Quick facts

Nairn – Inbhir Narann

Population

The population of Nairn is 8,418 and 1.59% of those speak Gaelic, according to the 2001 Census.

Local Clans

Clan Macbean, Clan Rose, Clan Brodie

Gaelic Place names near Nairn

As you’d suspect, there are a lot of place names of Gaelic origin around the Nairn district. Here are just a few of them:

Auldearn – Allt Èireann (meaning the ‘Stream of Ireland’)

Balloan – Baile an Lòin (meaning the ‘farm/village by the pond’)

Banchor – Beannachar (meaning the ‘horn-shaped place’)

Cawdor – Caladar (meaning ‘hard water’, a name applied to rivers)

Lethen – Leathann Dubhthaich (meaning the ‘Duthac’s broad slope’, an early Christian saint)

Nairn – Inbhir Narann (meaning the ‘mouth of the Nairn’, referring to the river)

Rehourie – An Ruigh Shamhraidh (meaning ‘the summer slope’)

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Did you know?

The town is known as “Sunny Nairn” because it receives more hours of sunshine then any other Scottish town.

The Moray Forth is home to a colony of bottlenose dolphins, which can often be seen from Nairn. They are among the largest in the world.

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Local heroes

Dr John Grigor

Dr John Grigor was born in the nearby town of Elgin in 1814. Originally intending to pursue the traditional family occupation of a legal career, he changed direction at the age of 16 and trained in medicine.

He returned to Elgin in 1837, after having worked as a ship’s surgeon. He was directed by his uncle towards Nairn, which had no hospital, and few surgeons.

He built many large homes and hotels in the town, which attracted a great number of tourists. He is also responsible for the establishment of many other institutes in the town, including the first public water supply and fever hospital. The museum and library were also developed because of him.

The impact he had on Nairn helped it to grow as a tourist attraction, and it still celebrates success in the tourist industry today.

James Augustus Grant

Born in Nairn in 1827, James Augustus Grant was the son of the parish minister. At the age of 19, he joined the Indian Army. He served in the Sikh War, the Indian Mutiny and was injured during the relief of Lucknow. He returned to England in 1858. Two years later, he joined an expedition led by John Hanning Speke, in search of the Nile.

They left Plymouth in April, 1860, and arrived in Zanzibar in August. The expedition remained there, preparing for their three-year journey into what was termed “the African interior”, until the 25th of September. Of the 197 men who were in the original expedition, 143 deserted.

Grant was left immobilized for five months due to a severe infection of the leg. Because of this, he was not with Speke when he discovered the source of the Nile. However, during his time in Africa, he made several independent investigations, and collected valuable botanic samples.

One of the largest, most magnificent types of gazelle is named “Grant’s Gazelle” in his honour.

Flying Officer Alfred McKay

There are few things more heroic than giving your life in service of your country, which is what Flying Officer Alfred McKay from Knockando, Moray, did in April 1944. Mr MacKay was the captain of a Lancaster bomber which was shot down and crashed into the River Aa in Holland.

His story reemerged last year when residents from the village of Asten, Holland (some of whom had witnessed the crash), raised a memorial to McKay and his crew who all died, while fighting to give them freedom. The Lancaster was in a dog-fight with a German Messerschmidt and had been damaged when the two planes collided. It was McKay’s 21st bombing sortie.

Mr McKay’s brother, John, remembers him visiting the family home at Borlum Farm, and how the family’s pet dog ran after the train he departed on and only returned days later. The dog pined for three days when it came home, as if it knew it wouldn’t see Alfred again.

Alfred McKay may not be famous, but he is certainly a local hero.

Crusty the Lobster

One of the more unusual celebrities of the Moray region was Crusty the Lobster, who met his end in the summer of 2006. He had become famous locally as divers from local sub-aqua clubs would regularly see him on the reefs around Lossiemouth. He was believed to have been over 50 years old when he was caught last summer, weighing in at 10lbs and with claws so large they were roughly the size of a man’s hands! This made him roughly 4 or 5 times bigger than the average lobster. He ended up on the dinner menu at a local hotel.

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Well known landmarks

Sueno's Stone

“Sueno’s Stone” is a giant 20-foot tall Pictish standing stone. It is to be found in Forres, encased in protective glass, to prevent vandalism and further weathering.

It is thought to date from somewhere between the 9th century and the 11th century. There is much speculation as to what the pictures engraved upon it mean. One theory is that it represents a victory by the men of Alba over the men of Moray.

It is indicated in writings and on maps that there were originally two standing stones, next to each other. However, no physical evidence of a second stone has ever been found.

Legend has it that it was where the stone stands that Shakespeare’s Macbeth met with the three witches. It is said they are trapped within the stone, and will escape should it ever be broken.

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is about 8km south-west of Nairn. It was made famous by Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” even although the play was set long before the castle had even been built!

It was built in the late 14th century as a private fortress by the Thane of Cawdor. It has remained as the Cawdor family home to this day. Unlike many other castles, the interior is decorated with comfort in mind, rather than fashion or with the aim to impress.

Today, the castle is open to visitors throughout the summer months. There are three gardens: “The Walled Garden,” which is the oldest, and dates from around 1600; “The Flower Garden,” which was planted around 100 years later; and “The Wild Garden,” which was only planted in the 1960s. There is also a 9-hole golf course and a putting green.

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Local specialities

Uisge Beatha

The “Scottish Malt Whisky Trail” winds its way through Speyside, visiting a number of distilleries. Two of them, “Dallas Dhu Distillery,” and “Benromach” are about 15km to the east of Nairn. “Benromach” is the smallest working distillery in the area, producing some of the youngest malt whisky in the world.

Golf

Nairn has become known as a “golfer’s mecca.” There are two 18-hole courses to choose from. “Nairn Golf Club” hosted the 1999 Walker Cup. The course has also been played by Scottish professional Colin Montgomerie and basketball legend Michael Jordan.

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Best time to visit

Make the best of the sunniest town in Scotland and visit during the summer months. This is when the 130 year-old Nairn Highland Games – one of the few remaining games with free entry – and the Nairn International Jazz Festival take place, so there will be plenty to do!

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What's on

August

Here is a pick of upcoming events that our characters would like to recommend for the month ahead!

Morag

Links to the Past and Present

22/08/07-24/08/07 – Nairn Little Theatre

From Celts to Kings

26/08/07 – Nairn

Melodaidh

Luminescent Orchestrii

17/08/07 – Universal Hall Arts Centre, Forres

Cèilidh Dance

25/08/07 – Aviemore Village Hall

Munro Jr

Charlie or Geordie: The Highlanders Dilemma

04/08/07-18/08/07 – Museum of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, Fort George

HMX Championship Round 7

26/08/07 – Nairn

Seanair

Anagach Woods Open Day

08/08/07 – Grantown on Spey

Golf Tournament

24/08/07 – Nairn Golf Club

Brochan

Scottish 6-Day International Orienteering Championships

5/08/07-11/08/07 – Grantown on Spey

For further information about Highland 2007 including events and external links please visit www.highland2007.com.

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Learn Online

Learn Gaelic at BBC Alba

The BBC offers an array of online learning tools for the Gaelic beginner. They have their “Beag air Bheag” online course, they have Colin and Cumberland games and they also have an online version of “Litir Bheag” from Radio nan Gàidheal.

Web: www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba

learndirect Scotland

learndirect scotland has a range of interesting online courses. These include, among others, a series of online basic Gaelic and Scottish History and Geography Courses:

Gaelic (Gàidhlig):

1. Gaelic for Arts and Festivals

2. Gaelic for Food Services

3. Gaelic for Managers

4. Gaelic for Marketing

5. Gaelic for Outdoor Workers

6. Gaelic for Parents

7. Gaelic for Receptionists

8. Gaelic for Retail Workers

9. Gaelic for TIC Workers

10. Gaelic for Travel Workers

11. Scottish History and Geography

Contact: 0808 100 9000

Web: http://www.learndirectscotland.com

Learn in the Community

Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich (CNSA)

CNSA run a series of “Gàidhlig san Dachaigh” (Gaelic in the Home) courses throughout the Isle of Skye. The classes are total immersion classes whereby the tutor only converses in Gaelic. There are classes throughout the Highlands in Inverness and Skye areas and also in Argyll.

Contact: CNSA Main Office

Tel: 01463 225 469

Clì Gàidhlig

Clì Gàidhlig run various Gaelic classes in communities throughout Scotland. They run various courses for learners of the language including conversation classes and grammar classes. They have also begun a series of Gaelic Awareness classes.

Contact: DJ MacIntyre

Tel: 01463 226710

Email: dj@cli.org.uk

Web: www.cli.org.uk

Learn Full-Time

Cùrsa Comais – Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

The Cùrsa Comais or Immersion Course is a full-time residential course at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic college. It is aimed at those wishing to obtain fluency in the language and can contribute to the first year of a degree course.

Contact: 01471 888 000

Email: trusadh@smo.uhi.ac.uk

Web: http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk

Cùrsa Comais is Cùrsaichean Ceum – Lews Castle College

This course is designed for Gaelic learners who are not yet fluent. You will develop your language skills and learn about the history of the Highlands and Islands. This course can also contribute as the first year of the degree program.

Contact: 01851 770459

Email: annie.macsween@lews.uhi.ac.uk

Web: http://www.lews.uhi.ac.uk/

Learn Part-Time

Short Courses – Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

The Gaelic college on Skye also offers weekly residential courses for beginners and intermediate beginners. A full timetable of courses usually runs during the Easter holidays and also throughout the summer months.

Contact: 01471 888 000

Email: cg@smo.uhi.ac.uk

Web: http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk

Short Courses – Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle

The Gaelic centre on Islay offers a short course programme. These courses are for all levels of learners.

Contact: 01496 810 818

Web: http://www.ile.ac.uk/

Cùrsa Inntrigidh - Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

The Cùrsa Inntrigidh is a distance-learning course based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. The course is about gaining the confidence to use your Gaelic practically, with priority given to speaking and listening skills. It takes advantage of new technology to reach those people who are too far away or whose schedule makes it impractical to attend existing courses. Workbooks and accompanying CDs allow students to work at any time of day or night that suits them. Weekly conversation classes through teleconferencing offer the opportunity to chat to tutors and practice with others on the course. Weekend schools held at the College offer the opportunity to consolidate and put into practice what has been learned, as well as the chance to get to know students and tutors in a convivial Gaelic atmosphere.

Contact: 01471 888 000

Email: sm00cin@groupwise.uhi.ac.uk

Web: http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk

Learn Gaelic Abroad

Comunn Gàidhlig Astràilia

Comunn Gàidhlig Astràilia Comunn Gàidhlig Astràilia (The Scottish Gaelic Association of Australia) is a non-profit organisation which supports the language and culture of Scottish Gaels in Australia, and is the primary source of information regarding Gaelic classes and workshops in Australia and New Zealand.

Email: fios@ozgaelic.org

Web: http://www.ozgaelic.org

An Commun Gàidhealach America

An Comunn Gàidhealach America (The Gaelic Society of America) strives to promote and preserve the Gaelic language and culture by supporting Gaelic language study and interest in Gaelic literature, song, music, art and history in North America and the world.

Email: webmaster@acgamerica.org

Web: http://www.acgamerica.org/

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