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Bhaltos in West Lewis – just one of the many place names with Norse origin

Place names

The use of Gaelic and naming conventions on OS maps deserves a comment. Gaelic is a beautiful yet complex language. Many words, including first names and place names, are pronounced and written differently according to what word or letter precedes them or how much emphasis is put on the word. For instance, ‘It is cold’ is Tha I fuar. But ‘It is very cold’ becomes Tha I glè fhuar and the pronunciation of the last word changes. Place names are the same: Beinn Mòr and Beinn Mhòr both mean the big or high mountain, yet are pronounced differently. And just to confuse, the Gaelic word beag actually means little or small, and not big as English speakers might assume.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles Council, has adopted the pragmatic approach of labelling place names in both Gaelic and English – and even when they are not you can generally work it out for yourself. Chàrlobhagh must surely be Carloway and you can be certain that Calanais is Callanish, although it is not always so straightforward. If you have time to spare and intend to return to the north-west of Scotland, the island folk will be delighted if you take the trouble to learn a few basics in Gaelic and can start a conversation with Ciamar a tha sibh? (How are you?), even if you dry up after a few everyday phrases.