Rothiemurchus – Ràt Murchais, ‘the fort of Murchas’. Since the Rev. Patrick Grant in the Statistical Account of 1791 stated that the name signified ‘the great plane of the fir’, most people have accepted this meaning. The phonetics of the name however, do not support this interpretation and it is much more likely that the name means ‘the fort of Murchas’ (Watson 1926:517). The fort referred to is probably the structure that used to stand on the hillock behind the Doune House.

The Cairngorms – Am Monadh Ruadh, ‘the russet coloured mountain range’. Being made of pink Granite the mountains often appear russet red in the setting sun.

Loch an Eilein – ‘the loch of the island’

Gleann Einich – Gleann Eanaich, ‘the glenn of the bog’. An apt description as much of the bottom of this glen is covered by peat bog.

The Lairig Ghru – Làirig Dhrù, ‘the pass of the (river) Druie’

Braeriach – Am Bràigh Riabhach, ‘the grey brown speckled upland’

Càrn Eilrig – Càrn Eilerig, ‘the cairn of the deer trap’

Loch Pityoulish – Loch Peit Gheollais, ‘the loch of the settlement of the bright place’. Peit is a word of Pictish which originally meant ‘portion of land’ but eventually came to signify ‘open settlement’. It is common in placenames throughout the north of Scotland. In districts where Gaelic is still spoken, this Pictish element in these place names has been replaced by the Gaelic one.

Tullochgrue – Tulach Dhrù, ‘the wooded hill of Druie’

Lochan Deo – ‘sparkling Loch’

Loch Gamhna – ‘Loch of the stirks (young cattle)’

Coylum – ‘narrow leap’

Luineag – ‘dancing bubbling stream’

Beanaidh – ‘of the washerwoman’

Druidh – ‘oozing soaking