Roshven
| Roshven Gaelic: Roisbheinn | |
| Inverness-shire | |
|---|---|
 Marino Lodge | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NM7078 |
| Location: | 56°50’17"N, 5°45’29"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Lochailort |
| Postcode: | PH38 |
| Dialling code: | 01687 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Ross, Skye and Lochaber |
Roshven is a township located on the coast between the Sound of Arisaig and Loch Ailort, in Inverness-shire. Towering above it is Rois-bheinn, the highest hill in the area.
History
Historically, the hamlet was named Irine. Ranald Macdonald, younger brother of Donald Macdonald 4th of Kinlochmoidart, was granted the tack of Irine from Clanranald in 1749.[1] According to the 1841 census, the main house by the burn was occupied by a Mary Anderson, originally from Kinlochailort.[2] In 1854, Jemima Blackbur], an artist, and her husband, Hugh Blackburn, Professor of mathematics at Glasgow University, bought the Roshven Estate, presumably from Anderson. Blackburn was noted for capturing the area's scenery, flora and fauna in her nationally-famous illustrations. She was particularly adept at painting birds and flowers.[3] Roshven Estate covers some 4500 acres. They subsequently renovated the Georgian house in the hamlet.[3] Their homes in Glasgow and at Roshven became a focus for visits from some of the most celebrated figures of the century including John Ruskin, Sir John Everet Millais, Anthony Trollope, the Duke of Argyll, Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Lister, Professor Helmholtz, Lord Kelvin and James Clerk-Maxwell, Jemima's first cousin.
On 12 January 1894, around 11.50 pm, the aftershock of an earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale was experienced at Roshven and the settlements of Arisaig and Glenmoidart.[4]
Geography
Roshven lies on the south-eastern bank of Loch Ailort along the A861 road, south-west of the settlement of Inverailort and east of Glenuig. Boats can be moored in shallow water on the Loch near Roshven House.[5] At one time there were plans to build a terminal and a pier at Roshaven.[6] The area is mountainous, Rois-Bheinn being the highest and most dominant mountain, although Roshven is surrounded by other mountains such as An Stac, Sgurr Na Ba Glaise and Sgurr Dhomhuill Mor. The largest burn that comes through Roshven is the Irene Burn which originates in Lochan na Craoihhe and runs down past Roshven Farm and its estuary is located on the shore in front of the farm.
Wildlife
Fauna
Many forms of wildlife are found at Roshven, both aquatic and land-based. In Loch Ailort there are many varieties of fish found such as mackerel, sea trout and salmon. Brown trout are also found in the burns and streams which run down off the surrounding hills. There have been occasional sitings of dolphins and whales in the loch, and once a whale died after being washed up onto the beach. Deer, foxes, wild cats, squirrels and pine martens are regularly seen in the area. The birds however are the major attraction of Roshven and this is what inspired Blackburn in her paintings. Golden eagles are often seen either flying over the loch or, more frequently, in front of the mountains and trees.
Flora
The vegetation growing at Roshven is lush, due to plentiful rainfall, but somewhat varied. One of the main plants is rhododendron, and trees such as Scots pine, oak, birch and ash are common. Despite the rainfall, however, the land is not good for growing crops because the soil is thin, lacks fertility and can often be too inundated with water.
Economy
Tourism is important to the local economy. The Roshven Farm contains five chalets which are let out to visitors.[7] Deer stalking is carried out on the hills as well as hillwalking, fishing, sailing and rock climbing. Hill sheep farming is also practised and hay and silage are also grown on the lower, shore-bordering fields as these have thicker soils and can be used to produce food for cattle and sheep to feed on in the winter.
References
- ↑ "Ranald Macdonald of Irine". http://www.thepeerage.com/p50356.htm#i503557. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ↑ Dickson, Joshua (9 October 2009). The Highland bagpipe: music, history, tradition. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7546-6669-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=JOfk2YpundEC&pg=PA151. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Miers, Richenda (1 September 2006). Scotland's highlands & islands. New Holland Publishers. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-86011-340-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=OvF3I6_2ZlEC&pg=PA117. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ↑ Davison, Charles (30 July 2009). A History of British Earthquakes. Cambridge University Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-521-14099-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=O7zGmg19a70C&pg=PA58. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ↑ Thomson, James; Larmor, Sir Joseph (1912). Collected papers in physics and engineering. University press. https://books.google.com/books?id=YGVDAAAAIAAJ. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ↑ Thomas, John; Paterson, Alan J. S. (1984). The West Highland Railway. D. St. John Thomas. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-946537-14-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=7cJIAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ↑ "Chalets". Roshven.com. http://www.roshven.com/chalets.html. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
