Place names around the Aviemore and Cairngorms area
Place names give us some insight into the culture, history, environment and wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park. They were used to help identify natural and built landscape features and also to commemorate events and people. The names on today's maps as well as describing landscape features, remind us of some of the associated folklore. For example, according to local tradition the River Avon (Aan), Uisge Athfhinn - Water of the very bright one is said to be named after Athfhinn, the wife of Fionn, (the legendary Celtic warrior) who supposedly drowned whilst trying to cross the river.
Settlements
Aviemore (avee MOAR): An Aghaidh Mhòr (in ackee VOAR) - this may be connected with the old Gaelic word adhbhadh meaning ‘a dwelling place’.
Boat of Garten (boat i GARTin): Coit a’ Ghartain (cochtch GARSHTen) - ferry-place of the area called Gartan.Carrbridge (CARbridge): Drochaid Chàrr (drochitch CHAR) - Bridge of the Boggy Place.
Coylumbridge: Locally known as Coylum (COlyum) probably from Gaelic Comh-Leum - Double Leap (lit. leaping together).Cromdale (CROM dayl): pronounced CROWMbil in Gaelic, probably from Crom-Dhail - Crooked River Meadow.
Dalwhinnie: Dail Chuinnidh (dal CHOONyee) - probably means ‘River Meadow of Champions’Dulnain Bridge (DULnin): Drochaid Thuilnean (drochitch HOOLnyin) - Bridge of the Floody River.
Grantown-on-Spey: Baile nan Granndach (bal ning GROWNtach) - Town of the Grants. Often referred to locally as Am Baile Ùr (im bal OOR) meaning ‘The New Town’.Kincraig (cinCRAYG): Ceann na Creige (cyown ni CRAeeg) - The End of the Rock.
Kingussie (cinYOOSee): Ceann a’ Ghiùthsaich (kyown i YOOseech) - The End of the Pine Wood.Laggan (LAGin): Lagan (LAKan) originally Lagan Choinnich - St Kenneth’s Hollow
Nethy Bridge: Locally known in Gaelic as Obar Neithich (oabir NYAYeech) - The Mouth of the Nethy (river).Newtonmore (nyoo tin MOAR): Baile Ùr an t- Slèibh (bal oor an TLAYee) - The New Town of the Moor. Often referred to locally as An Sliabh (in SLEEow) meaning ‘The Moor’.
Lochs
Loch Alvie (ALvee): Loch Allmhaigh (loch ALavee) - possibly means ‘Loch of the Rock Plain’.Loch an Eilein: (loch in YAYlen): The Loch of the Island.
Loch Einich (loch ENeech): should be Loch Eanaich - Loch of the Boggy Area.
Loch Garten (GARtin): Loch a’ Ghartain (loch GARSHTen) - Loch of the area called Gartan.Loch Insh: Loch Innse (loch EEnsh) - Loch of the Island or Loch of the Water Meadow.
Loch Mallachie (MALachee): Loch Mallachaidh - The Loch of the Curse.Loch Morlich (loch MORleech): may be from Loch Mòr-Thulaich - Loch of the Big Hillock
Loch Pityoulish (loch pitYOOLish): Loch Peit Gheollais - The Loch of the Settlement of the Bright Place.
Loch Vaa: Loch a’ Bhàtha - The Loch of the Drowning.
Forests and Woods
Glenmore Forest: (glenMOAR): Coille a’ Ghlinne Mhòir (ceil i gleenyi VOAR) - The Forest of the Big Glen.
Rothiemurchus Forest: (rotheeMURchis): Coille Ràt Mhurchais (ceil racht VOORichish) - The Forest of the Place of Murchas’ Fort.
Cairngorm (cayrn GORim): An Càrn Gorm (in carn GORim) - The Blue Mountain.
For the full document on place names in the Cairngorms National Park click here
