Shared description
Loch an Eilein
Loch an Eilein is a small irregular shaped, freshwater loch in the Rothiemurchus Forest about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Aviemore, Scotland in Cairngorms National Park. Loch an Eilein comes from the Scottish Gaelic and means 'Loch of the island'. The loch is considered to be beautiful and walks around it are popular.
In the late 18th and early 19th century, the loch was used mainly for two things. On the banks of the loch there is a limestone kiln where the limestone was collected from a rockface looking over the loch. Also loggers used the connecting river to float logs down to the wood-treating factories downstream. Rob Roy and other cattle rustlers used the loch, and one side of the loch is called 'Robbers Way'.
On an island in the middle of the Loch are the ruins of a small 14th century castle. It was originally constructed as a place of refuge from thieves and threatening activities.The castle is said to have once been the property of Alexander Stewart the Wolf of Badenoch.
The castle was the site of conflict. The Jacobites, retreating from Cromdale in 1690, besieged the castle. Dame Grizel Mor Grant, widow of the fifth laird Grant, held the castle against the Jacobites.The castle fell out of use in the late 18th century.
The castle may have originally been connected to the shore by a causeway. The causeway became submerged when the water level in the loch was raised by estate work and the building of a dam in the 18th century.
In the late 18th and early 19th century, the loch was used mainly for two things. On the banks of the loch there is a limestone kiln where the limestone was collected from a rockface looking over the loch. Also loggers used the connecting river to float logs down to the wood-treating factories downstream. Rob Roy and other cattle rustlers used the loch, and one side of the loch is called 'Robbers Way'.
On an island in the middle of the Loch are the ruins of a small 14th century castle. It was originally constructed as a place of refuge from thieves and threatening activities.The castle is said to have once been the property of Alexander Stewart the Wolf of Badenoch.
The castle was the site of conflict. The Jacobites, retreating from Cromdale in 1690, besieged the castle. Dame Grizel Mor Grant, widow of the fifth laird Grant, held the castle against the Jacobites.The castle fell out of use in the late 18th century.
The castle may have originally been connected to the shore by a causeway. The causeway became submerged when the water level in the loch was raised by estate work and the building of a dam in the 18th century.
by Ralph Greig
Created: Thu, 19 Oct 2023, Updated: Thu, 19 Oct 2023
10 images use this description:
2025
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
1965
1965
1965
1965
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2023 Ralph Greig.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
Log in to view extended navigation and 'Explore' links.Other shared descriptions
Related descriptions
- Rothiemurchus Estate
By Malc McDonald. Used on 8 images
- Cairngorms National Park
By Malc McDonald. Used on 168 images
- Old Packhorse Bridge, Carrbridge
By N Chadwick. Used on 6 images
- Beauly to Denny Power Line
By Anne Burgess. Used on 26 images
- National Trust for Scotland
By N Chadwick. Used on 8 images
- The A86
By David Dixon. Used on 17 images
- Loch Lomond (Loch Laomainn)
By David Dixon. Used on 48 images
The above selections are automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions
