen who wanted to say how grateful he was and what a great worked seasonally; others had worked on the place Kishorn is to live! Certainly, it has been our Caledonian Canal. Most of the work was sheer manual experience that the boating fraternity look after each labour. The men worked diligently (weather other. permitting) so that by the following year a line had The Walk and Sketch course brought artists once more been laid from Attadale to Craig. Everything required to Brynaport where Christine Morrison has tutored the had been sent by sea. Sleepers, rails, and even a students in typical West Coast weather! Despite the locomotive, which ran along the line moving goods. rain, the enthusiasm is always apparent for an No suitable stone for building bridges was found so this was sent from Applecross by boat. No wonder they enjoyable opportunity to draw in this wild landscape. needed 300 to 400 men. As the pressure grew to complete the line the numbers grew to about 1000 men. Lochcarron Community Fund Many difficulties were encountered and overcome. The Annual disbursement from the Allt a weather appeared to have been just as wet and stormy Chonais Hydro Scheme to the Community. as it is now. At last the most challenging section from The scheme is open for bids. £4600+ Attadale was complete and the line opened on August available! th 19 1870. Stromeferry became a hive of activity with Applications to the Lochcarron Community its facilities for the fishing industry. It was to be 2nd November1897 before the railway reached the Kyle of Fund are encouraged from individuals and Lochalsh. groups within the LCC area. Projects must be One of the advantages of the railway was that it for the benefit of residents within the LCC provided long-term employment. The clearances were area. a very recent memory and a job on the railways gave a degree of independence from the whims of a landlord Applications can be made ANYTIME for or Estate Factor. Every station had a stationmaster and the LCC to consider at their next meeting. a porter. The busier ones like Strathcarron, Applications MUST BE MADE FULLY IN Achanasheen and Garve, had several porters and they had hotels which, as well as accommodation, had BOTH ELECTRONIC AND PAPER FORM. horses to hire. Mail contracts were let at Strathcarron Application forms can be obtained from the and Sheildaig. Secretary, Lochcarron Community Council, Maintenance workers walked the line every day Jacob House, Croft Road, Lochcarron, IV54 whatever the weather until the age of technology made 8YA or them redundant together with the rest of the staff. We nearly lost this railway in the proposed 'Beeching email:lochcarroncommunitycouncil@hotmail. 'cuts in the early 1970's. A vigorous campaign to save com: the line gained much national sympathy, but in the end

12 In this issue Your work is very tactile, do you spend much Gallery time selecting just the right piece of wood? Newsletter Interview with I guess you could say so, yes. When I am looking Liam MacKay October through whisky staves, it can be quite difficult to

2018 know which will end up looking good and which will Landmarks: not. It is only when you get to know the piece of Autumn Exhibition wood by sanding it down that you realise what it is going to be. It can also be quite difficult making This month’s edition introduces one of our newest products from the staves as they curve and bend; this makers…. makes it a challenge when trying to create a product. Liam MacKay of Dachaigh. The Gallery currently The thing I really like is that all the staves are totally stocks his beautiful clocks inset with tweed and a different, so this makes every item unique. range of tealight holders. What has been your biggest challenge in the past Whisky Barrel Stave Woodworks 12 months?

What or Who inspired you to start your business? My biggest challenge has been trying to get my business off the ground so that I can begin live off I guess you can say it all started with watching my work. I have started small, but I am now television on a stormy and wet day. There is a managing to get my name recognised. programme called Money for Nothing where they go around recycling points and take away what was due to Where can we find your work? be recycled. They turn this “junk” into beautiful items Locally my work can currently be found in the and this really got me thinking that there is far too Torridon Gallery and the Bealach Café & Gallery at much waste these days. So, this is really where it all the start of the Applecross pass. Crafted in Moray in started for me after I was lucky enough to come across Elgin & Craftiness in Fort Augustus also both stock some whisky barrel staves. I soon started my research some of my work. www.dachaigh.co.uk to turn this old wood into items for around the home This is why I decided to call my business, Dachaigh which is Home in Gaelic. The ethos of your work is very much on trend right now, are you tempted to re / upcycle other materials too or do you want to expand your product range? Currently I am mainly working with Whisky Staves as this is really the thing that started my business. As it is in my first year in business, I plan to expand my product range with my skills in time. There are so many things that I plan to make but I have to find the LANDMARKS………. Our annual Autumn time to produce them. Exhibition at the Gallery, celebrating ‘Out There in Torridon’ has already received submissions of work from many artists and craftworkers among them Katherine Sutherland, Sarah Dunton, Ken Bryan, Clare Blois & Vicky Barrett-Webb. It runs from 1st October. A book produced by local authors, ‘The PLACE- NAMES OF LOCH TORRIDON’ was launched in late June at the Loch Torridon Community Centre. It records the many Gaelic names for features that were important to the people, living and working both on the land and at sea. It is for sale at the Centre along with other local writers work. Address Loch Torridon Community Centre Torridon, By Achnasheen Ross-shire, IV22 2EZ Email: manager@lochtorridoncentre. co.uk Tel: 01445 791 361 Website: www.lochtorridoncentre.co.uk Summer 24 March – October 31st Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm Closed Sunday 13 Stromeferry Rock Works - September to November 2018

Road to Rail Diversion Operating Timetable (issued 10.08.18)

Step 1 From 3 September, the A890 will be closed overnight between the two permanent road closure gates at Ardnarff and west of Attadale between 10pm and 7am. The road will have traffic control in operation during the day between 7am and 10pm whilst a road to rail bypass road is installed. The Contractor has been allowed up to two weeks for the installation of the bypass road but may complete this sooner. Step 2 Once the road to rail bypass is installed, a timetable of opening slots between trains will come into operation (see below). It will be available for use between 7am and 10pm by traffic which is less than 7.5 tonnes (box vans which are less than 8 metres and mini buses and cars towing caravans which are less than 10.8 metres). Traffic over these limits will not be permitted to use the bypass and will have to divert using the A87, A82, A832 and A890. The road to rail bypass will be closed to all traffic between the hours of 10pm and 7am. The rock works are expected to take up to 10 weeks.

Road will be OPEN at the following times:

Monday to Saturday - based on published train schedule

*07:10 to 10:30. Times changed to 07:10 to 08:25 and 09:40 to 10:30 on 19/09, 26/09, 03/10 and 16/10

Time changed to 08:10 to 10:30 on 10/10 11:35 to 11:55

**14:25 to 15:20 Road closed at this time on 18/09, 25/09, 2/10 and 15/10

16:25 to 17:00

***17:50 to 19:35 Road closed at this time on 9/10

20:40 to 22:00

Sundays until 30th September - based on published train schedule

07:10 to 10:10

11:15 to 13:00

13:50 to 15:00

16:05 to 19:55

20:45 to 22:00

Sundays from 7th October - based on published train schedule

07:10 to 13:00

13:50 to 15:00

16:05 to 22:00

Please Note: If trains are delayed then variations may occur Step 3 Once the rock works are completed, the road to rail bypass will be removed. During this time, the A890 will be closed overnight between the two permanent road closure gates at Ardnarff and west of Attadale between 10pm and 7am. The road will have traffic control in operation during the day between 7am and 10pm. Road to be fully re-opened by 24 November. More details at Highland Council website search for Stromeferry bypass

14 Lochcarron Sailing Club News

Many congratulations to Ori Woods who qualified as a Dinghy instructor in September.

In August, we held our annual Hello everyone PC Craig Allan here, every couple of months regatta. 15 sailors taking part I will be giving you some information that you may find over the weekend. There were contrasting weather useful and are able to share with your friends. This is based conditions on the two days: Saturday was windy, Sunday on any current trends in the area so don’t worry, its purely calmer. Steve Patch won the regatta, only 1 point ahead of just to raise awareness in the local community. This month I Morven MacLean from Gairloch. Matthew Goodman was have some advice on bogus callers and door step crime. the first junior, and Vivienne Goodman was the only topper sailor, therefore first slow handicap boat. Many thanks to What is Doorstep Crime? the team of volunteers who helped with preparation, rescue boats, and on the race officer team. Particular thanks to There are two main types: Annie Baker Patch for catering the entire weekend, including the regatta meal on Saturday night, and to Davie Bogus callers try to get into your home or obtain personal Johnson for bringing “Meridian” to be the committee boat. details by pretending to be someone they’re not, including: Council staff On September 1st, Lochcarron hosted the Gunn trophy. Meter readers This is an annual junior team event, raced in teams of 3 Police officers Topper dinghies. 15 juniors took part, with teams from Portree, Plockton, Gairloch, and Lochcarron. In reality, they are criminals trying to steal cash and Congratulations to the Plockton A team who won for the valuables. second year in a row, and to runners up Portree. Also thanks once again to the great team of people who helped Rogue traders usually cold-call, claiming to be workers this event to run, and to Keith Jones for bringing “Island offering to make repairs or carry out work on your house, girl” to be the committee boat. garden or driveway. In reality they charge inflated prices for shoddy or unnecessary work. We DO NOT recommend The sailing club main season is drawing to a close, and the dealing with cold-callers for property maintenance and sailing dates for October are listed below. The final fling is repairs to your home. a fun evening that brings Wednesday night sailing to a close - all sailors young and old are welcome to a fun What can I do? evening of games on the water. The following Saturday, 13th October, all members are welcome to help with Be on guard if someone turns up unexpectedly de-rigging: putting the boats and equipment into winter Use a door chain or bar storage. This is from 11am, lunch provided. Help for any Always put the chain on before opening the door amount of time is much appreciated. Keep it on while talking to callers Don’t feel embarrassed– genuine callers expect you to be Regular Sunday racing has continued throughout careful September, and we are hoping to continue some racing If you don’t have a door chain, check from the nearest through the late autumn. Please keep an eye on the window. Remember, door chains can be easily fitted. facebook page and email for dates. Any adult who has been If your not sure, don’t answer the door. on an RYA course, and juniors stage 2 and up, are welcome to come and sail. There is no need for experience of racing. Who should I call…? If you are planning to come, please arrive about 30 minutes before the stated start time to allow for boat preparation. ...if you feel threatened, unsafe or suspicious of a caller?

Contact the police immediately on 999 Events for October: ...if you see something suspicious in our area, or want more Wednesday 10th October: advice about doorstep crime? Final fling - the last Wednesday night sailing - games on the water: basket ball, tail tag, ball chase and others. Contact the police on 101 From 4.30pm. Try and take a note of vehicle details or registration numbers and descriptions of anyone suspicious. Saturday 13th October: De-rigging: All welcome to help tidy the boat park and Remember this is not based on any recent incidents and we pack the boats and equipment away for the winter. From are still very lucky to live in such a safe and wonderful 11am. place. But it’s always good to be on guard and be aware that times Friday 9th November: are changing and we now live on a busy part of the NC 500, Laying up supper - an evening of food, annual awards, and we don’t always know who is in our community now. games and a quiz.

15 Lochcarron Leisure Centre Update.

Fund raising continues!

Once again, many thanks are due to Lisa Petrie and her stalwart band of helpers. In June we reported that her highly successful Prosecco Night raised over £1,000.00. This month she surpassed even that by organising a team to take part on "The Beast". This endurance /assault course was undertaken by Lisa, Hannah Stirling, Leanda Courtney, Lisa Fraser, Lily Gilroy, Levi Flannagan, Fiona Cameron and Vicki Saggars. Together they and their sponsors have raised over £1,100 this time!! Many many thanks for your efforts.

That's the good news.... The not so good news is that we have been unsuccessful in our Awards for All grant application. It was explained that Lottery funds are not as plentiful as in the past and they were unable to support our application to support the employment of a development officer to produce a Feasibility Study and Funding Plan.

Accordingly, we plan to redouble our efforts to raise funds ourselves. In addition to making direct requests we plan to run more local events over the next few months. Our bank balance stands at just over £4,000. We believe we would need to have about £10,000 to employ a project officer part-time for six months to take us to the next stage.

Please support us and keep your eyes peeled for notices about events around the village and in the An Carrannach.

David Murray SAMARITANS Whatever you’ve done. Whatever life’s done to you. Call Samaritans. No pressure. No judgement. We’re here for you any time. 0845 790 9090.

16 17 exhibition at Inverness Museum from the end of November LOCHCARRON LIBRARY NEWS 2018 to Feb 2019. There has been an HLH working party planning this for a number of months deciding how each service can best support and promote this event. It has been As I carry out my annual task of agreed that all libraries will be involved. The October preparing gold medals and certificates for holidays have identified as the best time to run activities to the summer Reading challenge, I’m looking promote the exhibition. Therefore, with this in mind, each Tuesday morning from about 11.30am during the October over my list seeing if any new names have th th appeared in addition to our usual holidays, that is on Tuesday 9 & Tuesday 16 Lochcarron ‘rocksteady’ cohort! This year, there were 13 children that Library will run a very general Dino or Dinosaur themed completed the challenge including 7 who had never before Bookbug rhyme & story time. But seeing as it’s in the taken part, which is brilliant! Naturally many more were holidays when many of you could be away, we can’t capable of reading 6 books over the summer, but 13 was the guarantee attendance, so please be aware the library WILL number who determinedly showed up at the library (on be open to the public, and operating as normal during these several occasions) and completed the task. And of course, sessions! As I will be running the library as well as doing the they also, very dutifully returned their books too. Many may session, your patience will most definitely be required. Also, question the need of bringing children to us especially as our anyone attending these sessions, please feel free to dress up marvellous HLH mobile library regularly visits the school Dino style! and playgroup. However, I beg to differ on this. At th th Lochcarron Library, we run an extremely diverse service: Please also be aware that Monday 8 October to Friday 12 any age group can comfortably indulge their love of books, October is Libraries Week. And this year the focus will be use our Wi-Fi, or our public access terminals, print or on wellbeing. The intention is that all libraries will showcase photocopy – pick up a leaflet or two or just sit back how they bring communities together. This might be contentedly and well, …read! Occasionally the resident something simple like using the library for Community librarian might chat - hopefully not too often, but usually she Board Meetings or to host Bridge like we do here in takes the hint…Yes, here at the library we are a convenient Lochcarron. We also have a great selection of wellbeing and hub/meeting place or venue for several groups. As well, our health books (Shelf mark 610-617), and these books will noticeboards are full with ‘What’s on’ in the local area. So, clearly all be on display during this week. in my opinion we provide a most rounded service and as we are definitely not on wheels you could say a grounded Well I think that’s more than enough to be chewing on this service too! month, so can I please refer you to our opening hours and our contact details, which are as follows: Over the years our Chatterbooks ‘graduates’ have gone on to do many things, some eventually going straight into Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm 6.00pm-8.00pm apprenticeships, or into very good schools or universities. Wednesday 2.00pm-4.30pm But the one thing I can safely generalise and say, is that they Friday 2.00pm-4.30pm have all gone on to something, often ‘fuelled’ by their love Telephone: 01520 722679 of reading and finding things out! And yes, here at Email : [email protected] Lochcarron Library we are always interested to hear where our old timers have got to, so please remember to keep us up to date the next time you are in. On a final ‘kiddies’ note, whilst I was on sick leave, a beautiful brown silky-coated seal visited the library, and decided to stay in the children’s section. The seal enjoyed reading books so much that it is still here, so my line manager decided to let the children give it a name. And yes, you guessed it – Silkie is the name.

In these very straitened times, apart from using our facilities, borrowing books etc. there are many ways to help libraries in the 21st first century. As predicted in past Library News articles, interest in reading books digitally via tablet devices or e-readers appears to have plateaued. But through e-reading, many people have actually ‘come back’ to reading, and said to themselves why don’t I try a ‘proper’ book? And of course, they have, which to my mind reinforces the very need for libraries in the 21st century. Therefore, I would like to refer you to www.highlifehighland.com/LYL The LYL stands for ‘Love your library’ And there are various ways to do just that, either by making a monetary donation or a book donation. Any donated books will now carry a colourful LYL insert referring to who made the donation. And as some other establishment likes to keep reminding us Every Little bit helps.

As some of you may already be aware HLH are gearing up for a fantastic celebration of dinosaurs towards the end of the year.

The centrepiece will be an amazing Dino Blockbuster

18 Strathcarron Project supporting the Howard Doris Centre

Dear Judy

Thank you for your letter, you have prompted me to reply. I am busy as ever but in a more relaxed way. I do miss seeing my friends and customers from my weekly visits to Applecross. Very fond memories of characters, some of who sadly are no longer with us.

We are so fortunate to have the Howard Doris Centre which has 5 star accommodation and benefits the whole community as you so rightly point out.

Funding has become an issue, but with an input from the community we can hopefully make up the shortfall.

With my memory lapses, I may be booking a bed ahead (missed last meeting, brain fog!!) whereas you are still in the prime of life, but our shared sentiments may help to raise a few bob for the Centre. Your Dad, my Mum, and also my Mother in law had such first class care, we are forever indebted to the amazing staff at HDC.

Hopefully we can hang around to benefit from the Centre, and in the meantime, do all we can to make sure there is financial security to enhance the services provided for the patrons.

Shall visit you soon in the Inn to catch up.

Cheers

Roddy

19 Other regular weekly events

Sunday Praise and worship, Main Lounge, 4.00pm Monday 1 October Monday & Friday Poetry, Library 11:30am Bridge Group, Library, 1.30pm Wednesday 3 October Monday Skittles, Lounge 1:45pm Cross Stitch & Tapestry, Lounge, 2.00pm Thursday 4 October Tuesday Guided imagery, Small Lounge 11:30am Knit and Knatter, Small Lounge, 2.00pm Shopping in Dingwall, Packed Lunch??? Friday 5 October Wednesday Janes craft workshop, Lounge 1;45pm Quilting & Patchwork Group, a chat if you prefer. Dining Room, 2.00pm Men Shed, Bealach Café

Monday 8 October Our website address is www.HowardDorisCentre.org.uk. Back pain awareness week, All Week Tai Chi, Dining Room 11:30am Raiki, Small Lounge 11:30am Tuesday 9 October Police Talk, Lounge 1:45pm The Howard Doris Centre needs Wednesday 10 October Bridge the years, Lounge 2:00pm your help! Whist Evening, Lounge 7:30pm Thursday 11 October Discover your Creativity, Lounge 11:30am Exercise class, Dining room 11:30am The Strathcarron project which Boccia Bowling, Lounge 1:45pm runs the Howard Doris Centre is Friday 12 October Photography, Lounge 1:45pm raising funds to cover future Monday 15 October Gardening Day shortfalls in funding. Film Club ,Lounge 1:45pm Tuesday 16 October Dementia Awareness Session, Lounge 10:30am Please support us. Become a Singing for fun with Hatty, Small Lounge 11:30am Wednesday 17 October Friend of The Strathcarron Project North coast 50, After Lunch Christmas shopping with a regular donation by direct Thursday 18 October debit Guided Imagery, Small Lounge 11:30am Skittles, Lounge 1:45pm Friday 19 October Points of view, Small Lounge 1:30pm Why are we asking for your help? Men shed, Bealach Café Tuesday 23 October Fit as a Fiddle, Small Lounge 11:30am Austerity has hit local councils and Boccia Bowling, Lounge 1:45pm Wednesday 24 October integrated NHS services hard. Pampered Palms, Lounge 11:00am Thursday 25 October Please email Discover your Creativity, Lounge 11:30am Harvest Lunch [email protected] or Friday 26 October pick up a form at Howard Doris Drama, Lounge 1:45pm Monday 29 October Centre reception. Bring & Buy stall, All week Tuesday 30 October Singing for fun with Hatty, Small lounge 11:30am More details are available on Three Degrees meeting, 11:30am Wednesday 31 October www.strathcarronproject.org Halloween themed lunch Halloween Bingo, Lounge 1:45pm We look forward to hearing from

you.

20 October @ THE INN Thursday the 4th – Tarneybackle playing Scottish/Folk music in the bar from 9pm Tarneybackle are a talented and fun Scottish group (from Perthshire) who play regularly throughout the year at the Inn. Playing a mixture of traditional and contemporary Scottish folk music it’s always a great lively night in the bar!

Friday the 5th till Sunday the 21st – The RNLI Fish Supper Fundraiser This year the Inn is participating in the RNLI Fish Supper. It is an annual charity event (run by the RNLI) to help raise funds for their invaluable lifesaving work. The idea is to have as much as fun as possible with Fish (not necessarily Judith Fish!) whilst raising money for the RNLI. We are still finalising our participation, but our normal range of fantastic seafood dishes will be on offer – famous fish & chips, locally caught langoustines, crab salad. We hope to run a fundraising evening during this time too so please check our website/Facebook page. Please support this vital charity which is invaluable to fishing villages such as Applecross.

Sunday the 7th – LOCAL MUSICIANS – from 3pm-6pm in the bar The local musicians from Lochcarron play a mix of Scottish traditional and popular tunes. Other musicians are welcome to join in. A great afternoon of music, food, and drinks! All welcome. The musicians are volunteers so please check our website or Facebook page nearer the time as it is a bit dependable on availability.

Applecross Inn-Side Out Our very popular shiny take away food truck is normally open from 10am to 6pm, weather permitting. Serving our famous fish & chips, freshly made sandwiches, snacks, hot and cold drinks, and ice-creams from Applecross Ices. We now have gluten free cones available and some great new wraps are on the menu too. Check out the Inn on the other side! October will be the last month of the van being open for this year and as the weather becomes (more) unpredictable, it’s operating hours will vary. If you are coming specially to visit the van, and the weather is a bit inclement on the day, please give us a call 01520 744 262 to check the opening times.

Applecross Brewing Company All 3 ales Applecross (Pale Ale), Sanctuary (Red) and Inner Sound (Black) are now available on tap in the pub and selling very well! We are reliably informed that all 3 will be available in 500ml bottles by October. Please admire the lovely art work when all 3 are lined up. They make a great present or souvenir (Christmas is coming…) Please ask at the bar for more info.

November Closing @ the Inn – Heads up… The Inn will be closing for some time during November for some essential refurbishments and repairs. The details will be finalised by the end of September so will be published fully in next months (November) An Carranach and on our website/Facebook page soon. Please check out our events calendar on the website for more info on upcoming events, in the area, and follow us on Facebook for updates!

21 Listening to the Landscape: his favourites. In Gaelic it is Biast-dubh Mhic Coinnich the place-names of Torridon explained. – Mackenzie’s Otter. It’s an inclusion of dark rock in the local Lewisian Gneiss, only a metre long, but with Norman Newton its very own place-name. The story is that a local Mackenzie was returning with a boat-load of people in the evening gloom from an expedition shooting cormorants when he saw what he thought was an otter resting on a rock. He fired his gun at it, but was rewarded only by some splinters of rock. To his continuing embarrassment, the story was repeated at numerous ceilidhs and the name of this rocky feature persists. More often the origins of place-names do not survive, and with the very oldest names the experts often disagree, or agree to agree to differ. One example is the name Torridon itself, which the author stresses more than once is a district or area name, and most definitely not the name of the modern village which he knows as Fasaig. Perhaps it comes from Toirbheartán, meaning a place of ‘transferance’, perhaps a place of portage from Loch Torridon, to Loch Maree, improbable as that sounds. Or perhaps a transference of a more metaphorical kind? We will never know. The book is dedicated to the memory of his sister, A native of Alligin in Torridon, Murdoch MacDonald Anne M. MacDonald and among the dozens of locals has recently produced his fourth book on the area, who helped over the years he acknowledges Donald following Old Torridon (1997), Walking into the Past: Beaton, Port a’ Chaobaill and Alastair Maclean, Fasaig. historical walks in Torridon (1996), and The Battle of Another brother, John, also contributed many names. the Black Pot (2011), about illicit whisky distilling. A product of Alligin Primary School, Dingwall In The Place-names of Loch Torridon, he brings Academy and Aberdeen University, Murdoch together information gleaned from decades of research MacDonald was interested in science from an early age in libraries and archives and decades of wandering his and at one time worked at the Invergordon Aluminium native landscapes, shared with his wife Mary and son Smelter, analysing emissions and monitoring John, and a camera. Most of the 164 colour environmental pollution. photographs in the book are his own. He was born speaking Gaelic but, like many others of In this endeavour he has been ably assisted by his elder his generation, was encouraged to speak English at brother Donald and by Alice Maclennan of Shieldaig. home. He now relishes collecting place-names in what The Gaelic broadcaster and journalist Ruairidh he calls ‘Torridon Gaelic’ – though indeed the dialect MacIlleathain (Roddy Maclean) has provided an spoken locally differed not only from the Gaelic in appreciative Foreword, in which he points out that in other areas but even from one village to another. For 1891 97% of the population of Alligin and Upper example, the ‘standard’ Gaelic sabhal (a barn) becomes Diabaig spoke Gaelic: “The people would think and sobhal in Torridon, while bruthach (a slope, hillside) talk in Gaelic. As the idiom has it, they were as Gaelic becomes broch. as the young crows, and they had been like that for His book, he stresses, is not an academic text, but more hundreds of years.” a local history, for local people – though there are very Murdoch MacDonald is very conscious of the long few of them left. He was keen to credit Donald chain of place-name collectors and scholars who have MacDonald for setting up the website. preceded him: from William J. Watson, the Rev. The book is printed and published by For The Right Charles Robertson and the Rt. Hon. Captain Lionel Reasons, Inverness and is available in local bookshops King-Noel to, in more recent times, Roy Wentworth and retail outlets for £14.95, or through the project and Bridget Mackenzie. website. The project was supported by Bòrd na The book is arranged geographically, with sections on Gàidhlig. different districts on both sides of Loch Torridon. [771 words] Many of the place-names are illustrated with the Reviewed by: author’s own colour photography. Norman Newton For those unfamiliar with the local geography, Donald 41 Blackwell Road MacDonald and co-researchers have created a website, Culloden with an interactive map – and many more photographs. Inverness This will allow material to be added to the database of IV2 7DZ place-names and provides immediate access to material previously only available in old books and archives, as 01463 792980 well as using local knowledge. As Murdoch says, “it’s [email protected] a way of recording what’s still there.” The website can be found at www.torridonplacenames.org.uk Amongst the hundreds of place-names, Murdoch Murdoch MacDonald can be contacted at: singles out a rock on the Wester Alligin coast as one of [email protected]

22 Fungi Day at the Treehouse 2nd Sept 2018

It’s been a great year for Fungi, so we were delighted to host a Fungi day at the Treehouse with local expert Tony Lyon. Tony brought along a huge selection of local fungi which was on display. We were amazed at the variety of fungi to be found in our locality.

Tony gave an insightful talk about the methods of identifying fungi. What was interesting to learn is that smell and the physicality of the fungi is not always consistent therefore taking note of the site of where it grows, it’s proximity to tree varieties and it’s individual characteristics are essential. One method is to take a spore print which participants were given the option to try. The colour palette of which fungi spores produce had many in awe and is an artists dream.

Within the display were some of the poisonous varieties like Fly Agaric and the Destroying Angel, they’re beauty masquerading they’re fatal consequences.

Using some of the foraged edible fungi, including Chanterelle, Hedgehog and Ceps, Lynda set about cooking a wild mushroom Risotto outdoors over the fire– We are glad to announce that all participants are still alive!

Tony enlightened us with folklore and stories of fungi over lunch before we learned how to harvest and store/dry them. Encouragingly Tony’s handmade drying rack is an example of how this hobby can be accessible to all.

We took a short stroll through the woodland and with our new found knowledge we were able to identify Orange Birch Bolete, Amethyst deceiver, Sulphur Tuft ( a variety of milk cap) and many more. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day had by all. Lets hope for an equally abundant year in 2019!

Lynda Beveridge

23 “Where are they Now?”

Old photo’s kindly given to us by Don Macdonald, Gordon Macpherson whos aunt was former headmistress Miss P. Mackenzie. Service of Remembrance

A service of remembrance will be held at Church of Scotland, Lochcarron to celebrate the life of Gordon Macpherson of Arineckaig, on 8th November 2018 at 11.00am. Please join the family afterwards for refreshments at Attadale House.

Bealach Mor and Bealach Beag Cycle Sportives - 2018

The organisers would like to thank all the local communities for the support extended in running these two events.

Working in partnership with local groups, the following have benefited this year from contributions and donations from Hands On Events and the cyclists: Applecross Community Company, Kishorn Sports Field, Plockton High School Residence, Kinlochewe Village Hall, Kinlochewe Primary School and Shieldaig Primary School. In addition we encourage riders to stay in the area, spending and enjoying the great places offering accommodation, food and drink.

Riders really value the community feel and engagement of the events and support from locals is greatly appreciated.

Hands On Events

Many thanks

Linda and Alasdair

24 25 Our Annual Walk will be held on

SATURDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2018 At Hartfield House, Applecross

10am start for those who would like to do the walk from Kenmore to Applecross, through the Glen, finishing at Hartfield House (Please get in touch if transport to Kenmore is required)

12pm start for those wishing to take part in the 10 km / 5km Run /walk on the local path network.

(Please register at Hartfield House before setting off)

Sandwiches, drinks and cakes available at Hartfield House, from 1pm – 3pm.

OPEN TO ALL (Even if you don’t do the walks!) Donations or Sponsorship welcome (Sponsor forms available at Applecross surgery)

If you need more information please get in touch through our Facebook page or by Phoning Kath 744 481 or Sarah 744 335

Hope to see you there!

26 LOCHCARRON MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP

FERGUSON MEDICAL CENTRE

FLU CLINICS

Clinics will be held on Friday Afternoons

Friday 28th September to Friday 26th October 2pm to 4pm

No appointment necessary just come along at anytime during the clinic

WHO CAN HAVE THE FLU VACCINE People 65 or over, those who work in healthcare and anyone who suf- fers from a health condition

ASTHMA EMPHYSEMA BRONCHITIS KIDNEY DISEASE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CYSTIC FIBROSIS LIVER PROBLEMS DIABETES BEING VERY OVERWEIGHT

27 Community Councils’ Minutes Comhairle Choimhearsnachd Gearr-chunntais

Remembrance Sunday arrangements Roger Cundiff gave MINUTES (draft) of LOCHCARRON a brief report on his meeting with Ministers. There will be a COMMUNITY COUNCIL notice with details in An Carranach. The Service will take Meeting Monday 10th September 2018 place in the Village Hall at 10.15am with wreath laying at 7:30 pm Village Hall the War Memorial thereafter. Roger asked Robert MacInnes Members Present: to assist by engaging a piper and Q Banting agreed to lay the Mrs Helen Murchison BEM (Chair), Mr Roger Cundiff wreath. He will also enquire whether Cllr Stephen intends to (Treasurer), Mrs Emma McCallum (Secretary), Ms Aileen do so as last year. Grant, Cdr Q Banting RN (Minute Sec.). It has been noted that the War Memorial has received an Also Present: excellent clean and facelift and Council agreed to send a PC Craig Allan, Mr Mark Pattinson, Ms Anthea Zell, Mr Jan note of appreciation to the person in HC who arranged this. Overmeer, Mr Robert MacInnes (action Sec). Apologies:Mr John Macpherson, Cllr Kate Stephen, Mr Alec Cormack Chair’s Report: Approval of Minutes Monday 13th August 2018: Helen Murchison said she attended the annual Kishorn The minutes were agreed after acknowledging a descriptive Liaison Group meeting and visit to the site. The group were amendment pointed out by PC Allan ahead of publication in shown the improvements to the drydock which is most An Carranach. Council decided against approving the re impressive. It is now considered one of the best 3 drydocks -write offered by Mr Bauermeister as it was not in Europe. She reported that Kishorn Port Ltd think there substantively different from the record. may be a change in thinking and that rigs for Matters Arising: decommissioning ought not to be sent abroad where regulations are less rigorous but instead stay in-house so to Stromeferry Bypass. Q Banting reported that he had speak. Kishorn Port would be ideally placed to take on this ordered more ‘closure time cards’ from HC which have now work. There is a significant meeting on 19th October where arrived in the shops. many from the oil industry will be invited to see for themselves what is available. Community Councils Scheme Review As agreed at the previous meeting the Chair took Council through the Planning Applications: questionnaire and the agreed responses will be forwarded. The Community Council has been notified of the following The Sec will hold these on file should anyone wish to see planning applications for them. Some Councillors will be presenting individual WARD 5 (Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh): responses as allowed for in the consultation. 17th & 18th August List– Nothing relevant. Email from SALAD (Skye and Lochalsh Airport 31st August List - Erection of extensions to house including Discussion). A response has been sent thanking them for formation of upper floor at 20 Kirkton Road, Lochcarron by their observations on funding for the Bypass. Mr & Mrs J Strang Applicant of same address

30 mph signs and Traffic Calming measures. The 30mph Treasurer’s Report: wheelie bin stickers should appear shortly. Meanwhile The Treasurer submitted the financial statement from where rumble strips and 30mph road markings have been made for the current balances stand at: which Council wished to send a note of thanks to Community Council: £2249.43 Community Services (action Sec). Ms Anthea Zell has sent (Hall Hire £12) an advisory note on the provision and cost of a “Speed Community Fund: £4617.24 Smiley “sign for the West entrance to the village. Council Secretary’s Report: agreed that before this quite costly measure was pursued, the Q Banting continues with the duties of Secretary effect of the new signs and markings be monitored. So far, temporarily. He can be contacted as follows: they appear to be having a beneficial effect on speeding Email: [email protected] along Main Street. Roger Cundiff believed that there was a Text/mobile: 07917 044518 spare power source on one of the lamp posts which might Address: Jacob House, Croft Road, Lochcarron IV54 8YA make the cost of the “smiley” cheaper. Correspondence received: Kishorn Village speed limit. Cllr Stephen has emailed that a speed survey has been requested for Kishorn and is - Email from INDP Team with invite to CMI Level 5 expected to be in place by w/c 17th Sep with results available Leadership and Management Course – No action by CC about 3 weeks after that. This is the first step in trying to get - Email invitation to HSCHT 20th Anniversary Conference a change to the speed limit. However, the next step will event and AGM 14th Sep at Town House, Castle Wynd, depend on the results of the survey, for example, data from a Inverness plus Conference dinner on 13th – CC will not be recent one in Shieldaig was not sufficient to make the case attending for a change in the overall speed limit, just a shift in where - Email from Hugh MacLellan to sign petition to Parliament the 40mph limit started. PC Craig also cautioned against for Broadband in rural areas that do not yet have it. -CC raised expectations from the survey. agreed to sign (action Sec) - Email from Susy MacAulay (Local Gov. Reporter) – local Cleaning of “Failte…. “stone sign bus services – No input from CC? Q Banting has sought advice from Mr Andrew Mackenzie Lochcarron Community Fund update and he has come up with a relatively inexpensive cleaning procedure. Council agreed to allow Q to purchase the Council considered an application for funding (£600) from necessary materials and he will then clean the sign. the Lochcarron Community Adopt a Barrel Scheme to cut

28 back the grass and restore the shoreline pathway along Main Minutes (Draft) of Shieldaig Community Council Street. Work has already started and the difference in Tuesday 4th September 2018 Shieldaig Village Hall 7.30 appearance and safety of the pathway is very apparent. The pm work will continue and hopefully complete before Easter Presentation on tick and Lyme disease by Fanny next year. Council were unanimous in approving this grant Olsthoorn, PhD student, from Dpt. Environmental from the LCF. Systems Science, Zurich. Fanny and her colleagues gave CC & members of the public a very informative 20-minute The discussions with HC, the RCIA and the Allt a Chonais talk. scheme continue. Members Present: Susan Holmes, Lisa Fraser Police Feedback: (Treasurer), Claire Munday (Secretary), Duncan Carmichael, Viv Maclennan. Apologies: Tom Tindale (on PC Allan had nothing of importance to bring to the Coun- Mountain Rescue call-out), Kalie Wilkinson, Cllr. Kate cil’s attention on this occasion. Stephen, PC Craig Allan.

Approval of Minutes Tuesday 5th June 2018 Any Other Business Matters arising. Despite numerous emails/ phone call to Representation on Social and Affordable Housing Ian Moncrieff there is still no news of when there will be Q Banting raised the issue of Social Housing as he had had blue passing place signs on the coast road. some representations over the allocation of housing. Roger Kalie to contact Applecross CC to discuss arranging a Cundiff and other Councillors said they too were aware of meeting in October to discuss shared NC 500 concerns. issues. Helen Murchison said that there used to be a time One area of concern for residents is the increase of human when the CC was consulted over local housing, but this did excrement at the road verges; with the uncertainty around not appear to be the case anymore. Cllr Stephen has e-mailed the future of public toilet buildings the situation can only that she shares frustration with the social housing get worse. Will visitors need to be offered disposable allocations, especially when trying to support local people to bags? get a house. She has attached the policy in Highland – shared CC agreed to order 100 “40mph stickers” (£89) for use on with the housing providers and highlighted sections of the village top road and coast road; signs can be interest. Kate Stephen and Helen Murchison drew attention waterproofed and dug into road verges, as well as placed to the new housing development planned for the community on wheelie bins. woodland area which includes mixed tenure housing. Cllr PC Allan is looking into the possibility of a sign at the Stephen also mentioned initiatives by HC Head of Housing Applecross coast road junction informing drivers if the together with Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust Bealach is closed and whether the road is suitable for (HSCHT) and the Lochcarron Community Development motorhomes. Chemical toilets. We discussed what advice Company (LCDC). to give motorhomes when asked where to empty their chemical toilets. Is there a map issued to people on hiring After some further discussion the Community Council a motorhome where the chemical toilet emptying facilities agreed to invite the local Housing Officer to brief the are? Perhaps locals should be given this information so Council on housing policy in Lochcarron as at present this they can direct motorhome owners to them. did not appear to meet the needs of the community whom the CC represent. Police matters: No crime had been reported in our area. CC have received the results of the speed survey carried out on A896 from 4/7 – 18/7/18 in the 40mph & 60mph Mr Mark Pattinson presented a proposal to transfer zone. Looking at the results, PC Allan said that HC are ownership of the River Kishorn (currently owned by: West likely to say that there is no speeding issue. However, we Bank – Applecross Trust. North East Bank – Couldoran are concerned that during the fortnight the monitors were Estate, South East Bank down to River Kishorn Sea Pool - installed there were traffic lights on A896 due to Lochcarron Estate.) to the Lochcarron Community. The resurfacing work. Claire to ring Gary Urquhart to compare aim being to restore and improve the salmon fishery in the dates. PC Allan said that Greg Otreba, HC speed river. He needed the Community Council’s blessing to monitoring contact, is recommending that the 40mph sign pursue this initiative at the Applecross Forum Meeting next should be moved down to before the junction which is week where he had yet to convince the other estates of the excellent news. PC Allan to ask Greg to put this in writing proposal. The Council considered that there were several for us. significant issues to consider and that they could not immediately agree to the scheme. Not least there was the Roads: Kate Stephens was contacted by Gary Urquhart to fact that the CC cannot own land or manage a business. say that rumble strips will be placed at either end of the However, for the purpose of his meeting, the Community village top road and “40” signs will be painted on the road Council were prepared to voice interest in his idea and not surface, as has happened in Lochcarron recently. stand in his way while he pursues agreement with the other The cattle grids have been reported as broken for over 2 estates. years now. As they continue to deteriorate the village “south” one has bars that are loose and float when rain fills At the end of the meeting the Chair invited Mr Robert the catchment area underneath. Kalie has reported this. MacInnes to serve as a co-opted member of the Council Still no double yellow lines outside Nanny’s although albeit without a vote at present. Mr MacInnes accepted. indications that it is about to happen. Double yellow lines The Meeting Closed at 9:45 p.m. mean “no waiting at any time”. Unloading supplies for Nanny’s can take place before 10am. When the lines are in Date of next meeting: situ these new restrictions will be added to the Traffic Monday 8th October 2018 at 7:30 pm Lochcarron Village Regulation Order and advertised for a 28-day consultation Hall (Upper) period. As soon as this regulation order is approved it can Members of the public are most welcome to attend be enforced; members of the public can take photographs Community Council Meetings which are held on the which can be forwarded to HC traffic management and second Monday of each month.

29 control team. Applecross Community Council Meeting 2018 Highland Council Quality Awards. CC nominated Held at the Community Hall, Applecross Robbie Bain, Ward 5 Manager. MINUTES (Unapproved) – Tuesday 11 Sep- Community Resilience update. Duncan has been in touch tember 2018, 7.30pm with HC Resilience Officer, Steve Mardon, who has offered Present: Ali Brown, Ruaridh Cameron, Ishbel Ferguson, Jon to come to CC November meeting. Claire to send Steve a Glover, Sarah Paramor, Mark Stewart summary of our Community Emergency work so far. We Apologies: Kate Stephen, Jacqueline Liuba, Ewen Gillies hope then to progress with the purchase of equipment using Future Meeting Date: Tuesday 9 October, 7.30pm the remainder of SSE monies. £300 was agreed to be sent to Minutes of Previous Meeting Approved. the Skiff project for a share in their generator. Actions from Previous Meeting Defibrillator: casing has been damaged. Tom arranging its’ Roads Action: JG to forward letter to Kate Stephen. repair. Viv will find out what maintenance is required and Website Action: MS to create website. will be arranging an evening training session in October. SSE compensation still awaited. Chainsaw training: still only 2 people have expressed an Bin provision SP contacted Kate Stephen; Action: AB interest. agreed to meet with bin rep. Community Company JG to liaise with chairman Community Council Review 2018 We are being consulted regarding updates on activities. by HC about the role of CCs. HC know that many CCs are Path networks research into funding options ongoing. struggling to find members and if CCs fall into abeyance Post Office Action: JG to write to the Post Office then communities are left without representation. This initial requesting a backup broadband system. survey will finish at the end September and then proposals Toilets Action: SP to write to protest the proposed cuts will be developed for a special meeting of HC on 25th in Comfort Funding. October. Our response to this initial survey was that we feel Participatory Budget Scheme not awarded to Applecross often consultations sent to us are “just going through the in this round. Action: JP/ Applecross LDO to seek motions”. They are often full of jargon or complex issues feedback on the application, and to reapply in the next which we feel challenged to comment on. For example: we round. were sent a consultation by Susan Blease, HC Principal Tourism Management: meeting with members of Solicitor, from Highland Licensing Board on proposed Applecross Trust to discuss tourism management later changes. 3 of us looked at the link and we soon “lost the will planned for later in the month. to live”. HC emails also assume a certain level of IT skills. Report from the Treasurer Claire will send comments online through a “survey Opening balance: £3798.85 monkey” link. Closing balance: £3798.85 Police Report None provided. Finance CC account stands at £10,669.07 (SSE monies Correspondence Correspondence received from: included for Resilience purchases). Lisa will send CC Kalie Wilkinson (chair of Shieldaig CC) suggested a joint certified accounts to Robbie Bain so we can receive our meeting of community councils to discuss NC500, toilets 2018 annual grant. etc. This idea was welcomed. Action: JG to reply to KW. Craig Allan (police, Lochcarron) forwarded correspondence Planning matters: There has been a Scottish Salmon with Kate Stephen and Robbie Bain regarding signage Company Screening Application to increase tonnage at their (wording/cleaning/positioning) at the foot of the Bealach Aird site from 1750 – 2500. SEPA/ HC are assessing na Ba mountain road. whether an Environmental Impact Report is necessary before Craig Allan forwarded details of 30mph wheelie-bin SSC put in for planning permission. We agreed to request stickers. HC to make us Consultee in the planning process. Duncan to Hands-On Events sent proposed dates for 2019 cycle races request this. and Bealach closures: Bealach Beag, 11 May 2019; Bealach Mor, 31 August 2019. Action: SP to contact Correspondence: Hands - On to confirm dates, and confirm that an earlier Update on Rock stabilisation works west of the avalanche start time would not be beneficial to local communities as shelter on A890 Stromeferry Bypass. Claire will put on visitors leaving Applecross need time to get over the hill village noticeboard. Claire spoke with Matt Smith, Principal before the road closures start. Engineer, HC Flood Risk Management Team. A SEPA AOB map shows that Shieldaig has not been classified as a Motorbikes: It was noted that on occasion motorbikes “Potentially Vulnerable Area” in the 2018 review. It states have parked along the wall of Shore Street, narrowing that Shieldaig has a medium likelihood of flooding. The the road to the extent that emergency vehicles would be designation is reviewed every 6 years. The matter of the unable to pass Action: AB to speak with Craig Allan deterioration of our seawall defences has been raised with about the possibility of double yellow lines being the Roads dept. CC received advice on private water painted on the wall side of the street. Also, to discuss supplies. CC invited to Highland Small Communities signage at Contin regarding heavy vehicles. Housing Trust AGM & Annual dinner on 13th & 14th Sept. Helicopters: the possibility of a dedicated helipad for AOB: Gordon Drysdale is happy to become an associate medical emergencies was discussed. Action: JG to member of CC. contact the Healthcare Association to establish what they need. Date of next meeting: 2nd October Tuesday 7.30pm. Meeting Closed: 8.34 pm Thereafter CC dates are 6th November, 5th February 2019, 5th March, 2nd April, 7th May. 4th June AGM. Next meeting: Tuesday 9th October 2018, 7.30 pm. Members of the public are warmly encouraged to attend these meetings. If you would like to add any items to the agenda please send these to the Secretary by the Friday before the meeting. Please note our new email address: [email protected]

30 31 The Tee-Off Café Lochcarron Golf Club

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