The Edinburgh Geologist
Issue no 38

Gaelic names around Loch Tay

by David Jones

Loch Tay lies in the middle of a wide swath of Dalradian rocks that run across Scotland but the geology on the northern and southern sides of the loch is quite different.

To the north, Ben Lawers is well-known for the Alpine-type flora that grow on the Loch Tay Limestone and its associated calcareous schist. These make good farming soils too, and the Bal- (farm) and Acha- (field) names indicate that this was recognised long years ago when Gaelic names supplanted the earlier Pictish names. As an aside, a number of Pictish Pit- names can be found to the east of Kenmore.

The southern side of Loch Tay is very different. Like the north, it is composed mainly of schist, but the difference lies in the number of igneous rocks that have been intruded. These have led to the development of metalliferous ores in some areas.
In around 1840, the Marquess of Breadalbane is recorded as having 'caused the copper mine at Tom na Dashan to be opened'. However, if we look at maps of the area made prior to 1840, these show, not very far to the west, the Allt a' Mheinn: the 'burn of the mine or ore'. Did the Marquess discover the source of ore as is claimed or was he perhaps simply re-opening a source previously worked?

There are, in fact, a large number of meinn-associated names across Scotland from Crinan and Loch Fyne to Lairg and Loch Fleet. The challenge is to relate them to the information given in the Geochemical Atlas for the areas.

To return to Tom na Dashan, if the name were a corruption of Tom na Dathan, the translation would be 'stained hillock', which would figure because the adit is still open and has blue-green copper compounds showing around its mouth. To the southwest of Tom na Dashan is a hill now shown on O.S. maps as Creag Uchdag but on earlier maps it is Creag Uigeach: 'the crag abounding with precious stones'. The geological map shows both copper an lead sources nearby. The eastern spur of this hill is separately named as Toll na Poite: 'the hole of the pot', and aerial photograph interpretation suggests that bell-pit working may have gone on there at some time.

To the east, the Urlar Burn flows down into the Tay past the farm of the same name. Urlar is normally translated as 'lowest part' and, incidentally, is the name given to the underlying or main theme in pibroch pipe music. But it can also be translated as 'a layer or vein as in a mine'. Two copper sources are shown on a geological survey map beside the Urlar Burn.

The name of Ardtalnaig has changed over a considerable number of years. It appears as Ardintollanie (1640), Ardtollony (1564) and Ardentollenie (1536). In the light of lead and zinc ore sources being shown within 300 metres on the geological map the cape (ard) of the little pits (tollan) looks like an indicator of early mining.

Incidentally, it is recorded that in 1342, Ardtalnaig had a Toiseachdeor, who was an important officer of the law in Celtic times. His rôle was probably that of a coroner and it may be asked whether he was needed in such a small place to investigate suspicious deaths from lead poisoning?

Over the hills to the south lies Glen Quaich. Cuach is the Gaelic for a hollow (the same word is used as a drinking vessel). But its meaning can also include mining pot holes, so it is no surprise that the Royal Commission Ancient and Historic Monuments' map of the area shows an old mine spoil tip beside the River Quaich. One of the burns that runs into the River Quaich is the Allt Salach, which translates as 'polluted burn'. The word salach also occurs in a number of other places in Scotland where early mining could have taken place. It is possibly an indicator of the washing of the ore in the burn nearest to the mine.

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In a previous existence, David Jones was an electronic engineer. In thirteen years of retirement, he has become more involved in geology and archaeology and he says that where they overlap, such as in ancient mining, his interest doubles. He is also a member of the Scottish Place Names Society.

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