Local Place Names
Some notes on local place names
| ENGLISH | GAELIC | NOTES |
| Inverness | Inbhir Nis | Mouth of River Ness |
| River Ness | Abhainn Nis | One of the shortest rivers in Britain — only 8 miles long |
| The Leachkin | An Leacainn | The broad slope or hillside. Correctly pronounced “Lach Kin” |
| Scorguie | An Sgòr Gaoithe | The windy point |
| Kinmylies | Cinn a’ Mhillidh | Mentioned in a charter of 1232, when the name covered a much wider area from Muirtown to Torvean. Possible meanings: “Warrior’s headland”, “Mile End”, Church of St Maili |
| Craig Phadrig | Creag Phadraig | Peter or Patrick’s Rock; possibly where St Columba met Pictish King Brude in 565 AD. |
| Dunain | Dùn Eun | Hill or fort of birds |
| Clachnaharry | Clach na h-Aithrigh | Stone of repentance. Scene of battle in 1434 between Munros and MacKintoshes over passage money for Munro |
| Tomnahurich | Tom na h-Iubhraich | Hill of the yew trees. Reputed to have fairies present |
| Torvean | Tor Bheathain | Hill of Saint Bean (possibly a cousin of St Columba) |
| Bught | n/a — probably of Scots origin | Animal enclosure — possibly “sheep fold” |
| Ballifeary | Baile na Faire | Place or village of watching (lookout point) |
| Merkinch | Marc Innis | Island or meadow of the horses |
| Kilvean | Cill Bheathain | Cell or Church of Saint Bean (see Torvean) |
| Culloden | Cùil Lodair | Back of the small pond |
| Clachnacuddin | Clach na Cùdainn | Stone of the tub(s) — now to be found at the front of the Town House |
Sources:
“The Gaelic Place Names and Heritage of Inverness” - Roddy Maclean
“Notes on the Ness valley” - Hugh Barron (GSI Transactions)