Gaelic place names in Coigach townships
and other areas
Each section of this page is a copy of the “full listing of place names” page for each township in Coigach, or other specified area, as found on the Coigach Gaelic Place Names CD. The CD itself was a copy and expansion of the original maps by Donnie Fraser.
Along the South-West side of the Coigach peninsula are the townships of: Reiff, Altandhu, Polbain, Badentarbat, Achiltibuie, Polglas, Achlochan, Badenscallie, Achabraighe, Achduart and Culnacraig. On the North East side is the farm and village of Achnahaird.
The less populated areas are grouped as follows: Rhu Mor, Inverpolly, Oscaig, Badagyle, Hill ground above Polglas, Bein-Eoin, Conamheall, Ben Mor.
The island groups are: Isle Ristol, Tanara Beag, Tanara Mor, Horse Island, Black Island - Priest.
Reiff
1. An dùn - The fort - a big rocky lump - local "parliament".
2. Port na Ribhe - Port of Rif.
3. Sgeir na faochaig - Reef of the whelks.
4. Geodh alltan an fheidh - Cove of the small burn of the deer.
5. An geodh ruadh - The reddish cove.
6. Creag na glaice bàine - Rock of the pale hollow - a fishing rock.
7. A’ghlaic bhàin - The light coloured hollow, from the type of grass there.
8. A’ghlaic chaoil - The narrow hollow.
9. Poll a staing - Muddy hollow of the ditch.
10. Creagan an eich - Horse crag.
11. Alltan an fheidh - Burn of the deer (not allt nam fiadh of the map).
12. Na clachan biorach - The sharp pointed stones.
13. Cnoc a’bhaile gheamhraidh - Small hill of the winter or low ground.
14. Ghlaic àirigh Chaluim - The hollow of Calum’s sheiling.
15. Am punnd(t) - The pound.
16. Glaic an taghain - Hollow of the martin cat.
16A. Loch glaican Fhearchair - Loch of Farquhar's hollow.
16B. Allt glaican Fhearchair - Burn of Farquhar's hollow.
17. Loch glaic an taghain - Loch of the hollow of the martin cat.
18. Loch fuaran na g-ealadh - Loch of the well of the swan. (or maybe gealladh) (or maybe promise). On the map this is loch fuarain ghil.
19. Am poll is àirde - The higher damp hollow.
20. Clach na fàile - Stone of the odour or of turf. Name given to a croft. The stone is on the croft - 7-8 feet in height - pointed.
21. Put an dubac - The tobacco patch. This name is over 150 years old. Now out of use but remembered as having been used by a grandmother.
22. An tobar - The well. The only well found called tobar all the others were fuaran. Both words have the meaning of spring but tobar also means draw-well.
23. Loch na Ribhe - Loch of Rif (This loch is tidal).
24. Am meall - The hill.
25. A’chùil - The nook.
26. Pollan na creige - Damp hollow of the rock. Also Fuaran pollan na creige - Well of same.
27. A’ghlaic eanachaig - This is a green hollow with a large rock at its head. Perhaps some plant growing there had a bearing on the name.
28. Lochan dubh - Little black loch.
29. Blàr feith na sobhraig - Moss of the primrose ditch.
30. An t-achadh - The meadow.
31. Clar loch beag - The small loch on the plain.
32. Clar loch mòr - The big loch on the plain.
33. Na clachan sgoilte - The cleft rocks.
34. Cnoc breac na Ribhe - The speckled hill of Rif.
35. Loch a phuinnd(t) - Loch of the pound.
36. Cnoc a chòit - Coat hill.
36A. Lochan dubh - Black lochan.
36B. Loch a' chaoruinn - Rowan loch.
37. A’ghlaic chaoil cnoc a chòit - The narrow hollow of coat hill.
38. An àirigh dhubh - The black shieling.
39. Bodhaichean na glaice bàine - Reefs of the pale hollow.
40. Am bodha min - The smooth reef.
41. Clach na h-iolla - Rock of the fishing rock (used as a mark).
42. Bodha bhodaich - Reef of the old man or reef of the spectre. Site of a disaster about 1850 when a local boat and crew were lost.
43. Sgeir na crubach - Rock of the cripple.
44. Meallan Torcuill - Torquil’s small round lump - said to have landed here from Lewis where he was put into a small boat without oars.
45. Leac dhonn mhor - The big brown flat rock.
46. An leac dhubh - The black flat rock.
47. Bodha an uirigh mhoir - Perhaps the reef of the big shelving rock.
48. Camas a’ghlais’lan - Bay of the green island. This or Camas a ghlais eilean. Name is now given to an area which includes a couple of deserted crofts.
49. Port camas a’ghlais’lan - Port of Bay of the green island.
50. An geodh liath - The grey cove.
Altandhu
1. Geodha an da fheannag - The cove of two lazy rigs.
2. An cnoc innseagaidh - This is a small green hill where the weaned lambs were open folded at night.
3. Am meallan dubh mòr - The big black hillock.
4. An eirthire or t-eirthire - A general name for the coastline between geodh na glaice baine and a leathad.
5. Geodha na gutharnaich - The praying geo. A cove with a beach of large and small stones and a patch of shell sand. May come from the sound made by the surf.
6. Meallan dubh beag - Small black hill.
7. Na feithchiullan - Applied to a part of the sea coast where there are flat rocks under water. May have a connection with faicill - watchfulness. I was given na Laiceanan for this place. If Laic means a rock shelf, that would describe the area.
8. An t-sron thana - The shallow point.
9. An leathad - The slope, or leathad na Ribhe (also allt an leothaid - not allt an leathaid of the map)
10. Meallan an leothaid - Small hill of the slope.
11. Geodha an uillt - Cove of the burn.
12. Geodha an staidhire - Cove of the stair. Rock formation like a stair and seaweed could be cut and carried up.
13. Port’n tigh sgoile - Port of the school.
14. An iolla - The fishing skerry.
15. Geodha stuic - Meaning unknown. Maybe gen. of stoc. C/f stuaic dull or gloomy look, or Cliff.
16. Geodha mhic Coineil - MacConnell Bay
17. Sròn sgeir Ruairidh - Point of Rory’s skerry.
18. An geodha ruadh - The red cave.
19. Leac nam buachaillean - Flat rock of the herders.
20. An geodha caol - The narrow cove.
21. Port a bhaigh - Port of the sandy bay.
22. Sgeir mhor - Big skerry.
23. Camas an fheidh - Bay of the deer.
23. A Loch camas an fheidh - Loch of the bay of the deer.
24. Leac ille Mhòire - Flat rock of the servant of Mary - story lost.
25. Mol-a-tuath - North beach.
26. An t-seann dornaidh - The old Dorney. In this district a small stone like a fist is called a dornag and the 3 Dorneys have those stones in the fields. May have a bearing on the name.
27. Poll a’chuile - Pool of the reeds.
28. Cnoc nam fad - Peat hill.
29. Cnoc an uain - Lamb hill.
30. Rinn nam prineachan - Point of the pins. Point where one comes in sight of the village and where probably dress was adjusted. Named when the road was first made. There were large grains of sand at this point which made walking barefoot rather difficult.
31 An t-achadh - The meadow.
32 Na glacan geala - The white or pale hollows from a type of grass there.
33 An torran ruadh - The small reddish hillock.
34 Feannag an Rosaich - Ross’s lazybed or rig.
35 Feannag a’gharaidh - Dyke rig.
36 A’bhuaile bhiorach - The pointed enclosure.
37 Sithean gorm Green fairyhill.
38 Cnoc a’chreagan or chreagain - Small hill of the small rock.
39 Loch an fhuarain mhoir - Loch of the big well.
40 Blàr beag na bodaich - Small slope of the old man.
41 Creag àirigh Donnchaidh - Rock of Duncan’s shieling.
42 Creag beag - Small rock.
43 Cnoc breac - Speckled hillock.
44 Loch àirigh gille Pheader - Loch of the shieling of Peter's lad.
Polbain
1. An camas driseach Bay of the thorn bushes - maybe wild brambles.
2. Geodh fear breug Cove of the false man.
3. Sgeir a’phuirt Sea rock of the port. A fishing rock.
4. Fear breug The false man.
5. Geodh na mòine Cove of the peats. Landing place for peats cut in the islands.
6. Iolla mheallain Fishing skerry of the little hill. Iolla na dornaidh Dorney fishing skerry. Dorney rock.
7. An t-seana chreag The old rock - a landing rock.
8. Stal dhearg Red rock ledge.
9. Leac nam bacan Flat rock of the bunches of fish. A bacan is a small number of fish strung on a stick or thong - for carrying. Herring boats used to tie up here and youngsters would be given a bacan.
10. An camas coille Bay of the wood.
11. Mol nan tighean Beach of the houses.
12. Sgeir mhol nan tighean Searock of 11. Also known as Sgeir an Osain, since a ship named the Ocean with a cargo of seogal (rye) was wrecked there.
13. Port a’Phuille bhain Port of Polbain.
14. Mol a’phluic Beach of the big hunk of rock.
15. Rudhan na buaile Small point of the enclosure.
16. Geodha na caoracha glaise Cove of the grey sheep.
17. Camus nam balgan Bay of the belly - from shape.
18. Creagan an iar Small west rock. A bag net site.
19. Mol a’bhlair Beach of the mossy plain.
20. Am blàr The mossy plain.
21. An geata mòr The big gate. Made of iron but only name remains.
22. A’chlach ghlas The grey stone. Also cnoc an cloidhe ghlaise Hill of the grey stone. Cloidhe stands for cloiche - probably claidhe is nearer the sound. The"a" sound is popular here at the expense of the "O".
23. Creagan an tine (teine) Small rock of the fire. Smoke signals made here for Tanara.
24. An duper Sheep dipping place. The word should be Dubair.
25. Cnoc na buaile Hill of the enclosure.
26. An garadh mòr The big dyke. A walled boundary between the sheep farm of Badentarbet and the Polbain crofters. Built by workers from Strathcarron when Badentarbet was cleared by eviction.
27. An leathad ruadh The reddish slope.
28. A’phairc dhubh The black park. Dubh could be used abusively to show lack of fertility.
29. Tobht tigh Anna Ruin of Annie’s house.
30. Na puille The wet hollows.
31. An cnoc dubh Black hill.
32. Leas cruinn Round enclosure or garden. In this case a stackyard.
33. Glaic nam fad Hollow of the peat.
34. Na raoin The fields.
35. Meallan Rinn mhoir Small round rock of the big point.
36. Fuaran rainich Bracken well.
37. Bualag an t-searraich Small enclosure of the foal.
38. A’bhruthaich rainich Bracken brae.
39. Am polla ruadh The reddish damp hollow. This is the west end of Polbain - am polla ban is the east end.
40. Na clachan mora The big stones.
41. Bùth na dornaidh Dorney shop. Built on the shore in days when goods came by sea.
42. An dornaidh Dorney or little dorney. In this district or an dornaidh bheag a small stone like a fist is called a dornag and the 3 Dorneys have those stones in the fields. May have a bearing on the name.
43. Na raoin The fields.
44. A’bhuaile bhiorach Sharp pointed enclosure.
45. Cnoc a’mheallain Hill of the round rock formation.
46. Fuaran a’mhuilt Well of the wedder.
47. Am blar bog The soft moss.
48. Am poll The damp hollow - cultivated.
49. An dornaidh mhor Big Dornie.
50. Fuaran seileach Well of the willows.
51. Creag an fhuarain sheilaich Rock of the spring of the willows. -causes a blind corner on the road
52. Meall dearg Red hill.
53. Cnoc nan seillean Hill of the bumble bees.
54. Fuaran na slainte Well of health.
55. Meall a’chaisteil Castle Hill. Fanciful for the rock formation near the top.
56. Meal dubh beag Small black hill.
57. Fuaran cnapach Well of the knolls.
58. Fuaran gorm Green well. The water makes a green patch.
59. Meal dubh mòr Big black hill.
60. Am polla bàn The light coloured hollow.
61. Bac an eich Bog of the horse.
62. Cnoc na criche Hill of the boundary.
63. Fuaran a’gharaidh Well of the dyke.
64. Bac an loin Bog of the wet meadow. also fuaran bac an loin Well of the wet meadow.
65. Cnoc a’cheo Hill of the mist.
66. Am mealla mòr Big hill.
67. A’ghlaic mhor The big hollow.
68. Lochan dubh Small black loch.
69. An druma donn (druim) The brown ridge.
70. A’chathair The chair. A small hill used as a resting place when carrying back burdens of peats.
71. Meall an Sgriodain Hill of the screes. Meall an Fheadain of the map - is unknown.
72. An àirigh mhullaich The top shieling.
72A. Creag àirigh mhullaich Rock of the top shieling.
72B. Druim àirigh mhullaich Ridge of the top shielling.
73. Loch a mheallain Loch of the small hill.
Badentarbat
Achiltibuie
Polglas
Achlochan
Badenscallie
Achabraighe
Achduart
Poll bhadadharaich - Seapool of the oak copse or place of oaks.
An tumair - Probably from tumair - a boat rib from the English timber. This is a small rock column to which herring nets were anchored.
Leac nam bodach ruadh - Flat rock of the codling - a fishing rock.
An camas garbh - The rough bay - boulder beach.
Rudha dubhard - Black point.
Sgeir Mairi - Mary's skerry.
Fuaran creag an araidh - Well of ladder rock. This well is exposed at half-tide.
Iolla bheag - Small fishing rock.
Geodh creag an araidh - Cove of the ladder rock.
Creag an araidh - Rock of the ladder - ladder rock.
Leac a’chroisg - Flat rock of the crossing or cross on the beach and there is no tradition.
Rudh' an t-sabhail - Meaning unknown.
Raon cruaidh - Hard field.
Na potan grod - The rotten hollows.
Carn nam beistean dubha - Cairn of the black beasts (otters).
An alltan ruadh - The reddish burn.
Na potan cocairiche - The hemp patches or hollows.
An darach - The oak wood or place of oaks.
Clach an t-soithich - Stone of the ship - story unknown.
Am pollan - The peaty hollow.
A’chreag ruadh - The reddish rock.
A’phairce dhubh - The black park.
Acha dubhard - Black point meadow.
Allt a’bhlair bhuidhe - Burn of the yellowish plain.
Am blàr buidhe - The yellowish plain.
Sithean na h-iolaire - Fairy hill of the eagle.
Lòn na cuthaig - Wet meadow of the cuckoo.
Cnoc na bà ruaidhe - Hill of the reddish cow.
An carn garbh - The rough cairn.
Meall dubhard - Hill of the black point.
Coulnacraig
aka Culnacraig
A’chair bhreac or a’chathar bhreac - Meaning not clear. A very rough stream ravine with boulders on both sides.
An teang fhiadhaich - The wild tongue - a rough piece of land where two streams join.
An claigionn - The skull - a hill shape.
An cnoc biorach - The pointed hill.
Am blàr suileagach - The moss of the little water springs.
Lòn nan gobhair - Wet meadow of the goats. Larach an tigh dhuibh - Site of the whisky bothy.
Meall na mòine - Peat hill.
A’ghlaic charnach - The stony hollow.
Drochaid Chùlacreige - Bridge of Culnacraig.
Na potan cùil - The small hollows at the rear.
An carn beag - The small cairn.
"California" - This piece of land was trenched and the stones made into a dyke at the time of the Californian gold rush.
Gead a’chrogain - Rig of the clay pitcher.
Gead nam baic - Rig of the bogs.
Gead an dubac - The tobacco patch or rig.
Sròn eighe - File nose - a pointed rig.
An achadh beag - The small meadow.
Raon cruaidh - Hard field.
Braigh an achaidh - The upper part of the meadow.
A’ghlaic - The hollow.
Tigh na creig (not creige) - House of the rock.
Am blàr - The plain - part of the arable land.
An torran dubh - The black round hillock.
Pot an t-searraich - Hollow of the foal.
Chùl a' creige - Back of the rock.
An gead dubh - The black rig.
Allt Chùlacreige - Culnacraig burn.
Ceum na faing - Path of the fank.
Leas a’bhaillidh - Garden of the bailiff.
Ceum na mòine - Path of the peats.
Poll na seicheachan - Pool of the hides - where hides used to be soaked - washed and dressed prior to being made into leather.
Cnoc nam bataichcan - Hillock of the boats - boat observation hill.
Ceum nan each - Path of the horses.
A’chreag ruadh - The reddish rock.
A’chlais dubh - The black trench.
A’bhuaile mhor - Big enclosure - This was surrounded by a garadh fal - sod dyke. The rigs-feannagan or magan tumaidh are still prominent.
Struth (sruth) mòr - Big stream - where stream is confined and leaps over a rock.
Cnocan an daraich - Hillock of the oak place.
Creagan an daraich - Crag of the oak place.
An darach - The place of oaks.
Carn an urnuigh - Cairn of the prayer - a sheltered private place where a man was wont to pray.
Ceum nan cuirn - Path of the carts.
Geodha stuic - Meaning unknown. Maybe gen. of an geodh stuic - stoc c/f stuaic dull or gloomy look or cliff.
Glaic a’phris - Copse hollow.
An leac dhonn - The brown flat rock and Bodha na lice doinne and reef of the same
Blàr an togsaid - Plain of The black hogshead.
Creag an steill - The squirting rock - waves striking a beach rock and being deflected up and over
An togsaid dhubh - The black hogshead - a sea rock
Stone Circle - A nameless 12-14 foot diameter flat earth circle, obviously man made with an undressed standing stone-say 3ft high by 2ft wide by 1ft thick.
A bhearaig - The salmon fishers bothy.
Port Chùlacreige - Port of Culnacraig.
Na potan dubha - The little black hollows.
Am polla dorch - The dark gorge.
A ghlaic rainich bheag - Little bracken hollow.
Torran nam fad - Round hillock of the peats.
Leac an fhiodha - Flat rock of the wood - probably driftwood.
A’ghlaic rainich mhor - Big bracken hollow.
A’chachalath - The gate - fanciful for a pond or the stream with boulders on either side.
Ceum Alasdair - Alasdair’s path.
Clach nan gobhair - Stone of the goats.
Creagan nan truinnseirear - Crag of the platters - plate like hollows.
Druim a’choire reidh - Ridge of the smooth corrie.
Druim beag Neill - Small ridge of Neil.
Allt nan coisichean - The burn of the walkers.
Mealla mòr - Big hill.
Àth nam mairt - Ford of the cattle on the old drove route.
An eas dubh - The black waterfall.
Glaic nan each - Hollow of the horses.
Na glaicean beaga - The small hollows.
An carn mòr - Big cairn.
Bac a’ t-sithein - Ridge of the round top.
An carn dearg - The reddish cairn.
Na buthachan - The name given to several very deep cliffs in the earth.
An grianan - The sun trap.
Allt an achan fhearna - Burn of the little meadow of the alder.
Ceum a’chladaich - Path of the shore.
Clach an eorna - The barley stone - barley crushed into meal.
Lianag nan cainearan - Green of the salmon fishers - probably from canner - canning of salmon.
Am port driseach - The port of the thorns or bramble.
An uamhag - The cave - story of an evicted family, living here for over a year.
Creag a’cheannaich - Rock of the merchant - maybe used as a landing rock when floating shops were common
Clach Dhomhnuill ruaidh - Stone of red haired Donald.
An t-uisge laoghach - The pleasant water.
Sgealb dubh - A rock near the beach.
Cadha nan tòn - Steep pass of the buttocks - walking across a steep mountain side falling on ones buttocks was common.
An geodha criothuinn - Cove of the aspen.
Creag Ruairidh - Roderick’s rock.
Creag nam broc - Rock of the badger.
A’chreag mhor - The big rock - a general name for the southern face of Ben Mor.
A’ghlaic choille - The hollow of the wood.
Uamhag nan gobhair - Cave of the goats.
Am poll - The hole - deep, with a soft muddy bottom.