Arnisdale Explained

Country:Scotland
Coordinates:57.13°N -5.57°W
Official Name:Arnisdale
Map Type:Ross and Cromarty
Static Image:View over Arnisdale.jpg
Static Image Caption:Looking over on Arnisdale and Loch Hourn
Unitary Scotland:Highland
Constituency Westminster:Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Os Grid Reference:NG8410

Arnisdale (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Àrnasdal) is a hamlet in the historic county of Inverness-shire in the local authority area of Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of Loch Hourn, around 100NaN0 down a single-track road from Glenelg. It has a permanent population of around 30 and several holiday cottages. At the end of the community is a large white-painted hunting lodge called Arnisdale House, built by architects Robert John Macbeth & Alexander Ross in 1898–1916.[1] [2] [3] The house was built for Valentine Fleming of the banking family (father of the writer and explorer Peter Fleming and of Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond), who was killed in action in World War I, a year after the house was completed. Arnisdale is in the Highland Council area.

Attractions

The hamlet is most famous as the closest settlement to Camusfeàrna, the house in which Gavin Maxwell wrote the auto-biographical story of his secluded life with his pet otters, Ring of Bright Water. Terry Nutkins (1946 – 2012) the naturalist, television presenter and author, who had in his boyhood been one of Maxwell's otter keepers, lived at the end of his life near the village.

It was also the departure point during the summer months for the ferry to the Barrisdale on Knoydart, across Loch Hourn, until the ferry stopped operating in 2011. Walkers often come to Arnisdale to climb Beinn Sgritheall.

2012 Badger Incident

On the 31 October 2012, it was reported that group of badgers living under Arnisdale Free Church were responsible for digging up the ground around the graves in the 130-year-old burial ground in the centre of the hamlet. No human remains were thought to have been disturbed.[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.glenelg.co.uk/accommodation/glenelg_self_catering_cottages.shtml
  2. Book: Lewis, Samuel. Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Genealogical Publishing Com. 1989. 9780806312552. 523.
  3. Web site: Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report (October 3, 2019, 5:02 pm). www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. 2019-10-03.
  4. News: Badgers dig up 130-year-old Highland cemetery. BBC News . 2012-10-31. 2013-10-15.