Highways And Byways In The Central Highlands

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Text extracted from opening pages of book: Highways and Byways in the Central Highlands ( T oW narnf o// hill is Am Bitmrin) Highways and Byways in the Central Highlands BY SETON GORDON C. B. E. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY SIR D. Y. CAMERON, R. A. FOREWORD' AND A GLOSSARY OF PLACE-NAME ELEMENTS WITH AIDS TO PRONUNCIATION BY W. J. WATSON M. A., LL. D., D. LITT. CELT., HON. F. E. I. S. Emeritus-Professor of Celtic Languages in the University of Edinburgh LONDON MACMILLAN & r CO. LTD 1949 COPYRIGHT J ditto** 1948 Reprinted XO TWO FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST XHEIR BTJX HA. VE FOTJ3STX) XHEIR SOULS PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN INTRODUCTION IN writing of the Central Highlands it has not been easy to decide on appropriate boundaries: to the west it has been easier than to the south and east, for in this direction I have taken the reader as far as the ground covered in my preceding volume, Highways and Byways in the West Highlands. The area covered is so great that in a single book it would be impossible to write exhaustively of it all. I have devoted considerable space to the Cairngorm area, for that area I know well and also many people visit it. Many friends and in writing the book I have made new friends have helped me with the work. To name them all were impossible, but I should like to offer my special thanks to Professor W. J. Watson, a distinguished authority on Celtic place-names who, besides giving me invaluable help, has read the proofs of the book. Sir Stewart MacPherson, K. CJ. E., has given me much help in the Badenoch district and Major Stewart of Ardvorlich and Major W. Joynson of the Glassart, Aberfoyle, have given me valuable notes on their areas, as also has the late Dr. Barbour of Bonskeidwho recently gifted the Falls of Tummel to the National Trust. During many of the walks in the area my companion has been Mr. F. Cameron-Head of Inverailort, whose interest in Gaelic lore and whose companion ship during many days of good and bad weather have been an encouragement to me. I should like also to record my indebted ness to the late Mr. J. Mathieson, Librarian of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and to Mr. Walker its Secretary, in loaning me volumes to consult. The illustrations are from etchings done specially for the book by that brilliant Landscape artist, the late vi INTRODUCTION Sir D. Y. Cameron, R. A., and I feel honoured that both Highways and Byways in the West Highlands and the present volume should have had their value heightened by his genius. His sudden passing is an irreparable loss to Scottish art. I have also to thank the Rev. William A. Gillies, D. D., of Kenmore, author of In Famed Breadalbane, for valuable help. SETON GORDON ISLE OF SKYK, January 1947 FOREWORD By Professor WILLIAM J. WATSON, D. Litt. ( Celt), LL. D., Hon. F. E. I. S. Formerly Professor of Celtic Languages, Edin burgh University GOOD wine needs no bush, but since I have been asked to write a short Foreword to Mr. Seton Gordon's latest book, Highways and Byways in the Central Highlands, I do so with pleasure and in fact regard it as a privilege. This valuable work is a companion volume to Mr. Gordon's Highways and Byways in the West Highlands, published in 1935. The author is to be congratulated on having produced a book of lasting merit, which will be widely and deservedly welcomed. It comes at a suitable time, and will be found invaluable both to natives and to visitors. Mr. Gordonhas spared no pains in making himself thoroughly acquainted with the physical features of the districts which he describes, and his wide experience and great knowledge give him unusual qualifications to deal alike with topographical features, and the habits and characteristics of their fauna birds and wild animals, as also the trees and plants, etc., found in them. In addition he gives their historical associa tions and the native traditions. The wealth of the latter is un fortunately diminishing rapidly with the decline of Gaelic, as also owing to the critica