68-810: The Wester Ross Coastal Trail is a route in the Western part of the Scottish Highlands . The route consists of the A832 road , the A896 road and the Applecross Peninsula . The northern end of the route is the junction with the A835 south of Ullapool . The southern end of the route is at Auchtertyre near Kyle of Lochalsh . From the north, the route passes the following places: Wester Ross Wester Ross ( Scottish Gaelic : Ros an Iar )
136-423: A Gaelic -speaking area; however, the language suffered from persecution for many years, and its decline was hastened when English-language schooling became compulsory in the late 19th century. In the 2011 census 10.6% of the population reported being able to speak the language, compared to only 1.1% of the population of Scotland as whole. As well as being a spoken language Gaelic culture continues to be important in
204-554: A Mesolithic rock shelter and shell midden at Sand on the Applecross peninsula revealed a variety of tools made from bone, stone and antler, together with waste from tool manufacture and food processing. The Mesolithic people were largely nomadic , and permanent settlements were first built during the Neolithic era, when trees were felled to create land for farming. The area was inhabited by Picts in late antiquity , and
272-523: A legacy rich in both natural and cultural heritage. The geology of Wester Ross consists predominantly of Torridonian sandstone and Lewisian gneiss . The latter was formed during the Precambrian period, and is the oldest rock type found in Scotland; indeed the rocks around Gruinard Bay are, at 2.5 billion years old, amongst the oldest rocks in the world. The Torridonian sandstone was formed by
340-684: A notable contrast to the other peaks in the area, and can appear similar to a covering of snow on the mountain. Within the Cambrian rocks a distinct rock layer, known as the Fucoid Beds, has been identified. The fossils found in the Fucoid Beds are very different to those from rocks of a similar age found in England, a fact that was crucial in establishing that during the Cambrian period the two land masses were separated by ocean. These fossils, which include trilobites , and worm burrows, are some of
408-441: A red flash over the mountain. The RAF rescue teams arrived at the foot of the mountain on 17 March but despite several attempts were unable to reach the crash site due to the mountainous terrain and adverse winter weather conditions. Finally, two Royal Marine commandos reached the crash site. It was not until nearly 6 months after the incident that the bodies of the crew were finally recovered. The length of time taken to complete
476-692: A relatively mild maritime climate ( Köppen Cfb ) due to the influence of the Gulf Stream . The tables below provide data for three locations within the area: Aultbea , located on the coast near Poolewe ; Kinlochewe , located in a more inland position at the head of Loch Maree ; and the summit of the Bealach na Bà, located 600 m above sea level in a coastal location. There are traces of Mesolithic occupation at several sites in Wester Ross, including at Redpoint and Shieldaig . Excavations of
544-705: A resident population of red grouse . The summits of Wester Ross host alpine and sub-alpine heaths comprising mosses , liverworts and lichens , and dwarf shrubs such as alpine bearberry , juniper , crowberry , and cowberry . Beinn Eighe is the only known site for the Northern prongwort in the UK, and represents 75% of the known world population. Bird species in the montane areas of Wester Ross include ptarmigan , dotterel and snow bunting , along with raptor species such as golden eagle and merlin . White-tailed eagles were reintroduced into Wester Ross during
612-607: A series of pinnacles known as the Black Carls , which provide good scrambling and are located at the eastern end of the main ridge. Approached from the east the Black Carls are a popular climb in their own right. The cartographer Timothy Pont visited the Loch Maree area when producing his series of maps of Scotland in the late sixteenth century, including a sketch of Coire Mhic Fhearchair on his maps, however there
680-554: A strong north-easterly wind. Although experienced local mountaineers offered to assist, the RAF initially determined that the search would be handled by their own search teams. It was not until 16 March (two days after the crash) that the location of the crash was identified, from an Airspeed Oxford taking part in the search. The search had been directed to the Beinn Eighe area as a result of reports from local witnesses, who had seen
748-479: A system under which their labour would be available when required by their landlords: they would be workers first and farmers second. Crofters were employed in enterprises such as fishing ( Ullapool in the north of Wester Ross was built by the British Fishing Society in the 1780-90s) and kelping (the collection and processing of kelp to create products such as soda ash ). In the later stages of
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#1732776460591816-543: A visitor centre at Aultroy, just over a kilometre northwest of Kinlochewe. From the visitor centre there are several marked trails through woodland on the lower slopes of Beinn Eighe, as well as picnic areas and viewpoints. Further to west, NatureScot have constructed two further routes: the 1.5 km-long Woodland Trail passes through the pinewood of the Coille na Glas Leitir, whilst the 6.5 km-long Mountain Trail climbs to
884-599: Is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and forms part of the Loch Maree Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a European site of international significance, with the Caledonian pinewood, the rich mosaic of upland habitats and the otter population all forming part of the qualifying interests of the SAC designation. The Loch Maree Islands portion of the reserve also forms part of
952-555: Is a mountain massif in the Torridon area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland . Lying south of Loch Maree , it forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros : Ruadh-stac Mòr at 1,010 m (3,314 ft) and Spidean Coire nan Clach at 993 m (3,258 ft). Unlike most other hills in the area it has a cap of Cambrian basal quartzite which gives
1020-534: Is also managed as part of the reserve. The remaining northwestern part of Beinn Eighe lies within the Grudie & Talladale Estate. Two of Beinn Eighe's summits are classified as Munros. The highest point Beinn Eighe, Ruadh-stac Mòr ('Big Red Stack' in Scottish Gaelic ), lies on one of the spurs off the main ridge and stands at a height of 1,010 m (3,314 ft). Spidean Coire nan Clach ('Peak of
1088-453: Is an area of the Northwest Highlands of Scotland in the council area of Highland . The area is loosely defined, and has never been used as a formal administrative region in its own right, but is generally regarded as lying to the west of the main watershed of Ross (the eastern part of Ross being Easter Ross ), thus forming the western half of the county of Ross and Cromarty . The southwesternmost part of Ross and Cromarty, Lochalsh ,
1156-521: Is at the southern edge of its range in Wester Ross. Besides salmon and trout, Arctic charr can be found in many of the lochs. There are areas of Caledonian pinewood at Shieldaig , Coulin , Torridon , Beinn Eighe , Rhidorroch , Achnashellach and the islands on Loch Maree . Though small in terms of area, these pinewoods (which are composed chiefly of Scots pine , alongside deciduous species such as birch and rowan ) are an internationally important habitat. These woods are genetically distinct from
1224-409: Is home to the world's largest flame shell beds. The rivers and lochs of Wester Ross support important populations of Atlantic salmon and sea trout , although numbers of adult fish have declined in recent years. Freshwater pearl mussels live in the gravel beds of clean, fast flowing rivers: the population had declined across Europe as a result of pollution, habitat changes and pearl fishing, and
1292-523: Is little evidence of any recorded visits to the summits of Beinn Eighe prior to the nineteenth century. The earliest recorded ascent appears to have been during surveying of the boundary between the Gairloch and Torridon Estates, which surveyor George Campbell Smith was required to determine and delineate in 1851. The Triple Buttress Corrie was the scene of an aviation tragedy on the night of 13–14 March 1951. An Avro Lancaster crashed about 5 m below
1360-581: Is not considered part of Wester Ross by the local tourist organisation, Visit Wester Ross , but is included within the definition used for the Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve . Wester Ross has one of the lowest population densities in Europe, with just 1.6 people per km , who live mostly in small crofting townships along the coastline of the region. The area is renowned for the scenic splendour of its mountains and coastline, and
1428-645: Is subdivided into three zones: Approximately 20% of Wester Ross is legally protected via the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation. In 2014 59,900 hectares (599 km ) of coastal waters in the northern part of Wester Ross (from Rubha Rèidh to Coigach ) was declared a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA). The National Trust for Scotland , a charity that cares for sites of historic or natural significance, owns seven properties in Wester Ross: The population of Wester Ross
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#17327764605911496-501: Is the Kyle of Lochalsh line , which is operated by ScotRail and provides a link between the southern part of the region and Inverness . Four services a day operate on the line, calling at stations at Achnasheen , Achnashellach , Strathcarron , Attadale , Stromeferry , Duncraig , Plockton and Duirinish , terminating at Kyle of Lochalsh . Despite being located at a latitude of between 57.2° and 58.0° North Wester Ross experiences
1564-634: Is the largest of the national scenic areas in terms of land area (1439 km ). It extends from Loch Kishorn in the south to Little Loch Broom in the north. There are two further national scenic areas (NSA) that include parts of Wester Ross: the Kintail NSA and the Coigach portion of the Assynt - Coigach NSA. Wester Ross was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in April 2016. The designated area
1632-416: Is the location for the adventures of John Macnab in the book by John Buchan . American author George R. R. Martin took the name of the fictional continent in his epic fantasy franchise A Song of Ice and Fire , Westeros, from Wester Ross. [REDACTED] Media related to Wester Ross at Wikimedia Commons Beinn Eighe Beinn Eighe ( Scottish Gaelic for ' file mountain')
1700-583: Is thought that this results from the fact that western Scotland became ice-free first at the end of the last ice-age, allowing pine to move north along the western fringe of Europe. Pines reached Eastern Scotland from more northerly areas during a later period, as the ice sheets retreated further. In March 2019 a "genetic reserve" was established at Beinn Eighe as part of the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme in order to coordinate investigation and protection of
1768-707: Is well known for its spectacular mountain scenery, especially the Torridon Hills which includes such peaks as Beinn Eighe and Liathach . Although many peaks in the Northwest highlands exhibit Torridonian geology , the Torridon Hills are generally considered only to be those in the Torridon Forest to the north of Glen Torridon: the Munros of Liathach , Beinn Eighe , and Beinn Alligin ; and
1836-803: The Battle of Largs the semi-independent Lords of the Isles came to dominate the western coast until the 15th century, when Scottish Crown was able to cement its control over the region. The 16th century marked the height of the Clan structure in the Highlands , and Wester Ross was occupied by different clans, chiefly the Mackenzies and the Macdonalds . Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held
1904-540: The Bealach na Bà . Wester Ross was designated as a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO ’s "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) Programme in April 2016. The Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve now covers 5,200 square kilometres of Wester Ross and Lochalsh. This new-style biosphere, which covers an area over 100 times larger than the original designation, is a place where people live and actively learn about their surroundings to inspire
1972-555: The British Isles used for the purposes of biological recording and other scientific data-gathering. The coastline is mostly formed of cliffs and rocky shores covered with barnacles and seaweed . These cliffs are home to large numbers of seabirds such as puffins , fulmars , kittiwakes , razorbills , guillemots , black guillemots , cormorants and shags , whilst the rocky islets and skerries are important for harbour seals . There are also beaches and sand dunes :
2040-613: The Corbetts of Beinn Dearg , Baosbheinn and Beinn an Eoin . Other notable "Torridonian" peaks in Wester Ross include An Teallach and Slioch , in the Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest in the north of the area, and the hills of the Coulin Forest between Glen Torridon and Strathcarron . Torridonian hills exhibit some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the British Isles , surpassed in grandeur probably only by
2108-489: The Cuillin of Skye . The hills sit apart from each other, and are often likened to castles. They have steep terraced sides, and broken summit crests, riven into many pinnacles . There are many steep gullies running down the terraced sides. The summit ridges provide excellent scrambling , and are popular with hill walkers and mountaineers . However, like many ridge routes, there are few escape points, so once committed,
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2176-703: The single transferable vote electoral system. Some local decisions are delegated to the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Committee, which consists of all councilors representing this ward. In the Scottish Parliament most of Wester Ross lies within the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency, however the Lochalsh area in the south of the region forms part of the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency. Each constituency elects one Member of
2244-483: The 'Conservation Cairn' at c. 550 m (1,804 ft) which offers extensive views of the surrounding landscape including Loch Maree and the nearby mountain Slioch . NatureScot also provides a field station with full laboratory facilities for up to fourteen people which is used by scientists and researchers to co-ordinate field data recording and as a base for undergraduate fieldwork. A tree nursery lies alongside
2312-420: The 1990s, with 58 birds being released between 1993 and 1998. This was the second phase of the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles into Scotland, following on from the release of 82 birds on Rùm between 1975 and 1985. As of 2014, it was estimated that there were 98 breeding pairs living along the west coast of Scotland. The Wester Ross National Scenic Area covers 1635 km of countryside and seascape, and
2380-624: The Beinn Eighe NNR was merged with the neighbouring Loch Maree Islands NNR, which covers over 60 islands in Loch Maree to be managed as a single Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree Islands NNR , although the two reserves are still formally designated separately. Most of the Beinn Eighe reserve is owned by NatureScot , although an area of 577 ha on the western side belongs to the National Trust for Scotland . NatureScot provides
2448-557: The Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve are covered in ancient woodlands, which grows in areas between 12 and 300 metres above sea level, and the woodland at Coille na Glas Leitir on the northern side of the mountain is the largest fragment of ancient Caledonian pinewood remaining in north-west Scotland. The Scots pine in this area show genetic differences to those in eastern parts of Scotland, and are more similar to those growing in southern Europe. It
2516-455: The Corrie of Stones' in Scottish Gaelic ), which was added to the list of Munros in 1997 to become the second Munro on Beinn Eighe, is the highest point on the main ridge itself. It stands at a height of 993 m (3,258 ft) and commands an extensive view over both Glen Torridon and the rest of the Beinn Eighe massif. Ruadh-stac Beag (896 m (2,940 ft)), which lies on a spur from
2584-587: The Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election; a further seven additional members are elected from the Highlands and Islands electoral region (in addition to the eight constituency MSPs), to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole. At Westminster Wester Ross is represented as part of the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency , which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by
2652-433: The Wester Ross population is now of international importance. Otters and water voles are both present in strong numbers in the rivers of Wester Ross: water voles populations have been in decline across Great Britain due to predation by non-native American mink , which have only recently been recorded in Wester Ross. The lochs also support internationally important concentrations of breeding black-throated divers , which
2720-558: The area through traditional music and ceilidhs . Wester Ross is part of the registration county of Ross and Cromarty . The counties of Scotland are now used only for statistical purposes, and for local government purposes the whole of Ross and Cromarty is part of the council area of Highland . Wester Ross is united with Strathpeffer in Easter Ross to form a single ward entitled Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh , which elects 4 councilors to Highland Council under
2788-616: The bodies was instrumental in the formation of the Kinlochewe and Torridon Mountain Rescue Team. The eight crew members who died in the incident were: The Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve covers 4758 hectares, including open moorland , woodland and bogs . It was established in 1951 by Dr John Berry in his role as Director of Nature Conservancy in Scotland, and was the first such area in Great Britain. In 2014
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2856-475: The clearances by granting security of tenure to crofters. However the act did not break up large estates, and Wester Ross continues to consist chiefly of large single-owner estates. There are many different habitats in Wester Ross, ranging from the marine and coastal environment to mountain summits over 1000 m above sea level. The area forms one of the Watsonian vice-counties , geographical divisions of
2924-544: The clearances the driver ceased to be industrial enterprises, but simply to clear the land for sheep farming, and later deer forests . At this point emigration was often the only option to those removed from their homes. Under pressure from the Highland Land League and public opinion a series of inquiries were held into the situation, leading to the Crofters' Holdings (Scotland) Act 1886 which put an end to
2992-495: The crest of the summit ridge in a gully now known as Fuselage Gulley (or Far West Gulley) above Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair. The aircraft, which was part of 120 Squadron , had taken off from RAF Kinloss around 6 pm for a maritime reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Rockall and the Faroe Isles , and was due back at around 2:30 am. During the return journey the weather conditions were poor, with freezing temperatures and
3060-401: The deposition of sediment on top of the gneiss around 750 million years ago. The linear geological feature of Moine Thrust Belt runs northeast across the area from near Kyle of Lochalsh. The area was heavily glaciated during the ice age , with all but the highest peaks being covered by glaciers, leading to the steep-sided glens and deep sea lochs that characterise the area today. Wester Ross
3128-479: The dunes at Achnahaird in particular support three plant species ( petalworts , dune slack mosses matted bryum and sea bryum ) that occur nowhere else in Scotland. There is relatively little machair in Wester Ross compared to other parts of western Scotland. Whales , dolphins , porpoises and seals area frequently seen in the outer lochs and open waters, whilst the more sheltered sea lochs contain rocky reefs, maerl beds and deep mud banks. Loch Carron
3196-579: The early 19th century, due to the demands of the new industrial cities and the British armed forces for cattle for beef. The clan structure began to break down in the 18th century, as clan chiefs came to see themselves as landlords, and the small tenant farmers had no legal answer to a landlord who wished to have them removed. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, the Highland Clearances saw tenants being forcibly moved to become crofters ,
3264-573: The field station; trees are raised from local stock for planting on the reserve in order to expand the amount of woodland. The Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree Islands NNR forms part of the UNESCO Wester Ross Biosphere reserve , and also lies within the Wester Ross national scenic area . The NNR is classified as a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . The reserve
3332-604: The films Stardust and The Eagle (based on Rosemary Sutcliff 's book The Eagle of the Ninth ) were shot in Wester Ross. Plockton was used for shots showing Sergeant Neil Howie's arrival at Summerisle in The Wicker Man . The 2014 film What We Did on Our Holiday starring David Tennant , Rosamund Pike , and Billy Connolly , was filmed in Wester Ross and featured the Salmon Beach and Redpoint. Wester Ross
3400-645: The first past the post system of election. Wester Ross is featured in the lyrics to the song " Letter from America " by The Proclaimers , and "Kishorn Commandos" by North Sea Gas, which relate the wild lifestyle of construction workers on the Ninian Central Platform in Kishorn . Many other songs refer to or are named after areas, geographical features and villages of Wester Ross, notably Loch Maree Islands, which has been recorded by many artists including Calum Kennedy . Major outdoor scenes in
3468-528: The greatest variety of oceanic mosses and liverworts of any single site in Britain. The summit plateau is the only location in Britain at which the liverwort Herbertus borealis (northern prongwort) has been found; whilst Beinn Eighe is also the most northerly known global location at which the moss species Daltonia splachnoides has been identified. Other rare plant species found include tufted saxifrage and brook saxifrage . In total 235 ha of
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#17327764605913536-403: The main ridge east of Ruadh-stac Mòr, has sufficient relative height to be classified as a Corbett . One of the most famous features of Beinn Eighe is the corrie of Coire Mhic Fhearchair , often simply known as the "Triple Buttress Corrie" after the three large rock features which dominate the view from the north. There are many rock climbs on the buttresses and hillwalkers can access
3604-593: The major roads in the area radiate out from the more populated areas of Easter Ross, and link the settlements on the western coast to Inverness . Less major roads link these east–west routes to form a north–south route along the coast between Kyle of Lochalsh and Ullapool . This route has been marketed to tourists as the Wester Ross Coastal Trail , and also forms part of the North Coast 500 tourist route. The only railway line in Wester Ross
3672-470: The mountain are flanked by the A896 and A832 roads, however the area to the northwest is largely unpopulated, comprising the mountainous landscape of the Torridon Hills and the Flowerdale Forest . The eastern half of Beinn Eighe is owned by NatureScot , who manage it as a national nature reserve, whilst the rest of the southern side is owned by the National Trust for Scotland : this area
3740-458: The oldest fossils to be found in Scotland. The fossil of one creature identified in the rocks of Beinn Eighe, Olenellus armatus , has not been found at any other location. The area was heavily sculpted by glaciers during successive ice ages . Many rare plants, including two variants of dwarf shrub heath and a western variant of moss heath, are to be found at Beinn Eighe. In total 680 different species of plants have been identified, including
3808-402: The peaks of Beinn Eighe a distinctive light colour. Its complex topography has made it popular with both hillwalkers and climbers and the national nature reserve on its northern side makes it an accessible mountain for all visitors. Located between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon on the west coast of Scotland, Beinn Eighe is a complex mountain. The main ridge runs on a line extending from close to
3876-547: The pinewoods of central and eastern Scotland, and support a highly specialised flora and fauna including rare mosses and lichens, and insects such as the Scottish wood ant . The pinewoods are also habitats for red squirrel and black grouse . Moorland habitats, which are rare globally, are quite common in Wester Ross. The moors are characterised by blanket bogs composed of sphagnum mosses , and host breeding birds such as golden plover , greenshank and dunlin , along with
3944-684: The range of wildlife that can be seen. It is a popular tourist destination, receiving around 70,000 visitors each year. Tourism forms a major part of the economic activity of the area, accounting for 35% of all employment. Other major economic activities in the area include commercial fishing , renewable energy , agriculture and fish farming . Much of Wester Ross is designated as a national scenic area , one of 40 such areas in Scotland which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection from inappropriate development. Scenic spots including Loch Maree , Inverewe Garden , Corrieshalloch Gorge , Glen Docherty and
4012-501: The recovery operation was a key factor in the introduction of formal training courses for the RAF Mountain Rescue Teams ; prior to this MRS teams were neither adequately trained nor equipped to undertake recovery operations in such extreme mountainous areas. It also led to the creation of an Air Ministry post of Inspector of Land Rescue (ILR). Similarly, the involvement of local gamekeepers and gillies in removing
4080-402: The scrambler or hillwalker must complete the entire ridge before descent. Under winter conditions, many walking routes in Wester Ross become serious expeditions. In contrast to the isolated Torridonian peaks that characterise much of Wester Ross, the mountains of Kintail in the south of the area take the form of peaks linked by ridges that rise steeply from narrow glens and the sea. Most of
4148-464: The sediment of rivers that flowed across the landscape of the gneiss. Beinn Eighe is however unusual amongst the Torridon Hills in that the summit ridge is composed of white-coloured Cambrian basal quartzite . This is a very hard but brittle rock, that was laid down around 540 million years ago as pure white sands during a period when the area was flooded by warm tropical seas. The quartzite gives Beinn Eighe its familiar light coloured summits, which form
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#17327764605914216-453: The shores of Loch Maree, and have been sighted on burns and lochans up to 400 m above sea level. Beinn Eighe's complex topography offers both hillwalkers and climbers a wide variety of routes, climbs and traverses. For the hillwalker a popular route is the western traverse which includes both of the Munro summits and Coire Mhic Fhearchair. A full traverse of Beinn Eighe includes navigating
4284-435: The title of Lord of the Isles until 1493, and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476. During this period the area was farmed under the communal run-rig system, with people living in small townships , growing oats , bere ( barley ), and later potatoes . Cattle-rearing was the chief economic activity, with cattle being raised in the glens and then driven to market. This trade expanded during
4352-405: The tops of the buttresses from the head of the corrie. In common with much of the Northwest Highlands , the underlying rocks of the area are composed of Lewisian gneiss , a very ancient rock type. The younger Precambrian Torridonian Sandstone , which sits on top of the gneiss, forms the bulk of all of the Torridon Hills , including Beinn Eighe, and was formed around 800 million years ago from
4420-413: The unique DNA fingerprint of the area's pines. Bird species observed at Beinn Eighe include golden eagles , Scottish crossbills , bramblings , ring ouzels , golden plovers , skylarks , redwings and divers . The reserve is home to mammal species including red deer , mountain hare and pine martens , although the Scottish wildcat has not been observed for many years. Otters breed along
4488-488: The village of Kinlochewe in the north-east to the narrow glen of the Coire Dubh Mòr, which separates it from the neighbouring mountain of Liathach to the south-west. The slopes into Glen Torridon on the south side are steep with few features and are covered in white quartzite screes. On the north side are four large corries between which are spurs extending out from the main ridge. The southern and eastern sides of
4556-401: Was 8701 according to the 2011 census of Scotland , showing a slight increase compared to 8491 in 1991. The population is generally older than Scotland as a whole, with 22.1% being aged 65 or older, compared to 16.8% for Scotland as a whole. The area is sparsely populated, having one of the lowest population densities in Europe, with just 1.6 people per km . Wester Ross has historically been
4624-459: Was largely Christian by the 7th century. From the 8th century Wester Ross, along with much of the western seaboard of Scotland, came under Norse domination , and placename evidence suggests that the Pictish language seems to have been entirely replaced wherever the Norsemen encountered it, with most names considered likely to be of Medieval rather than pre-Norse origin. Following the decline of Norse power in western Scotland after their defeat at
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