Glendrian

Glendrian township, an abandoned settlement

The abandoned settlement of Glendrian lies in the centre of the western end of the Ardnamurchan peninsula.  The name derives from the Gaelic Gleann Droigheann meaning ‘blackthorn glen’, and its recorded history goes back to 1619, when an Allester McEan Voir VcEan of ‘Glendreane’ is named as one of the MacIains involved in depredations against Donald Campbell of Barbreck and besieging Mingary Castle.  The site is now is a Scheduled Monument, Historic Scotland describing it as “of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of post-medieval settlement and economy”.  This village was not cleared in the 19th century, although the original clachan was reorganised into a crofting township.  Its decline came from its isolation: even in the mid-twentieth century, Glendrian’s children had to walk many miles across rough country to reach the nearest primary school at Achosnich.  A history of the township can be found here.