Postcard of Loch Maree

Explanatory Notes

This term, April to July 2013, we have been working on a topic all about Loch Maree. As a result we have achieved a John Muir Discovery Award in this the Year of Natural . We are all very proud of where we live and want to share it with other people. Our postcard, which has been made from a large collage, depicts only some of the many things we have been discovering about our local area of Loch Maree...

The pine trees represent one of the most northerly and important forests of Caledonian Scots Pine in Britain.

The oak leaves remind us of the 18th century iron ore industries of the northern shores. Oak made excellent charcoal and was important as part

of the smelting process. Primroses, foxgloves and bluebells grow in abundance on the hillsides alongside other wild flowers such as sundews, bed straw, tormentil, milkwort, cow parsley, bog cotton, heath spotted orchids, butterwort,

gorse and bracken. The butterfly is symbolic of the many insects and small creatures we discovered.

The sea eagle (white tailed eagle) is a very special bird that has been re- introduced in Scotland and nests in the area. The birds are highly protected and a privilege to see.

Sandpipers may often be seen along with black throated divers that nest on artificial islands or on the shoreline.

Deer, otters, pine-martens, buzzards and golden eagles may also be spotted.

Salmon and sea trout were once caught in large numbers, they may be found alongside the sticklebacks and arctic char that live in the waters

of the loch. The SNH Visitor Centre is well worth a visit. You will find out lots more about the flora and fauna of the area and see previous work we have done in school, including our life size model of a sea eagle!

The villages of Smiorsairy, (butter ridged shieling) Coppachy, (foam field) Rigollachy (the slope of the forked field) and Furness – of which there are many different spellings! – now lie in ruins on the northern shoreline path but were once home to many crofters and shepherds and are well worth a visit. is a very special place. It, along with the other islands, are all nature reserves managed by SNH. They are only accessible by boat and permission should be sought to visit them so as not to disturb the wildlife. Isle Maree is the only island with broad leafed trees. The money tree began as a place to make offerings for thanks and for good luck. Nothing should ever be removed from Isle Maree for fear of evoking the forces of evil!

People were once immersed in the loch and towed around the island by boat as a cure for lunacy!

The Celtic cross symbolises a gravestone on Isle Maree. The island is believed to be the 8th century hermitage of St Maelrubha who brought Christianity to the area and who died in in AD 673. Historically the Picts, Druids and Vikings were also inhabitants of this part of Scotland. The Viking boat, gravestones and the black and white flags represent the saddest story of Isle Maree, the tragedy of the Viking Prince Olaf and his bride who died as a result of a test of love. They are buried feet to feet on Isle Maree.

Many legends and superstitions abound about the area – hence the inclusion of the giant, Fingal who placed stepping stones between Fox Point and Ru-nohar to enable him to keep his feet dry when going to court his sweetheart Malvina who lived in the direction of Torridon.

The fairies met yearly on Eilean Suthainn to pay homage to their queen. The kelpie, a mystical creature of land and water, lived alongside the muc-sheilch or monster of the loch.

From the 12th to the 18th September 1877 Queen Victoria visited the area. She stayed at Loch Maree Hotel where she walked, painted and was delighted by the beautiful scenery but remarked “that the midges were dreadful!” She visited Isle Maree by rowing boat and said she,”...would have liked to have stayed two or three days longer” in the area.

In August 1922 Loch Maree Hotel gained publicity for another more unsavoury reason when 5 residents died as a result of ptomaine

poisoning (now called food poisoning) from eating duck paste sandwiches whilst on a fishing trip on the loch. The SS Mabel once steamed up and down the loch from Tollie Pier near calling at Loch Maree Hotel and Ru-Nohar. It was possible to travel from Inverness to the Outer Isles using train, cart and

boat.

Slioch – “the Spear” and “file mountain”two great mountains to climb.

Finally, the walker – this is a wonderful place to explore on foot as we have discovered for ourselves!

J.H.Dixon’s book entitled and Guide to Loch Maree first published in 1886 has been an invaluable source of information for our project and is a recommended read if you would like to find out more. Our personal thanks must also go to SNH, in particular Eoghain Maclean, Kenny Nelson and Sarah Lewington at Anacaun and to Liz Forrest who is a very valuable source of local history!