GLENSHIEL, a parish, in the county of Ross-and-Cromarty,
16 miles (S. E.) from Balmacara in Lochalsh;
containing 745 inhabitants. The derivation of the
name of Glenshiel is involved in obscurity, the original
word being equally apphcable to a " glen of cattle", " of
hunting", or " of rain". The history of the parish is
also uncertain, till about the middle of the thirteenth
century. At this time the Mc Kenzies, whose founder
had been rewarded by Alexander III. for his bravery at
the battle of Largs, expelled from Glenshiel several
tribes known by the names of Macbheolan, Macaulay,
and others, and made themselves possessors of the land.
In the beginning of the next century, however, the
Mc Raes, a clan supposed to be of Irish origin, settled in
the parish, and shortly became almost the sole proprietors.
In a later age, in 1719, the descendants of this
ancient tribe, with some adherents of the Mackenzie
family, and 400 Spaniards headed by William, Earl of
Seaforth, engaged the royal troops in the narrow pass
of Glenshiel, in the cause of the dethroned family of
Stuart j but after several severe engagements, the Highlanders
were repulsed, and retired, carrying with them
the Earl of Seaforth, who had been dangerously wounded.
The celebrated Rob Roy was concerned in this affair,
against the king's troops. The Mc Raes had fought on
the same side also at Sheriffmuir in 1715, but did not
interfere in the rebellion of 1745. Glenshiel was formed
into a separate parish, out of that of Kintail, about a century ago.
The PARISH is about twenty-six miles in length, varying
in breadth from two to six miles, and containing
72,000 acres. It is bounded on the north by Loch
Duich, which divides it from the parishes of Loehalsh
and Kintail; on the south by the parish of Glenelg; on
the east by the parishes of Kiltarlity, Urquhart, and
Kilmonivaig; and on the west by the strait of Kylerea,
which separates it from the Isle of Skye. The surface
is formed of two divisions, the eastern and western.
The eastern consists of three ranges of lofty mountains,
divided by narrow valleys, and rising in a bold and precipitous
manner at the western end, to an elevation of
nearly 4000 feet above the level of the sea: among the
many peaks by which the ranges are distinguished,
ScCir-uran is the most conspicuous. The celebrated
valley of Glenshiel lies between two of these ridges. It
is about fifteen miles in length, of various breadth, and
narrows so much at the middle, by the approach of the
mountains, as to leave only sufficient space for the
stream of Shiel to pass along. In a more expanding
portion it forms a bed for the waters of the lake of
Cluonie; and the scenery is altogether of a bold and romantic
cast. The western division of the parish, called
Letterfearn, implying " the alder side", is of a different
character from the other division, consisting of a verdant
tract gradually rising from Loch Duich, and marked
by rocky projections and headlands, diversified with
well-cultivated fields and interesting copses. Good
springs are numerous in the parish; and in the eastern
division are two considerable rivers, of very clear water,
stocked with salmon and trout, and which flow for about
twelve miles, and then empty themselves into Loch
Duich at the south and east extremities. One of these
is the Shiel, running through the valley of Glenshiel.
The principal inland lakes are Loch Cluonie, Loch Luin,
and Loch Shiel, all of which abound in excellent trout.
The SOIL near the shore is gravelly, and, if well manured,
produces good crops of potatoes; in several of
the valleys a rich vegetable mould is found, partially
mixed with sand or gravel, and admitting of superior
cultivation. About 2S0 acres are employed in tillage,
and 71,600 are under pasture: about seventy acres are
wood, considerable portions of which consist of ash and
alder. There are a few good farms, but the tillage is
principally confined to yearly tenants who hold from
one to two acres j»f land, which is turned with the spade,
and sown with barley or oats, or planted with potatoes:
the manure used is sea-weed. The houses on the superior
farms are convenient and substantial buildings:
those inhabited by the small tenants, however, are of
a mean description, built of common stones, without
cement, and containing only one apartment, with partitions.
Black-cattle, which used to form the whole
live stock, have been gradually yielding since the
beginning of the present century to sheep. The breed of
these, which has been much promoted, is the blackfaced,
or the Cheviot, with a cross of the two: the cattle
are chiefly the native Highland, celebrated for their
beauty and their hardiness, and a few Ayrshire cows are
kept on some of the farms for their milk. In this parish
the subsoil is a stiff and tenacious till, rendering draining
difficult and expensive, and impeding the efforts of
cultivation. The prevailing rock is gneiss, sometimes
receiving a tinge of red from iron-ore; granite, also, is
found in several parts, and there is abundance of limestone
on the properties of Letterfearn and Glenshiel.
The annual value of real property in the parish is £3014.
There is no village in the parish: fairs for the sale of
black-cattle are held at Shielhouse at Whitsuntide, in
July, and September. Communication between Glenshiel
and Inverness is maintained by means of a parliamentary
road that runs for eighteen miles through the
parish. There is a good harbour, named Ob-inag, at
the point where Loch Duich joins Loch Alsh; it is capable
of sheltering the largest vessels. The bays, also,
of Ardintoul and Craigan-roy, at the southern extremity
of Loch Duich, afford secure anchorage. Ecclesiastically
the parish is within the bounds of the presbytery of
Lochcarron, synod of Glenelg, and the patronage is in
the Crown: the minister's stipend is £158, with a
manse, built in 1S34, and a glebe of about twenty-four
acres, valued at £16 per annum. The church was built
in 175S, and is situated in the eastern part of Letterfearn;
it was repaired, enlarged, and new-roofed in 1 840,
and accommodates 300 persons with sittings. There is
a parochial school, in which Latin, Gaelic, and English
are taught; the master has a salary of £28, and about
£2 fees. The only relic of antiquity is a strong circular
fort on the estate of Letterfearn, called a Picts' house.
In the parish are some chalybeate springs; but they
have not been used for medicinal purposes.