Faces and facial features

Gaelic, Norse, Brittonic? A look into the history 
and origins of place names in and around our area

Often Scottish Gaelic place names incorporate human body parts to describe landforms. Tòrr na Teangaidh situated a short distance east from Easter Achnachanat means ‘knoll of the tongue’.

In the 1848-1852 OS book, A’Chluas, ‘the ear’, is described as a slight eminence in the south side of the Kyle of Sutherland near the road from Ardgay to Kilmachalmag.

An t-Suileag (‘little eye’) is a pool in the river Carron, south of Baile na h-Aibhne.

In Culeave, Strathcarron, on the north side of the road from Ardgay to Croick, we find Aodann Mhòr, a knoll meaning ‘great face’, with Aodann Bheag (‘little face’) immediately north west of it.

Creag na Sròine, west of Spinningdale, refers to a ‘craig of the nose’.

A settlement near Spinningdale named Whiteface appears in the OS name book for Sutherland (1871-1875) property of E.C. Sutherland Walker, Esqr Skibo Castle.