The importance of nature and Scotland's environment to its ancient Gaelic-speaking people has been revealed in a new report.
Gaelic writer and broadcaster Roddy Maclean (Ruairidh MacIlleathain) examined placenames in the landscape, folklore, stories, poems and songs.
He found a wealth of evidence left behind about the ways in which the natural world was useful and valuable, such as clean air, fertile soils and timber; as well as recreation and spiritual benefits.
His analysis shows that nature was fundamental to the earliest people and subsequent generations who lived and thrived in Scotland.
READ MORE: Scots singer calls for legislation to recognise Scots as official language after Spotify success
Report author, Roddy Maclean, said: “My research highlights the strong, abiding presence of nature in the Gaelic language and culture in Scotland.
"While we’re currently re-learning how important nature is in our modern way of life, the benefits were well known by our ancestors – as can be seen in the original Gaelic names and stories that have endured in the world around us.
“The Gaels knew that we’re all connected to the natural world, and that human life depends on nature for survival – something that’s as true today as it was back then.”
Glaic nam Muirsgein, Eriskay - the defile of the razor fish. Pic: Lorne Gill-NatureScot
The report found hundreds of references to the benefits of the natural world such as food, timber, medicine, fuel and fibre. For example, lasgach, (fishing) when applied to freshwater lochs, is an indicator of quality fishing – such as Loch an Iasgaich (the loch of the fishing) on the Isle of Skye.
READ MORE: SNP MSP says Scottish Government appears to lack strategy big enough to save Gaelic
As might be expected there are many wood and tree places, showing how highly valued they were in the past. Ceann a’ Ghiuthsaich, the village of Kingussie, means ‘the end of the pine forest’ and stands where a great giùthsach (pine forest) once stretched to the north.
Fresh water springs and wells (tobar, fuaran, and tiobar or tiobairtare also commonly referenced. On Jura, there is ‘Port an Tiobairt ‘the harbour of the well’ – a place where sea-farers would replenish their water supplies.
Tobermory (Tobar Mhoire, Mary's Well) on Mull
Some wells and springs were well-known and heavily frequented for the healing properties of their water.
Plants and herbs are also common in place names. Examples include Abhainn Lusa (river of herbs) on Skye and Allt nan Luibhean (the burn of the herbs) on Lochaber and Lòn Biolaireach (meadow abounding in watercress) on Mull.
Phil Baarda, NatureScot’s Ecosystems and Land Use Advisor, said: “We’re all intrinsically connected to nature and what it provides. We might not always realise that in today’s modern world, but our ancestors did.
"This project has been a fascinating introduction into how we could value nature today though learning what others valued in the past.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel