Achadh an Droighinn

I might not be able to walk up to the top of hills any more, but I can walk through the last ancient township in Scotland. Auchindrain is still a working farm with highland cattle, sheep, hens and runrig farming. The place has a lovely feel, walking through. This lively cockerel was crowing for Scotland on the windowsill of Martin’s House, one of four new longhouses built between 1790 and 1840. The last people moved out of the village in 1967. It’s now a working museum of rural life, in particular, life as it was in this township.

In 1779 Auchindrain had a population of 38 – 28 of them were called Munro and 4 of Munros were called Duncan. Not a problem. Everyone had a Gaelic byename. Eg. Duncan Donnchadh was called Duncan the Stonemason, which over time became Duncan Stoner. Made me wonder what our byenames would be. What about you, what would you like to be known as?