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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | The view from the cairn at Inver Aulavaig |
| Posted Comments: AngieLake
(2008-03-01) | Hi uisdean, nice photo. Just out of interest - in which compass direction are those distant mountains? I wonder if the sun rose or set between them at a significant time of the year, and if the early settlers saw them as an 'earth-mother' focus for rituals? (Don't they call them 'munros' in Scotland?) | uisdean
(2008-03-02) | Hi Angie
The saddle between the distant mountains is at 351 degrees true - too far north for a sun or moon set (midsummer sunset at this latitude and elevation is around 313 degrees, and most northerly moonset at major standstill atound 323 degrees). This is a pity, because the hill to the right is Beinn na Caillich - the Hill of the Old Woman!
It is possible that there are alignments from the site towards Bla Bhenn, which is to the west of the mountains in the picture, but the problem is that there are so many notches in the mountains that it would be impossible to say that any alignment was not by chance.
But perhaps I should take my theodolite to the site and do a thorough survey! This will involve a three mile walk over rough ground carrying heavy equipment, si I may not rush to do it. But if I do find anything interesting I shall let you know.
We do have Munroes in Scotland, but these do not qualify! To be a Munro a mountain must be 3000 feet or over. | AngieLake
(2008-03-02) | Thanks for that uisdean. Have taken a look on the useful streetmap link (lime green) on site page. I see where those mountains are now - approx west of Broadford. Probably drove past them when I visited Skye in 2001... will look back at camcorder footage.
It IS interesting that the right-hand one is named Beinn na Caillich (732m / 2196ft - I couldn't believe it didn't qualify as a munro!), and the left-hand one is Beinn Dearg (709m). Anything with 'Old Woman' associations might turn out to have a significant site alignment, esp when viewed at this angle. The Callanish area on Lewis, and Loughcrew in Ireland spring to mind! Taking another look (and bearing in mind the 'Old Woman of the Moors' on Lewis) - instead of looking like two bosoms, I can now see it as side view of bosoms [Beinn na Caillich] and a huge pregnant belly [Beinn Dearg]! What does Dearg mean?
Perhaps Bla Bhenn was the 'baby'??! | AngieLake
(2008-03-02) | I'm just trying to look at this landscape as an original settler would have in neolithic/bronze age, etc..
Also just noticed Bla Bheinn on my road atlas... Big 'Baby' that one.. 928m!!.. but still not a munro! | uisdean
(2008-03-03) | Hi Angie
Beinn Dearg means Red Mountain. I don't think Bla Bheinn is the baby - at 3044 feet its considerably higher than its neighbours. Its name is obscure, and has been variously glossed ar Blue Moutain, Warm Mountain, Sunny Mountain, Mount of the Blast (it was certainly that when I tried to climb it) and Hill of Bloom! But it is a Munro, being over 3000 feet. | AngieLake
(2008-03-03) | Thanks uisdean. That name doesn't link with a pregnant belly [unless red=blood='fertile years'!] but I still think it looks like an 'Earth Mother' figure from here. What do you think?
As for the height of Bla Bheinn, I multiplied by 3 for quickness, making it 2784. I found some websites with pix of those mountains after my post last night, and I see what you mean about it's jagged summit! |
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