LOCHALSH, a parish, in the county of Ross-and-Cromarty,
9 miles (W. N. VV.) from Kintail; containing,
with the village and former quoad sacra parish of
Plockton, asg? inhabitants. This parish, of which the
name is said to be of Danish origin, and of which little
of the early history is known, is situated at the southwestern
extremity of the county, and is bounded on the
north by Loch Carron, and on the south by Loch Alsh.
It is skirted on the east by a lofty range of hills, and on
the west by the Atlantic Ocean and the narrow channel
which separates the Isle of Skye from the main land.
Lochalsh parish is about twenty-eight miles in extreme
length, and eight miles in average breadth; and more
than one half of it is uninhabited. The surface is hilly
and mountainous; but the hills are less rugged than in
the more northern districts, and of many of the smaller
hills, the lower acclivities are susceptible of cultivation,
and the summits clothed with a thin moss affording
tolerable pasture. About 1500 acres arc arable, 3000
meadow and green pasture, 2500 woodland, 800 moss,
and about 45,000 acres hill pasture, moorland, and
waste. The moors abound with grouse and other species
of game; red-deer frequent the higher hills, and the hills
near the coast are visited by aquatic fowl of every variety,
in great numbers.
In the hollows between the hills, and on some of the
acclivities, the soil is tolerably fertile, producing favourable
crops of oats, barley, and potatoes, of which last
great quantities are raised; and within the last few years
the system of husbandry has made considerable progress.
Numbers of black-cattle and sheep are reared in the pastures,
and much attention is paid to the improvement of
the breed; the dairies, also, are under good management,
the butter made here obtaining a decided preference in
the market. The cattle and sheep are sold to dealers,
who purchase them for the southern markets. During
the intervals of their agricultural pursuits, the inhabitants
are engaged in the fisheries, on the produce of which
they depend for a considerable portion of their subsistence.
The fish chiefly taken here are herrings and sythe
or cole-fish, which are found in great quantities in the
lochs; and ling, cod, and skate are occasionally obtained
off the coast. The parish contains extensive remains of
natural wood; and the plantations, which consist of firs.
interspersed with other kinds of trees, are generally in
a thriving state. There are neither mines nor quarries
of any kind in operation. Fairs, chieliy for black-cattle
and horses, are held in May, September, and November.
The only village is Plockton, which is described under its
own head. Ecclesiastically the parish is within the
bounds of the presbytery of Lochcarron and synod of
Glenelg: the minister's stipend is £160. 17. 10., with a
manse, and a glebe valued at £48 per annum; patron,
the Crown. Lochalsh church, erected in 1810, is a neat
plain structure containing 650 sittings. A church was
built at Plockton by parliamentary grant in 1827, to
which a quoad sacra district was afterwards for a time
annexed. The parochial school is well attended; the
master has a salary of £25. 13. 6., with a house, and an
allowance of £1. 7- 8. in lieu of garden, and the fees average
about £25 per annum.