On Thursday 28th of November evening the South Loch Ness Heritage Group held their AGM, followed by a talk by Fraser Mackenzie on Highland Memorials and Cairns.
Fraser who has been researching the topic for over 50 years took us, on a trip round Loch Ness pointing out various memorials and cairns, some were well known, whilst others forgotten. The memorials were all outwith cemeteries and the cairns were generally on the roadside, or on the hillside. The ones on the hillside were generally marking the spot, where somebody had died tragically.
One of the most notable cairns is the Cobb memorial the Loch Ness side just south of Drumnadrochit. After covering the north side of Loch Ness, Fraser moved into south Loch Ness side. Pointing out the Fraser Memorial at Leadclune, the Bryce memorial in Inverfarigaig pass, the cairn Bhean Ardochy near the Chapel Bridge, Adam Ingles cross on Killin estate, Jane Fraser memorial at lower Foyers and possible the newest one for the actor Ian Bannon who was killed on a road accident in 1999 at the end of the Suidh straight.
After the talk Allan Macdonald thanked Fraser for very interesting talk. In the general discussions later on during refreshments after the talk, several other possibilities of memorials in the district came to light, which the group will have to be follow up on.
AGM + Highland Memorials and Cairns
a talk by Fraser Mackenzie
Thursday 28th November at 7.30pm, Stratherrick Hall, Gorthleck.
Fraser explains the reasons behind some of the many Memorials and Cairns out with cemeteries around Loch Ness and District
Admission is free, but a collection will be taken at the meeting
Did you miss the Bona Fide Traveller Walk held at the end of August? Here is a chance again to come along, get interested in your local Heritage group and assist with research and recordings. You will be made welcome to get involved. The rich heritage of the area needs our attention.
UNCOVER THE PAST. RECORD THE PAST & become A TEAM MEMBER
Anyone living within the SLNHG district is a member of the Heritage Group
On Saturday 24th August, the heritage group organised a walk from Whitebridge to Glenlia, Foyers as our annual outing.
A distance of c3.5 miles, the route is known as the bona fide travellers walk. Under licensing laws, until 1962, alcohol could only be served on a Sunday in a hotel or inn and only to those who were at least 3 miles from home or the place where they had stayed the previous night.
As a result people from Foyers walked to Whitebridge Hotel for a drink on a Sunday no doubt passing people from Whitebridge walking to Foyers Hotel for the same reason!
A group of around 35 met at Wildside Centre for a presentation on key heritage sites and points of interest that they would see along the way. This gave both walkers and those unable to walk the ability to learn more about the route. The presentation was led by group chair, Alister Chisholm assisted by Bob Main, Janet Sutherland, Allan MacDonald, Morag MacNeil (who provided us with English translations of the many Gaelic place names along the route) and Fiona Larg.
Molly Fraser helped greatly to incentivise the walkers at the start by offering us her delicious home made chocolate chip cookies!
Thankfully we chose a dry and quite sunny day for the walk which took around 2 hours to complete with numerous stops along the way to note points of interest and listen to stories of folklore.
Many of those completing the walk took advantage of Morag Cameron’s café for lunch at the Glenlia end and some of the group chose to then walk back to Whitebridge.
A most enjoyable and informative day out for all who attended.
On route to Dell Farm buildings
Photo courtesy of Molly Fraser
On route to Dell Farm buildings
Photo courtesy of Molly Fraser
On the route
Photo courtesy of Molly Fraser
On the route
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
on route prior to Alteachaidh
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
on route at Alteachaidh
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
on route at Alteachaidh
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
Ford at Alteachaidh
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
On route near Dalriach
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
A discussion point during the walk
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
Dalbreck
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
Upper Falls of Foyers
Photo courtesy of Molly Fraser
Journeys End at the old bridge over the River Foyers. Built by Foyers Estate prior to 1831
Photo courtesy of Michell Strachan
SOUTH LOCH NESS HERITAGE GROUP
Summer Event 2024
BONA FIDE TRAVELLER WALK
Whitebridge to Foyers via Dell 3 miles
Saturday 24th August at 9.30 am
Gathering at Fechlin room in Wildside, Whitebridge
A talk will be given there on all the places, history, features, and stories of the sites of interest we will encounter on the walk down to Foyers. This is so that those physically unable to do the walk, may be able to attend part of the event.
Parking is available at Wildside and for those wishing to walk only to Foyer, lifts will be arranged back. If you intend going please contact Alister 01463 715713 for further information and to register the number of people in your group
Admission is free, but a collection will be taken
On Thursday 18th April 2024 at Stratherrick Hall the South Loch Ness Heritage group held its spring talk “History of Inverness Hospitals” the speaker being Steve Leslie . Before an enthralled audience of around forty people, Steve a Consultant Cardiologist at Raigmore Hospital and co-author along with his father Jim, of the book The Hospitals of Inverness, took us on a virtual road trip across the highlands describing medical facilities from the eighteen fifties till the present day. Steve told us of Fever Hospitals, Cottage Hospitals, Maternity hospitals, Military Hospitals, Asylums and Sanatoriums , illustrated with photos of some of them and highlighted important design features of attributed to different types of hospitals. Steve went on to give a brief history of the medical facilities in our area, with the coming of the British Aluminium Company which provided funding in the late eighteen nineties to bring a doctor to Foyers.
Steve recounted the different types of facilities for medical assistance that existed in Inverness and mentioned the Inverness city walking audio tour of them. The tour is available at www.geotourist.com and search for ‘inverness’
There is a website, History of Highland Hospitals https://www.historyofhighlandhospitals.com/index.asp which Steve and Jim Leslie provide a comprehensive medical history of the area , that also gives a link to the Inverness walking tour (Hospitals on Geotourist )
For our Spring talk we have the History of Inverness Hospitals by Stephen Leslie on the 18th April at Stratherrick Hall at 7:30 pm . Stephen a Consultant Cardiologist at Raigmore Hospital is co-author of the book The Hospitals of Inverness, will talk on medical facilities in Inverness and our locality from last Century and before.
On Tuesday 5th December 2023 at Stratherrick hall the South Loch Ness Heritage group held its AGM followed by a talk by group stalwart Alister Chisholm.
The presentation consisted of two audio recording of Stratherrick residents past to which Alister had added a superb selection of photographs relevant to the topics mentioned.
The first recording was of Maisie MacMillan (1924-2011) who was raised at 2 County cottages, Gorthleck, spent her professional career away and then returned on retirement. Maisie spoke on numerous subjects on growing up in the strath, amongst these schooling, employment and characters were prominent.
The second recording was of David Rose (1891-1968) David lived most of his life in the Strath mainly following his father as a gamekeeper at Farraline estate. David was as Gaelic speaker and it was interesting to hear his pronunciation of local place names, and when speaking English David spoke in the authentic Stratherrick accent.
David spoke on many interesting subjects amongst there life in the strath in the early 1900’s, illicit stills, whisky smuggling and excise men and the numerous ‘characters’ that inhabited the Strath.
Despite the icy conditions there was a reasonable turnout and Alisters efforts were much appreciated by all present.
Further talks will be held in the New Year, watch social media and local notice boards for details.
South Loch Ness Heritage Group
Stratherrick Recordings
At Stratherrick Hall on Tues 5th December at 7.30pm
Tape recording of two residents memories of the district from last century and before with contemporary images relating to the memories.
Preceded by the Heritage Group AGM
All Welcome. Admission is free, but a collection will be taken at the meetings
The Heritage Group are requiring new committee members to assist with their current and future projects. If you are interested please contact Alister Chisholm.
Today (Sat 30 Sept 23) saw our much anticipated Errogie to Inverfarigaig walk via the Farigaig pass. Hosted by Alex Sutherland the walk attracted about 35 participants of all ages. Alex enthralled us with many stories highlights of which were those of a bloodless battle, the skeleton of a highlander within a growing tree and a murder whilst he also showed us the location of croft houses long collapsed and a gate to the world of the Faeries. Alex was not our only commentator, John Townsend spoke about General Wades roads, Alister Chisholm showed us one of the locations where our outside pulpit was used for open air services. He also described in some detail the life and death of James Bryce to whom a memorial stands in the pass.
Bob Main spoke on a number of subjects especially of note was his description of the old Bobbin mill whilst Morag gave us an insight into the pronunciation and meaning of the Gaelic names we met with and told us the story of Deidre of the sorrows and Dun Deardil.
The SLNHG would like to thank all those who assisted and gave freely of their time to make the walk a success.
The latest South Loch Ness Heritage groups series of local interest talks was held on Thursday the 30th March 2023 at Stratherrick Hall. Unusually there were two showings, an afternoon matinee at 1.30pm and an evening showing at 7.30pm, and fortunate it was as the talk attracted unprecedented numbers to attend. The afternoon showing attracted 47attendees some of whom came from outwith the Strath and included eleven Primary 7 pupils from Farr School accompanied by their teacher Donna Grant. Whilst the evening event attracted 49 some travelling from as far afield as Wick.
What attracted so much attention you may ask! Well the answer would be for the first time since 2005 Alister Chisholm (jnr) was presenting a series of audio interviews that his father Alister Chisholm (snr) gave back in the 1980’s. Alister introduced the recording of his father’s memoirs in the Strath going back to the years after the two World Wars. Accompanied by many photographs on screen in keeping with the narrative we saw how costume had changed, the type of work people did then, what transport was like, when power came to homes, what events/ sports took place, how dominant the 12th August was for the start of shooting parties to the Estate Lodges and tracing the history of the churches and schools in the area, etc. Appropriate dates were included.
It was indeed a very fascinating and interesting Talk which captured the attention of everyone young and old. It certainly gave us much to compare and think about.
Thanks are due to Ernie Randall for once again setting up and controlling the sound element of the talk. Thanks are also due to the ladies of the Soup to go group for arranging teas, coffees and a wonderful selection of biscuits.
A total of £228 was received in donations from those attending both talks for which the SLNHG offers their thanks.
Future talks are planned and will be advertised on both the SLNHG and local Face book sites, on roadside boards and on local notice boards.
M Fraser, R Morley.