4 November 2022 Issue 2502 © ULLAPOOL NEWS
Highland named one of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2023
Highland has been named as one of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2023 in the Nature category. The award-winning natural history publication revealed that the region is one of only two UK destinations to make the annual list.*
The travel list, which is created, researched, reported and written in collaboration with National Geographic Traveller’s international editorials teams, celebrates Scotland’s rewilding efforts, which aim to restore the original landscape of the Highlands by replanting and restoring native species.
It references areas such as Alladale Wilderness Reserve and the Affric Highlands project which will start restoring 500,000 acres stretching from Loch Ness to the West Coast. Highland Council Leader, Cllr Raymond Bremner, said: “To have the Highlands shortlisted as one of only two UK destinations in such a prestigious list of nominees is testament to the stunning unspoilt nature of the place we are lucky enough to call home.” For more information visit: Nat Geo or www.visitscotland.org
*****
CONGRATULATIONS to Megan Loftus! who won the UK Chaucer Poetry Prize: Senior First Prize (15-18 years)
https://chaucer.org.uk/the-canterbury-tales-writing-competition-2021-22-prejudice-and-difference/
Megan wins £300 and the School Library also benefits from her skill to the tune of £1,000.
Ullapool High School English Department
*****
Friends of Clachan Lochbroom
!!! FROM CULLODEN TO THE “HECTOR” !!!
!!! 249 YEARS LATER A FAMILY RETURNS TO LOCHBROOM !!!
Our history came to life when Richard Tierney and his family walked into Clachan old church in August. Richard is descended from not one but two married couples on the “Hector”. And one couple were from Lochbroom – Janet Ross and Alexander Cameron. This is a first – all other “Hector” passenger descendants we have met at Clachan have been from somewhere else, mostly Rogart. The other couple in Richard’s story were from Beauly – Alexander Fraser and Marreon Campbell.
A most dramatic element in Richard’s family history is the link to Culloden through both the Alexanders.
Alexander Cameron aged 17 years was working on a farm near Inverness in 1746. Alexander Fraser, about the same age, lived in Beauly – he had 3 brothers in the Jacobite army. On the morning of 16th April the two youngsters met as they, with many others, walked to Culloden and witnessed the disastrous battle.
The bystanders were in as much danger as the soldiers – they were chased and attacked with swords and guns by the Hanoverian troops but both boys got safely home, Alexander Cameron returning to Lochbroom rather than stay on at the farm.
The next time they saw each other was 27 years later, on board the “Hector” moored in the loch near to the Clachan church!! And in due course a marriage in Nova Scotia linked the two families further – daughter Katherine Cameron married Simon, one of Alexander Fraser’s sons.
Richard’s visit inspired us to try to find out more detail on what happened to these particular “Hector” passengers. We found a hugely readable source in Donald Mackay’s book “Scotland Farewell” – and were astounded to see the first line in the book is about Alexander Cameron!
The final paragraph is also about him. Clearly this family’s experience gripped the author’s imagination, as it does ours. Thank you to Richard for coming back to Clachan Lochbroom and sharing your ancestors’ story with us.
“Scotland Farewell” reports how hard the first years were. Food was so scarce that Alexander Fraser tried to feed his family by felling a birch tree so he could collect the buds. It wasn’t enough so he stole some potatoes – the owner merely said that he was glad the potatoes were there to feed the Fraser family.
A more humorous incident was Alexander Cameron’s experience of being chased up a tree by a bear. The bear pulled Cameron down the trunk by his shoe – happily the shoe came away and Cameron shinned back up until he reached branches and could break one off as a weapon until help arrived. He was 44 years old when he left Lochbroom – a bit old to find it easy to shin up trees!
Where did they settle? Both couples moved south across the estuary from Pictou – Cameron to the shore between West and Middle Rivers. He named his farm Loch Broom. And a Lochbroom friend also settled there – William Mackenzie, a younger son of Mackenzie of Ballone [Inverbroom].
Alexander Fraser settled in the next valley, the East River.
Cameron lived to the age of 103 years in 1831. He left his wife Janet, 8 children, 63 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Fraser died in 1803 aged 75 years, leaving 7 children who, in their turn, became prominent residents of Pictou County.
What an epic film this story would make….
*****
Highland named one of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2023
Highland has been named as one of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2023 in the Nature category. The award-winning natural history publication revealed that the region is one of only two UK destinations to make the annual list.*
The travel list, which is created, researched, reported and written in collaboration with National Geographic Traveller’s international editorials teams, celebrates Scotland’s rewilding efforts, which aim to restore the original landscape of the Highlands by replanting and restoring native species.
It references areas such as Alladale Wilderness Reserve and the Affric Highlands project which will start restoring 500,000 acres stretching from Loch Ness to the West Coast. Highland Council Leader, Cllr Raymond Bremner, said: “To have the Highlands shortlisted as one of only two UK destinations in such a prestigious list of nominees is testament to the stunning unspoilt nature of the place we are lucky enough to call home.” For more information visit: Nat Geo or www.visitscotland.org
*****
CONGRATULATIONS to Megan Loftus! who won the UK Chaucer Poetry Prize: Senior First Prize (15-18 years)
https://chaucer.org.uk/the-canterbury-tales-writing-competition-2021-22-prejudice-and-difference/
Megan wins £300 and the School Library also benefits from her skill to the tune of £1,000.
Ullapool High School English Department
*****
Friends of Clachan Lochbroom
!!! FROM CULLODEN TO THE “HECTOR” !!!
!!! 249 YEARS LATER A FAMILY RETURNS TO LOCHBROOM !!!
Our history came to life when Richard Tierney and his family walked into Clachan old church in August. Richard is descended from not one but two married couples on the “Hector”. And one couple were from Lochbroom – Janet Ross and Alexander Cameron. This is a first – all other “Hector” passenger descendants we have met at Clachan have been from somewhere else, mostly Rogart. The other couple in Richard’s story were from Beauly – Alexander Fraser and Marreon Campbell.
A most dramatic element in Richard’s family history is the link to Culloden through both the Alexanders.
Alexander Cameron aged 17 years was working on a farm near Inverness in 1746. Alexander Fraser, about the same age, lived in Beauly – he had 3 brothers in the Jacobite army. On the morning of 16th April the two youngsters met as they, with many others, walked to Culloden and witnessed the disastrous battle.
The bystanders were in as much danger as the soldiers – they were chased and attacked with swords and guns by the Hanoverian troops but both boys got safely home, Alexander Cameron returning to Lochbroom rather than stay on at the farm.
The next time they saw each other was 27 years later, on board the “Hector” moored in the loch near to the Clachan church!! And in due course a marriage in Nova Scotia linked the two families further – daughter Katherine Cameron married Simon, one of Alexander Fraser’s sons.
Richard’s visit inspired us to try to find out more detail on what happened to these particular “Hector” passengers. We found a hugely readable source in Donald Mackay’s book “Scotland Farewell” – and were astounded to see the first line in the book is about Alexander Cameron!
The final paragraph is also about him. Clearly this family’s experience gripped the author’s imagination, as it does ours. Thank you to Richard for coming back to Clachan Lochbroom and sharing your ancestors’ story with us.
“Scotland Farewell” reports how hard the first years were. Food was so scarce that Alexander Fraser tried to feed his family by felling a birch tree so he could collect the buds. It wasn’t enough so he stole some potatoes – the owner merely said that he was glad the potatoes were there to feed the Fraser family.
A more humorous incident was Alexander Cameron’s experience of being chased up a tree by a bear. The bear pulled Cameron down the trunk by his shoe – happily the shoe came away and Cameron shinned back up until he reached branches and could break one off as a weapon until help arrived. He was 44 years old when he left Lochbroom – a bit old to find it easy to shin up trees!
Where did they settle? Both couples moved south across the estuary from Pictou – Cameron to the shore between West and Middle Rivers. He named his farm Loch Broom. And a Lochbroom friend also settled there – William Mackenzie, a younger son of Mackenzie of Ballone [Inverbroom].
Alexander Fraser settled in the next valley, the East River.
Cameron lived to the age of 103 years in 1831. He left his wife Janet, 8 children, 63 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Fraser died in 1803 aged 75 years, leaving 7 children who, in their turn, became prominent residents of Pictou County.
What an epic film this story would make….
*****
