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Last updated 17 November 2008
3 pictures added :
Strathconon from Dalbreac Farm 1930's
Strathconon Hall in Milton, 1930's
View across to Dalbreac and old lodge 1930's
Introduction
As well as the old and new pictures on the site I have now also added
a short video of the area. This will be updated with new scene's in the very near future but it gives you an idea. The music
is by kind permission of Paul from Rhythm 'n Reel.
Click below to access the Strathconon Views video
I live in Ross-Shire in the Highlands of Scotland and have a great love and admiration for this unique area.
It has some of the best scenery in Europe, great people, good old fashioned towns and interesting history. I am particularly fascinated by old photographs that show the Ross-Shire area the way it used to be. I have a
particular interest in Strathconon - a glen about 30 miles west of Inverness - and this site is intended to make
available interesting pictures, old and new, of that area and the surrounding district. Similarly, I would be
very grateful to hear from anyone with old pictures of the area who would be happy to share them on the site. If
you have any particular knowledge of the area, such as the places now hidden beneath the waters of the reservoirs, then please
also get in touch. Particular thanks to Roddy and Marie Gordon and to Chrissie Mackenzie
for many of the pictures on this site.
If anyone looking at the site would like shots of specific places in Ross-shire then please let me know. It
doesn't matter if you are a Ross-Shire ex-pat looking to re-kindle old memories, a potential visitor or merely curious - happy
to oblige. The only thing I ask in return is that, next time you see someone collecting for Cystic Fibrosis, you slip
in a quid.
So, I hope you enjoy what you see and what you read and I look forward to hearing from you.
Click on any of the thumbnail pictures and a larger picture will open. Don't forget to click the More
Pictures tab at the top of the page for more scenes of the area.
Best Wishes
Gerry
Location
The maps below from 1937 and from 1968 show the difference 30 years can make. If you open the 1937 map you can follow
the road through all the little townships from Marybank (on the right of the map) through to Scardroy lodge (bottom left).
Balnault - now under Loch Meig - can be seen clearly as can Achonokie (spelling of this seems to have changed over the
years and information on why would be welcome).
By contrast, the map from the 1960's lacks detail but does show the new reservoirs. Loch Meig is named but Loch Achonachie
is the unnamed loch under Loch Achility on the right . You can also see the giant Orrin Reservoir at the bottom of the
map.
| Quite detailed map from 1937... |
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| ...showing all the townships along the road |
| Less detailed map from 30 years later.. |
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| ..which at least shows the new reservoirs |
Locals from times past
| The famous Nurse Keith.. |
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| ..cycling past Milton croft |
| Donald Stewart ploughing Milton Croft.. |
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| ...at some point in the 1930's |
| Ladies on a picnic - Strathconon hall early 1900's |
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| .....and a nice sunny day, by the look of things |
| Strathconon Hall at Milton in the mid 1930's |
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| very picturesque |
| The much missed Duncan Urquhart from Dalnacroich.. |
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| ..standing on the far left. His brother Kenneth is beside the teacher. Sometime in the mid 1930's. |
The following email was received from Ian Morris who remembered
staying at the Ferranti Apprentice camp in 1969:
"we stayed at strathconon just round the corner from the church.
met duncan urquhart at the inn just down from his croft. what a lovely kind man who seemed to exist on drams of whisky. went
back in 1978 & he was at the inn recognised me from 1969 & chatted away to me. he had not changed at all . a good
advert for the water of life". yours faithfully, IAN MORRIS.
Says it better than I could!
| The Urquhart family of Dalnacroich... |
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| ..picture is 1961 following the funeral of Granny Urquhart. |
Thanks to Janet and William MacCallum of Dalnacroich for the above 2 pictures of the greatly missed Duncan Urquhart.
Music
I suppose that in recent times the whole subject of land and estate ownership in Scotland has been a contentious one.
However, I think it is fair to say that the Combe family, who owned the Strathconon estate for many years, were very well
regarded. The song and the music below were written by Peter Combe and highlight the respect he had for the
area.
| The Road to Strathconon |
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| composed by Peter Combe |
| The music for the words.. |
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| ..good luck! |
The Games
Below you will find some written memories and information about the games. The first is by Angela Kellie and the second,
I think, by Peter Combe himself. Please allow a few moments for them to download if youmare using a dial-up connection. They
are worth it!
| A personal memory of the early games.. |
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| ..from Angela Kellie |
| Some more games information... |
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| ..written, I think, by Peter Combe |
And a couple of pictures to highlight the hill race and the hard cases who compete in it ...
| Strathconon games hill race competitor... |
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| ..lunatics to you and me. |
| Start of the hill race.. |
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| ...not for the faint hearted |
| Graeme Campbell winning 2006 hill race.. |
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| at end of July |
| Strathconon Hill Race winners since 1962... |
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| ..thanks to Graeme Campbell for the information |
| However, please be warned... |
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| ..the games do attract some strange wildlife |
March 23 2006 Pictures
| It appears that Spring has now Sprung... |
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| ...just not in Strathconon |
| Our main road... |
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| ..apparently |
| My hardy Lohmann Browns.. |
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| ..wishing I lived in Spain |
March 26 2006
| The snow has gone.. |
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| ..but plenty of water in its wake |
April 1 2006
| No, not an April Fool... |
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| ..sun really is shining |
1 October 2006
| Am Bothan, Dalnacroich in October... |
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| ..no midges that day either! |
Christmas Dinner
in the Strathconon Hall
Every Christmas the residents of Strathconon, and their close friends and relatives, gather for dinner in the local hall.
The event is paid for by the hard work and fund raising activities that so many people contribute towards throughout the year.
The Christmas dinner itself requires huge effort from various local helpers but the opportunity for everyone to get together
makes it all worthwhile. Just one of the many unique things about Strathconon that make it such a great place to live.
| A full hall for the Christmas dinner... |
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| ...and many well known locals having a bit of fun |
| Murdoch, Angus, Mhairi and Colin... |
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| James, one of the many organisers... |
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| Murdoch, Jess and Keith with friends... |
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| The one and only Roddy Gordon... |
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| ..and the superb band. |
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..
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...)
