MIC

ridge of Ben Ghnuis, which often throws a twilight hue over the deep hollow of Glen Rosa, and strongly contrasts with the open and swelling character of the hills around Glen Cloy; the cliffs of Corriegills, the white and sloping beach which rounds the bay, the embattled castle towering above its surrounding woods, the green enclosures, and beyond these, the long expanse of brown heath, from which rises the grey peak of Goatfell—all these form a scene of surpassing beauty, such as cannot be excelled by the most romantic scenery of the far-famed Firth of Clyde" ("The Geology of the Island of Arran,” p. 2).

Before we leave Brodick, it will be well to note a few of the many changes that have been made in the district during the last fifty years, so that we may better understand the remarks of some of the older writers. The plantation on the east side of the main road from Brodick to Corrie, between Strabane (the factor's residence) and the Castle, has been made within the last half-century and practically covers the site of the old village of Brodick. An interesting sentence relating to the old village occurs in Grierson's "Autumnal Rambles, &c.," p. 21:

"In Brodick may be seen the old women sitting at their doors, arrayed in flannel toys, a species of head-gear now very little in use, and the men lounging about knitting stockings on wires."

The well and pump one sees on the east side of the road, sixty yards south of a cottage on the west side of the road, which is in turn nearly two hundred yards south of the Cnocanburn, where it goes under the road, constituted the old village water supply. The situation of the old village with a clear view out to sea and down Glen Rosa, was undoubtedly a fine one, and I can quite appreciate the fact that the villagers were not at all pleased at being forced to move to the superior cottages in Douglas Row, with a comparatively-speaking poor view. At that time the beach was considerably wider than it is now, but it has been reduced to its present dimensions by many thousand tons of sand having been taken away, mainly to Glasgow. Many writers speak in glowing terms of the old inn,

"The neat, little, old-fashioned, weather-stained, and leaf-enveloped Inn of Brodick" ("Days at the Coast," p. 156).

A full description of it is to be found in Hugh Macdonald's "Days at the Coast" (pp. 156, 157). The house

now forms part of the offices of the Castle, and lies some seventy-five yards back from and north of the main road, on the left of the route to Goatfell. The fact that it is 1 miles distant from the present Brodick Post Office must be taken into account in comparing the times taken in the earlier ascents of Goatfell with those taken now.

ETYMOLOGY.

Before going up to the hills and glens, it may be interesting to a few to refer briefly to the meaning of the placenames in Arran. The reader in a number of cases can have

quite a charming selection to choose from.

As the Rev. Landsborough ingenuously remarks:

"It is difficult in general to trace the origin of names, and it is amusing to see how Gaelic words can be twisted, so as to suit any theory which the writer thinks fit to adopt" (p. 96).

ARRAN.

Arran. The derivation of Arran favoured by the reverend gentleman is:

Ar, high, and Inn, island.

"M. Martin, Gent.," in his book "Description of the Western Islands of Scotland," second edition, 1716, gives us the choice of two:

Arran Arin or Arfyn place of the giant Fin-Mac-Coul's slaughter or execution. Aar = slaughter.

Hugh Macdonald in his "Days at the Coast" (p. 152) makes merry at the etymologists' expense and mentions the following:

Lord Teignmouth offers us:

"Arran―ar, land or country: rinn, sharp points; hence Ar-rinn signifies island of sharp pinnacles, or the land of serrated tops or summits a most appropriate name for Arran.”

And lastly Dr Cameron of Brodick, a high authority,

says:

"Probably from Gaelic Ara (genitive Aran), a kidney, which exactly gives Arran's shape."

BRODICK.

Brodick. In the case of Brodick, we have not such a varied choice, but the following three seem to me mutually exclusive :

The

Brodick.--Brodaic in Gaelic signifies a standard or flag. royal standard was exhibited from the Castle of Brodick for centuries. So that the Castle of Brodick signifies the Castle of the Royal Flag (Lord Teignmouth).

Broddickhill of gentle rise (Headrick, p. 58).

Brodick, c. 1306 Brathwik, 1488 Bradewik; Old Norse, Breidr vik = broad bay (Johnston's " Place-names").

GOATFELL.

Goatfell.-Johnston says:

'Very likely from Norse, god, gud=good, sacred. Fell is Icelandic, fell, a hill, or fjall, a mountain.

According to Bryce, Goatfell is an unmeaning corruption of the native name of this mountain, and the "correct" name would be Gaothbhein or Bein-gaoth the hill of the wind.

=

Headrick waxes somewhat indignant over this alleged corruption, and writes:

"The Gaelic name of this mountain is Gaodh Bhein, mountain of winds; and the name Goatfell has been imposed on it by the Sassanoch, or strangers, who have visited the island. There is a gross absurdity in calling it Goatfield; the last syllable denoting a level plain, to which it is a complete contrast " (p. 36, note).

As a Sassanoch myself, I must really protest against this accusation of having corrupted Gaelic, and shall require stronger proof than the reverend gentleman's mere state

ment.

If the title is a corruption, it is a fairly old one,

as on referring to Blaeu's Atlas published at Amsterdam in 1654, I find the name of the mountain printed "Keadefelt Hil," and I decline to believe that the nearest approach that Mr Timothy Pont, who was responsible for the map of Arran in that atlas, could get to Gaothbhein was Keadefelt. Moreover, Mr Pont was not a Sassanoch, but a son of the manse.

GLEN SHANT=valley of enchantment (Headrick, p. 49). Shant= a charm, Gaelic (Johnston).

GLEN ROSA = Ferry Point Glen (Bryce, p. 166). Rosa Rosach rosy, red, Gaelic (Johnston).

CORRIE-Gaelic coire, a cauldron ; hence a glen, ravine (Johnston). CIOCH NA H' OIGHE= the maiden's breast.

=

=

=

SANNOX, prob. Sannaig Sandaig Sandy Bay (Johnston). Some think from Gaelic Sannoch = river trout.

GLEN HALMIDEL (O.S. Glen Chalmadale) = glen of pigeons (Headrick, p. 203).

LOCH RANZA = Old Norse Rans-ay = Isle of Ran, giant goddess, queen of the sea (Johnston, first edition).

= Icelandic Rans-ay isle of the house, or isle of

=

plunder (Johnston, second edition).

=

Loch-arran-say the loch of the isle of Arran (Lord Teignmouth and McArthur).

TORR NEAD AN EOIN = heap of birds' nests (Headrick, p. 196). =mountain of birds' nests (Bryce, p. 140). the hill of ptarmigans (Landsborough, p. 228).

CATACOL = Catagill. Cata=a small ship. Gill=ravine, Old Norse (Johnston).

"There is a tradition in

SUIDHE FHEARGHAS = Fergus' Seat. Arran, that, once on a time, when Fergus the First made a survey (not geological) of his kingdom, in the course of his wanderings he visited Arran. To obtain a view of the island and the frith, the monarch and his attendants climbed this lofty hill, where, to refresh themselves after the fatigue, they sat down to dine. Hence the name" (Ramsay,

p. 25, note).

CEUM NA CAILLICH = witch's step or Carlin's leap.

CAISTEAL ABHAIL= fortress of the ptarmigan (Ramsay, p. 7).

CIR MHOR=the big comb. A Chir=the comb.

BEINN NUIS the face mountain.

BEINN TARSUINN the transverse mountain. This is a favourite

name in Arran; there are four hills so called.

MEALL NAN DAMH = hill of bucks (Nicolson).

BEINN BHREAC=spotted hill; another favourite name, and given to three hills.