Mealll nan Dearcag Beag
Rounded hill of the wee berries
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 37
Cam Loch
Crooked Loch
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 37
Druim nan Cnaimhseag
Ridge of the Bearberries
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 37
Am Pollan
The wee pool
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 31
Cnoc Liath
Grey hill
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 31
Tobar an Glaise
The well of the lock
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
https://maps.nls.uk/view/228779962
Tobar an Tuirc
The well of the boar
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
See https://maps.nls.uk/view/228779962
Uamh an Tartair (Elphin)
Cave of roaring
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
Toll Dubh an Uisge
Black hole of water
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
Fuaran a’ Ghlinne
Spring of the Glen
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
Elphin
Gemma Smith: "The Gaelic spelling is Ailbhinn, which Watson translates as ‘rock-peak’, taking the specific element to be beinn, ‘mountain’ given the stress on the second syllable. The possibility remains of ail fionn, ‘white rock’, or even aoil fionn, ‘white lime(stone)’, in reference the underlying geology that renders the area’s grasses so lush and so very green – the Elphin in Co. Roscommon is in Irish, Ail Finn.
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
Knockan
Literally just "hillock, wee hill’", but Gemma Smith's research suggests it was originally Càthair a’ Chnocain, "the seat of Knockan."
Not be confused with Knockan Crags
Gemma Smith https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
Abhainn a’ Chnocain
River of Knockan’
Gemma Smith, https://www.assyntplacenames.net/files/original/77cefce9217ac9797436b680d1a984da.pdf pg 30
Loch Urigill
This place name, excluding "loch" is of Norse origin. A lengthy discussion in March 2020 on Twitter and among the members of the loose Assynt Lives collective, generated much discussion, but Twitter respondent @markryansmith66 quoted John Stewart's "Shetland Place Names" as "Old Norse eyrr (sand or gravel beside water) and Gil as ON for ravine." This was later confirmed by Prof Donna Heddle whose take was "Gravelly Ravine". It is noteworthy that there does not appear to be a surviving place name of the actual ravine being named, but it is possible that Na Luirgean, the river draining Loch Urigill, and leading to the Ledbeg River, might suit.
We will obviously take Prof. Heddle's consideration as authoritative, but it's worth noting other suggestions arising from online discussions.
Another Twitter respondent, @spodzone, quoting "Scottish Gaelic Place Names" -Charles M Robertson - suggested 'An Iubhraigh" meaning "yew wood"' but the "-gil" suffix would suggest a greater likelihood of a Norse prefix.
Another correspondent, Roger Auger, Uist, wonders if Urigill stems from ON urða gil rather than ON eyrar gil or ON eyra gil. ON urð, says Roger, has in the plural a meaning 'fallen rock piled at the foot of a cliff' and that combined with the ravine giving 'ravine of the fallen rock piled at the foot of a cliff' would look good, he suggests, for the waterfall area just downstream from the loch. ON urða is the genitive plural - the requisite case here. Roger further notes there are nine Urðargill and two Eyrargil in Iceland.
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This has been a good example of the types of discussion that place names generate.
Loch of the gravelly ravine
See Subject notes
Cam Loch
Twisted loch
Knockan
Hillock
Tourism group document
Elphin
White stone
Tourism group document