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It is a favourite place of mine Gleann a Gharaidh, full of Sealltainn (views) and Eachdraidh (history) it was also very álainn (beautiful) yesterday morning.
- Abhainn Garraidh
We stopped at the hydro dam to tackle Gairich which has changed the topography greatly since its completion in 1962 and made our way across its concrete butteress, to the path round Loch Cuaich, it is the largest rock filled dam in Scotland and an bit of an ugly beast!.
The view down the Glen was stunning and put me in mind of its rich Gaidhealachd eachdraidh
- Eirigh nan Grian moch sa mhadainn
In1640 the Covenanters led 4,000 men into Gleann a Gharaidh,to burn chapels and kill men, women and children who believed in the church being governed by Bishops.
In their rush to escape the sweeping swords of Clann Domhnaill five years later, at Inverlochy, the fleeing Covenanters attempted to swim the river to safety ,they were not successful and 1500 died on that day in January 1645 .
The Keppoch bard, Iain Lom in his poem "Blar Inbhir Lochaidh" urged the covenanters to “not forget their bonnets floating in the Lochy”, and advised them to “take swimming lessons before returning to Glengarry”......
Bha e bhoidheach ann sa 'madainn an de agus bha Gairich , uill alainn ......... the hill was looking just grand today
- Gairich
- Grian is Gairich
Bha e flúich is salach an slighe ..... tis a wet and dirty path to the hill right enough and we were glad to start making some height to "tir tioram" dry land !!
- An cu air a druim
From there the clarity was superb and the Cuaich hills of Sgurr a Mhaoraich ,Gleouraich and Spidean Mallaidh were superbly clear
- Beinnin Cuaich
agus air ais sios a Gharraidh ..... also down the Garry
- Gleann a Gharraidh
The ridge soon opens up a fierce grand view all round and the country of Na Garbh Criochan and Gleann Ceann a 'Ciche and over to Nevis
- Ghlinne a Ceann a Ciche
- Lochaber a Deas
We were soon "air a mhullach" or on the Cárn and still the clarity was superb it was cold mind and i could see patches of fresh snow here and there on the mountains of Ceann Talla to the North
- Air a Mhullach
- Na Garbh Criochan
- Sgurr Mor
After an hour or so mooching about the summit and with a biting cold wind, we made our way down satisfied with another fine day in the Gaidhealtachd.
- Loch Cuaich is Tir Garaidh
The empty lands of the Gharaid have been much written over, by many ,however none describe her essence as the human eachdraidh of the Gaidheal and as Sileas na Ceappaich wrote
Guidheam t’ anam a bhith sàbhailt
On a chàireadh anns an ùir thu;
Guidheam sonas air na dh’fhàg thu
Ann ad àros ’s ann ad dhùthaich:
Gum faic mi do mhac ad àite
Ann an saidhbhreas ’s ann an cùram:
Alasdair à Gleanna Garadh,
Cheerie a nis