Loch Cairnbawn


(Loch a' Chairn Bhain)

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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Kylesku, a long, narrow sea-loch on the mutual border of Eddrachillis and Assynt parishes, W Sutherland. Opening from the Minch in semicircular Loch a' Chairn Bhain or Cairnbawn, which measures 5¼ miles across the mouth, and contains a number of small islands, it strikes, from the head of that bay, 33/8 miles east-south-eastward, with an extreme width of 7 furlongs; next for ½ mile contracts to from ½ to 1¼ furlong at Kylesku Ferry; and, ¾ mile beyond, divides into two horns, Lochs Glendh and Glencoul, striking eastward and south-eastward. With an intricate cincture, its shores, flanks, and overhanging mountains-the monarch of them Quinag (2653 feet)-exhibiting a series of superb landscapes, Kylesku is swept by extremely rapid tides, and enjoys great celebrity for both the quantity and quality of its herrings. Unapool or Kylesku Inn, at Kylesku Ferry, is 18 miles NE of Lochinver and 11 SSE of Scourie.—Ord. Sur., sh. 107, 1881.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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