The South Loch Ness Heritage Group
The Group was set up in 2003 with the following objectives:
- To research, promote and safeguard the heritage of the South Loch Ness Area.
- In particular, to create an archive of the Area, and to collate material for publication, exhibition and education.
Due to the rate of change these objectives have never been so important, or, with the technology now available, so attainable. Our area is rich with a history and natural history second to none within Scotland. To some degree, both are under threat.
The Area
There are similar Groups in Strathnairn and in Fort Augustus. We hope to fill in the gap by covering the Heritage of Stratherrick, Strath Dores and the south side of Loch Ness, extending through Dores to Scaniport and Cullaird.
Intentions
It is early days yet, but the following ideas are being taken forward:
- Create "rolling" mini-exhibitions in public places, such as schools, pubs and halls, to stimulate interest and discussion. These can be as simple as two or three photographs or artefacts, but can be changed regularly.
- Organise meetings with speakers and/or themes according to demand.
The Web Site
Over the coming months we hope to expand it greatly, with pages on a variety of topics, a selection of pictures old and new, and perhaps some sort of forum where peoples' contributions can be published. Please be patient - this will not happen overnight!
The creation of the web site is an important step. Apart from being of interest to those living in the South Loch Ness area, we hope, through the site, to contact "expatriates", or those whose ancestors left this region at any time over the last three hundred years. Does your family history mention Stratherrick, Gorthleck, Whitebridge, Errogie, Foyers, Dores, Boleskine, or any place-name on the South Loch Ness Map? Is your name Fraser, Grant, MacGillivray, MacGruer or MacTavish? These are some of the names of the old families of this area. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who thinks they may have associations with South Loch Ness – you may have information of interest to us, and we may well be able to reciprocate. Descendents of Stratherrick folk are scattered worldwide, from Darien to Dunedin, Alberta to Adelaide, and through this link we may, for example, be able to send you photographs of your ancestors" homes.
Meetings
Public Meeting take place at 3 month intervals, with guest speakers talking on various subjects from schools to wildlife. Out of a very small population, we have had turnouts of between 30 and 100, which is very encouraging, and we see these meetings as being an important part of the Group's activities.
Latest News
Fort Augustus Shinty Club
A new book is now available, written by Alister Chisholm, committee member of the South Loch Ness Heritage Group.
New Images and Library Articles
New images for our picture galleries and articles for the library.
A Country Called Stratherrick
Second edition of the book "A Country Called Stratherrick" by Alan B Lawson
