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Tuesday 11 December 2012

Most of the Munro mountain-names are Gaelic with "Beinn",Sgurr, Meall, Carn, Bidean, although a few are Norse-The Cuillin in Skye derives from Old Norse," Kjolen", and the mountains between Norway and Sweden today are the Kjolen Mountains. Sgurr nan Gillean, that fine mountain on The Cuillin Ridge, is derived from the Old-Norse,"Gil", meaning Gully or cleft. If you look at the fine Pinnacle-Ridge of 'Gillean the Pinnacles are seperated by deep gullies or clefts.The Corbett, Goatfell, on Arran is derived from the Old-Norse Fjall, meaning hill or mountain, and there are countless -Vals on the Isles of Harris,( Na Hearadh ),and Lewis. Remember, Skye and Harris were ruled by the Norse,since the conquest of The Hebrides,( Sudrejar ), from AD c.825 until 1266, when Scotland bought The Hebrides from Norway, in terms of The Treaty of Perth,  Some of The Cuillin Munros and Tops are named after the climbers who made their first ascents, namely Sgurr Alasdair ,after Sgitheanach, Alasdair Nicolson, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich,after another Sgitheanach, John MacKenzie.Sgurr Tearlaich, after an Englishman, Charles Pilkington. Sgurr Thormaid is named after the Scottish scientist, Norman Collie.(Tormod is Gaelic for Norman, derived from Old Norse personal name, Tormod. The Macleods of Harris are" Siol Thormaid".

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