Strathdon Invernochtie

A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875

Etymology
The original name of this parish was Invernochty, so called, it is said, from the church being situated at one period, at the confluence of the Nochty and the Don. The etymology of the modern comes from the name of its river, Strath-domhain, or, "the valley of the deep river." But as this is one of the few Gaelic speaking parishes in Aberdeenshire, we shall give some of the prominent names of places and their derivations, some of which are expressive of the local situation, as being on an eminence or hollow, or by the wood or water side, and some indicating the names of ancient possessors, Lonach being the watch-word of the men of Strathdon. Of the names of places we have Delnadamph, in Gaelic Dail-nan-damh, which signifies "the field of the oxen." Dunan-dhu means "the small black fort," and Auchmore, in Gaelic Achadh-mor, means "the large field." Drumallan means "the white ridge." Toman-chapel means "the small knoll at the chapel." Lynmore, in Gaelic Li-an-more, means "the big grey stream." Locharmick, or Loch-ard-muick, "the high loch of the sow." Bella-beg, in Gaelic Bealach-beg means "the big pass or opening." Clashachdhu or Clash-auch-dhu "the black stone of the field." Invernettie is from In-bhir-neadache, "the confluence abounding in birds' nests." Blairnamuck, or Blar-na- muick, "the battle field of the swine." Culquhonny, or Cul-a-chaoinidh, signifies "the back place of weeping." Daljarg, or Dail-dearg, means "the field of the red point," and Corgarff, in Gaelic Coire-garth, means "the rough place or ravine." Ledmacoy, in Gaelic Leud-magh-reidh, means "the broad smooth plain." Glenkindie, in Gaelic Gleann-cinn-dubh, means "the valley of the dark head;" and Poldullie, in Gaelic Poll-dhui, or "the dark pool." Stroan, in Gaelic Sron, means a point. Candacraig, in Gaelic Caenn-na-craige, "the point or head of the rock." Inverernan, in Gaelic Inbhir-er-an, "the confluence of the east flowing river." Rinavon and Rinmore, both in Glenkindie, in Gaelic Ruigh-abhuin, "the shealing by the river," and Ruigh-mhor, "the big shealing."

Boundaries
The parish, proper, is bounded on the north by Inveravon, in Banffhire, and the parish of Glenbucket; on the east by a detached portion of Tarland and Migvie, and the parish of Logie-Coldstone; on the south by the parishes of Glenmuick, Tulloch, and Glengairn, and of Crathie and Braemar; and the west by the parish of Kirkmichael, in Banffshire. The Glenkindie or detached portion is bounded on the north by the Cabrach; on the east by Towie; on the south by Towie and part of Migvie; and on the west by Glenbucket.

Extent
The greatest length of the parish from east to west is (including the interjecting portion of Glenbucket) from the influx of the burn of Kindie with the Don, to the Banffhire boundary at Inchrory, 16 miles; and the greatest breadth is, including the detached portion of Tarland in Glenernan, nine miles. The gross area of the parish, including the detached portion of Glenkindie, is computed to be 47,737¼ acres, including 3,557.457 acres, the area of the detached portion.

Topography
The appearance of the surface of the parish in the lower parts is beautifully diversified, now presenting all the appearance of fertility, with the Don winding through the principal strath, and again the wild rugged scenery of the Highlands. From Glenkindie to Glenernan there is a considerable extent of arable land along the river, with some fine haughs regularly subdivided and enclosed. The lower slopes of the hills over the same distance are mostly covered with thriving plantations of a very beautiful description, especially those of Newe, Candacraig, Inverernan, and Edinglassie. From Glenernan to the Castle of Corgarff the strath becomes narrower, the mountains rising almost from the stream, with occasional patches of cultivation clumps of planted firs, and copse-wood consisting of birch and aspen trees. From Corgarff to the source of the Don, which is on the Banffshire boundary, consists almost entirely of moss and moorland mountains, of a bleak and barren nature, particularly towards the source of the river, which is 2,070 feet above sea level. The highest cultivated land on the Don is at Delnadamph, and it is 1,417 feet above sea level; the Castle of Corgarff is 1,416 feet, the workings of the iron mines on Allargue is 1,929 feet, and the ridge of Lecht, over which the old military road is carried to Tomantoul, is 2,090 feet. This hill is called Leac-nan-Gobhain, or "the hill of the Smith's son." The church of Corgarff is 1,259 feet, Tornahaish 1,153 feet, and 50¼ miles from Aberdeen. The church of Strathdon is 952 feet, and the bridge over the Kindie burn, at Glenkindie, on the Strathdon road, is 762 above sea level. The bridge at Poldullie is 940 feet; the. bridge at Inverernan is 1,008 feet; and the Cockbridge at Corgarff Castle is 1,322 feet above sea level. Ben-newe is 1,874 feet; the house of Auchernach, in Glennochty, is 1,217 feet; the farm houses on Braeashiel, in Glenernan, is about 1,380 feet; Duff-Defiance is 1,296 feet; and the spring at the source of the Loinherry burn is 1,687 feet above sea level. The southern ridge of hills bounding with Crathie, and over which the old military road is carried from Dee to Donside, is 1,738 feet. Eastward of this road, and bounding with Glengairn, the ridge of the Meikle Sgroileach is 2,432 feet; the Feith well, a strong sulphureous spring in Glen-conry, 1,478 feet; and "The Blue Cairn of Morven," where this parish joins Tullich and Logie-Coldstone, is 2,954 feet. The highest cultivated land in the parish is on West Drumandeeth, and it is 1,500 feet above sea level. On the north or left hand side of the strath of the Don, there are the glens of Kindie (which is detached from the main portion by the parish of Glenbucket), the Nochty and the Ernan (the latter being in the parish of Tarland); on the south or right bank of the Don, the western side of the Deskry is in this parish, and the whole of Glen-Carvy and Glen-Conry. These glens are all separated by mountain ridges, lying nearly at right angles, inclining to the east, with the main strath, and in most of them there is a considerable breadth of cultivated land, but little or no wood, except in the lower parts of Glenkindie, the lower parts of Glenernan, and the plantations of Auchernoch in Glenochty, "unless it be some detached bushes (clumps) of natural birch; yet these glens, in the stillness of a summer afternoon, with the clear streams flowing through the soft green glades, and the mountains rising abruptly on either side covered to the top with long thick heath in full bloom, afford a richness of beauty almost rising to grandeur."

[A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875]