SHIELDAG, a quoad sacra parish (for a time), partly
in the parish of Gairloch, but chiefly in the parish of
Applecross, county of Ross and Cromarty, 10 miles
(N. W.) from Lochcarron; containing 1899 inhabitants,
of whom 188 are in the village of Shieldag. It includes
the north-eastern portion of the parish of Applecross,
which, together with the south-western part of the
parish of Gairloch, was separated from those parishes
for ecclesiastical purposes, and erected into a quoad
sacra parish, under act of the General Assembly. The
district is about eighteen miles in extreme length, and
nearly fifteen miles in breadth, comprising a large extent
of surface, of which, with the exception of some narrow
strips of land near the coast, the whole is one continued
tract of barren rocky hills, affording only scanty pasturage
for a few flocks of sheep and some cattle. Of
the very small proportion under cultivation the soil is
tolerably fertile, producing favourable crops of barley,
oats, and potatoes; but there is nothing either in the
system of husbandry, or in the management of the lands,
requiring particular notice. Except two or three families
in the interior who are employed in tending sheep and
cattle, the population are resident on the coast, and
place their chief dependence on the fisheries, which are
carried on to a considerable extent. The agricultural
produce, beyond what is requisite for the supply of the
inhabitants, is sent to Glasgow; and the few sheep and
cattle reared in the pastures are sold to small dealers in
the adjacent districts, who purchase for the more distant
markets. On the east the coast is indented by Loch
Shieldag, which forms an inlet from the centre of Loch
Torridon towards the south, and is two miles and a half
in length and one mile in mean breadth, forming an excellent
station for vessels employed in the fisheries.
The village is situated on the west of Loch Shieldag,
and consists chiefly of irregularly-built cottages extending
along the shore, and inhabited by fishermen who,
at their intervals of leisure, are employed in the cultivation
of the lands. The fish taken here are, salmon, which
are found in considerable numbers, yielding a tolerable
rent to the proprietors; cod, ling, sythe, cuddy, flounders,
and various other kinds of white-fish; with shell-fish of
different sorts, of which the cockle and mussel are found
in large quantities. Several boats are also engaged in
the herring-fishery, which is carried on to a good extent,
affording the principal means of subsistence for the inhabitants.
Within a small distance from the village is
a natural wood of fir, producing excellent timber for
boat-building and other purposes. Facility of inland
communication is maintained by the turnpike-road from
Shieldag to Lochcarron, the nearest post-town, from
which letters are brought by a carrier at the public expense;
and several foot-roads intersect the parish in
various directions. Loch Shieldag, as already observed,
affords safe anchorage to the vessels employed in the
fisheries; and at Loch Torridon are ample opportunities
of conveyance to distant ports. Ecclesiastically the district
is within the limits of the presbytery of Lochcarron
and synod of Glenelg. Shieldag church was built in
1827, by parliamentary grant, at a cost, including the
manse, of £1480; and is a neat substantial structure
containing 300 sittings. The minister's stipend is £120,
paid from the exchequer; with a manse and garden:
patron, the Crown. A place of worship in connexion
with the Established Church, and in which the minister
of Shieldag preaches once a month, was erected at Kishorn
by the proprietor of Applecross and a few of the
inhabitants; it is a commodious structure containing
200 sittings. A school is supported from the funds of
the General Assembly; and there is a Free church.