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I. On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2013

Thomas Lauder Dick
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Extract

I Had last winter the honour of laying before the Royal Society a few hasty remarks on what are called the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, suggested to me by an accidental ramble through that valley, in the course of a pedestrian tour in the West Highlands, during the previous August. My curiosity having been much excited by what I then saw, I was induced to revisit the highly interesting district of Lochaber, in the beginning of last June, and had thus an opportunity of devoting three whole days to a more complete inspection of these remarkable shelves, which I was surprised to find, were to be traced through a much more extensive stretch of country than former observation had led me to imagine. My first visit to Glen Roy was accidental; but upon this late occasion, I went with the purpose of endeavouring to put myself in possession of all the facts I could possibly collect, regarding these curious appearances; and in doing this, I had several advantages which I did not formerly enjoy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , 1823 , pp. 1 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1823

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References

page 4 note * The Gaelic word Lochaber, signifies the influx of a lake into a river, or the sea. The district so called, comprehends Glens Gluoy, Roy, and Spean, Lochs Laggan and Treig; and the country stretching in the direction of Fort William, and as far to the westward as the Ferry of Balachulish.

page 13 note * “As there is nothing left upon record,” says the Reverend Mr Ross, in his account of the parish of Kilmanivaig, (Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xvii. p. 549.) “respecting the times when, the persons by whom, or the purposes for “which, these roads were constructed, we can only mention the common traditions “regarding them. One is, that they were made by the Kings of Scotland when “the royal residence was in the castle of Inverlochy, which is not above eleven “miles from the nearest of them; and, what gives an appearance of truth to this “tradition, in the opinion of those who maintain it, is, that the construction of “these roads was so vast an undertaking, as could not be effected by any vassal or “nobleman, however powerful. Another tradition, which is that of the natives, “is, that they were made by the Fingalians, and, under the name of Fingalian “Roads, they are still known in this country. They are likewise called the Casan, “i. e. the Roads, by way of eminence. Of this the natives are convinced “from this circumstance, that several of the hills of this glen have retained, from “time immemorial, the names of some of the heroes of Fingal, such as the Hill of “Gaul the son of Morni; that of Diarmid; and of Fillan; and likewise of Bran, “the famous dog of Fingal, &c. Now the popular belief cannot be considered as “a direct proof of any opinion, yet we cannot help remarking, that the original “tradition, (which in this case has been always invariable,) gives a strong degree “of credibility to the existence of such heroes, and renders it by no means improbable, “that these extraordinary roads have been the result of their labours. The “purpose which they were designed to serve, seems to have been, (agreeably to “the common opinion,) to facilitate the exercise of hunting; for in ancient times, “and, indeed, till within this century, the valley was covered with wood, which “made it very difficult to pursue the deer, &c. and rendered certain avenues necessary “for effecting this purpose; in corroboration of which opinion, it may. be “observed, that upon the sides of the roads, there have been found some stakes “fixed in the ground, probably the remains of some of the paling or fences, which “in those days were made use of to confine the game, till they were driven in “upon a field, called Dal-na-sealg, or Hunting Dale, where the presumption is “they were killed.”

page 17 note * Since this paper was presented to the Society, I have had an opportunity of satisfying myself of the accuracy of this remark with regard to these lakes, as well jas of adding to the examples of this general fact, from my own personal observations on the lakes of Maggiore, Lugano, and Como, as well as in the upper part of the Lake of Geneva, and several other continental lakes, having precipitous shores.

page 22 note * When I was lately at Tivoli, I had the most earnest desire to visit Subiaco in person, not only to make my own observations on the valley, but likewise to enjoy a range of scenery, described to me as being of the most romantic character; but I regret to say, that a variety of circumstances compelled me to abandon the attempt, with very great reluctance. I had, however, some satisfaction, in availing myself of the opportunity of corroborating the description in the text, by the testimony of one or two of my Roman friends, who had been at Subiaco.

page 31 note * Hence, probably, the name of Glen Roy, or the Red valley.