Dores
The village of Dores (from the Gaelic for “dark woods”) dates back 1,500 years to Saint Columba’s time. Dores has one Mansion House Aldourie Castle, an Inn the Dores Inn , a Post Office and a local Public Hall.
To see a map of Dores in 1746 including Cumberlands camp at Dores click Here
The Lovat Scouts remained operational in one form or another for most of the 20th century. This photograph is undated, but probably shows training at Aldourie around the time of the First World War. Photograph courtesy of Iain Cameron.
Dores Silver Jubilee Gala (Mill croft field) - 11 June 1977 . Photograph courtesy of Alan Findlay
Dores Free Church & Manse c1952 was located approx 550 yards directly south east of Aldourie School now called Tigh na Coille and accessed now via the Darris road, just before the McBean Memorial Park . The buildings date from 1847 . The three buildings are the stables , manse and church at the rear . The church building is no more and the manse is a private house.
Dores Free Church 1952
Dores Free Church & Manse painting 1952
Wellington Bomber 1985 The recovered Wellington Bomber R for Robert from Loch Ness in 1985 on barge taking it for restoration to be displayed in Brooklands museum . Photograph courtesy of Douglas Cree
Wellington Bomber. The recovered Wellington Bomber R for Robert from Loch Ness in 1985 on barge taking it for restoration to be displayed in Brooklands museum . Photograph courtesy of Janet Colville
Wellington Bomber 1985. The recovered Wellington Bomber R for Robert from Loch Ness in 1985 on barge taking it for restoration to be displayed in Brooklands museum . Photograph courtesy of Janet Colville
Queen at Dores Inn c 1967. The Queen outside the Dores Inn, after visiting Catto and Etta Maclean who worked for the Queen mother as a Ladies maid and cook respectively, and now run the Inn with their sister Mina. Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Royal visit to Dores Inn c 1967. Prince Phillip about to get into his car with personalized number plate OXR1, whilst the Queen is already seated in the car outside the Dores Inn, Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Royal visit to Dores Inn c 1967. The Queen and Prince Phillip in car chatting to Catto and Etta Maclean outside the Dores Inn, Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Royal visit to Dores Inn c 1967. Royal party leaving Dores with Prince Phillip at the wheel after visiting Dores Inn, Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Royal visit to Dores Inn c 1967. Section of the well wishers who gathered to see the Queen party on their visit Dores Inn, Taken after the Royal party had left. Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Royal visit to Dores Inn c 1967. The Queens Mothers car at Dores Inn , probably a different date to the previous photos . Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Dores Aerial View c1933-34. Showing the village with the Pier and Sawmill chimney still existing . Photograph courtesy of Alister Chisholm
Bona Pontoon Bridge c1943 , during WW2 a bridge was put across the end of Loch Ness at Bona . The reason being if the Germans bombed and destroyed the bridges in Inverness, basically cutting of the supply lines to the Northern East coast bases at Invergorden ect , They could still be supplied via the pontoon bridge at Bona, till temporary bridges were built across the river Ness.
Photograph courtesy of Elizabeth Luke
Dores Gala organising group 1979 L-R Norrie Donald, Alastair Grant, Donnie Mackintosh, Ella Macrae, Lily MacLennan (now Lily King, Post Office), Iain & Candy Cameron and John Duguid . Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
Dores Gala 1979 Fancy Dress
A Loch Ness Yacht race involving mainly boats from England . The contestants camped in field nearest Dores beach ,then the next day sailed up Loch Ness from Dores to Fort Augustus then raced backed to Dores it was a one of event Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
The word “raide” featured in the title of the event which indicates an international event. Photograph courtesy of Alistair Grant
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I would be very interested in the names of the three people standing on the path outside The Dores Inn, and if you know approx. the year the photo was taken?
My great grandparents, John MacKenzie and his wife Christina Murdie, lived there from about 1881. Their nine children were all born there, the youngest in 1895.
Hi Annette, that looks like a pair of plus fours the gentleman is wearing. This would place the photograph in the 1920s at the earliest. The tailoring on the jacket worn by the lady on the right also suggests 20th century.
As the family had moved to Gorthleck by 1890 (the youngest 4 boys being born there) I’m afraid it is unlikely to be John and Christina in the photo. However they were tenants of the Dores Inn for most of the 1880s so there may be records at the Inn – and possibly even photos. They were subsequently tenants of the stables at Lyne of Gorthleck so I assume this is the specific location of the birth of the 4 younger boys. It is up the hill from Dores on another road to Fort Augustus, on the banks of Loch Mhor – just a small hamlet.
You could also check for Post Office pictures as John was back working as a postman by 1891. He was followed in that duty by sons William and then Edward once John began working for British Aluminium. The family moved to Glenlia (or Glenlea as it was at the time). Firstly in Greenside Cottage and then 61 Glenlia, with Duncan working as an assistant in a provisions store at the time of the 1911 census. Only Duncan and Edward were still at home by this date. Note the SLNHG has a picture of the supply stores at Foyers from 1910 in the gallery. Could the lad on the right of the picture be a 17-y-o Duncan? Difficult to guess the age from this photo but it could be.
Sons John, William and Peter had all moved to Kinlochleven with British Aluminium (it opened fully by 1909) with the latter 2 then going on to Fort William (Inverlochy) when the new plant opened there. Mother Christina eventually moved to Inverlochy to live with William. I assume this was after John senior died, William also having lost his partner by that time.
I am guessing Duncan is your direct ancestor as he moved to Australia. So whilst we may not have a picture of John and Christina we could have found an early picture of Duncan.
Hi my Great Grandparents were married in the wee Free Church in Dores my g.grandmother was Elizabeth Fraser came from Dores think she was a servant and her father a farm labourer. My g.grandfather James Cameron came from Loch end. He was a fireman and engine driver I believe he worked in logging. They moved north to Caithness and Thurso eventually to Wick where my Grandfather was born. Eventually they moved to Glasgow my g.grandparets g.aunt Isobella g.uncle Alexander and my grandfather James. There was another son Thomas who I think was born in Glasgow where my G.Grandfather then had a job with Clyde Port Authority as a crane driver.
I visit Dores every time I am in the area and would love to know more about the place in the late 1800’s
Thank you
My 5th Great Grandfather lived at Dores/Dunches – Angus Cameron he married Catherine Fraser in 1750 and had 4 children – Elspet a daughter 1751 – Donald 1756 –
Angus 1759 – Duncan 1761 – I have birth records for the 4 children stating they were born in Dores – but can’t find a marriage record for them.
If anyone has this family in their family tree – I would love to hear from them.
I have a letter from a Catherine Maclean to my grandmother , dated October 1952. It is on headed notepaper from Dores Inn. I was wondering if she was an owner, a worker or resident? In the letter Catherine refers to a poem, written by my grandmother about the late King. Catherine states that she will show it to Her Majesty the Queen Mother ‘on her next visit’.
Did the Queen mother ever stay at Dores? ) Dealt with)
Carol burton this letter is from my granny’s sister …she owned Dores Inn at that time with her sister MIna ….Before that they worked for the queen mother who did come to visit them at Dores Inn
I have a relative born in 1836 at Dores Cottage. I am wondering if the Dores Inn were cottages before becoming an Inn as I can’t find any cottages of that name in that area. I do hope someone can help.