The abandoned ruins of the village of Slaggan, lie by the sea at the end of this track. Once a busy crofting community, it was decimated by clearances, but lingered on as an inhabited place, into the twentieth century only to be finally killed by world wars. Last week I posted a YouTube link to a song about the Highland Clearances by John Lees (here), - it was a song I couldn't get out of my head as we walked back towards Ullapool with a setting sun behind us - trying to imagine what the last residents must have felt as they walked this road for the last time. The quiet beauty of that landscape, is still overlain with a heavy blanket of mourning, which rests its melancholy weight on all who walk that road today. 
That Hideous Man posts his rather dull thoughts here. Watch this space, or indeed, go somewhere else.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Road to Slaggan
The abandoned ruins of the village of Slaggan, lie by the sea at the end of this track. Once a busy crofting community, it was decimated by clearances, but lingered on as an inhabited place, into the twentieth century only to be finally killed by world wars. Last week I posted a YouTube link to a song about the Highland Clearances by John Lees (here), - it was a song I couldn't get out of my head as we walked back towards Ullapool with a setting sun behind us - trying to imagine what the last residents must have felt as they walked this road for the last time. The quiet beauty of that landscape, is still overlain with a heavy blanket of mourning, which rests its melancholy weight on all who walk that road today.
Fascinating place, Slaggan. I keep looking for information on it and it's hard to find.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post.
Hi anonymous! Thanks for the comment. Have you ever asked about this at the Ullapool Museum? www.ullapoolmuseum.co.uk I think. They might well be able to point you towards more info about Slaggan. Their website does say that out of season, answers to enquiries can be slow though. I'd be interested to know if you find out much more about Slaggan, let me know if you do!!
ReplyDeleteReputedly there are strangers buried there. They came ashore to raid the village, but had been seen and the villagers were waiting for them.
ReplyDeleteIf you visit the village today, the silence is deafening
Never ever heard much more about Slaggan though, although you are right when you say not to swim there. I was warned as a youngster never to swim there as there is a nasty undertow.