Gaelic Place Names on Arran

Both Gaelic and Norse are the two languages that have had a large impact on the
place names of Arran (and the other Hebridean isles). However it is Gaelic that
has had the most impact, particularly on the names of natural features of the
landscape. It can be seen that trees, birds, and animals figure prominently in
Gaelic place names. This is not surprising, for Gaelic is a very descriptive
language and the Celts had a great respect for the natural world.
Let us begin by considering the name of the island itself. There are many
suggestions for the origin of the word Arran:
Bread Island - from 'Aran' meaning bread
Land of Fingal - from 'Ar Fhionn' the name of a place near Catacol
Land of Points - from 'Ar' land, and 'Rinn' points.
Sky Island - from 'Athar Innis'
The most likely derivative is Stag Island - 'Arr Innis'. There are many
traditional references to the importance of hunting deer in Arran, and a famous
poem of one of the Fianna, Caoilte, refers to "Arran of the Many Stags".
Names involving trees:
Lag a'Bheith - hollow of the birch
Strathwhillan - 'srath Chuillin' - valley of the holly
Rudha Salach - 'Rudha Saileach' - the point of the willow
Ln nan Cuile - marsh of the reeds
Coillemore - 'Coill Mr' - the great wood
Loch Ranza - 'Loch Raonasa' - the loch of the rowan tree river
Doire Bhuide - the yellow grove
Cnoc nan Sgitheach - hill of the thorn trees
Monyquill - 'mnadh coll' - moor of the hazels
Allt na Dris - stream of the brambles
Allt na Craoibhe - stream of the trees
Cnocan a' Chrannchuir - little hill of the trees
Cor na Beithe - round hill of the birch
Corriecravie - 'Coire Craobh-aigh' - hollow of the trees
Auchenhew - 'auchen h-eo - field of the holly
Eas a' Chrannaig - waterfall of the trees
Lag an Daer - hollow of the oak
* Names involving animals:
Creag na Feidh - cliff of the deer
Beinn Nuis - 'Beinn nan Ois' - hill of the fawns
Meall nan Daimh - stag hill
Druim na Maoislich - ridge of the roe
Glen Shurrig - 'gleann searrach' - glen of the colts
Coire nan Larach - hollow of the mares
Trr na Lair Brice - hill of the spotted mare
Derenineach - 'Doire nan Each' - grove of the horses
Trr nan Gabhar - the round hill of the goat
Cuithe - a cattle fold; cuitha meadhonach - middle cattle fold
Beinn Bhiorach - hill of the heifer
Cnoc Breac Gamhainn - hill of the spotted calf
Glen Laoig - glen of the fawns or calves
Cro Laogh - the fold of the calves
Trr a' Bhochlan - hill of the cow's meadow

Narachan - place of the snakes

Madadh Lounie - 'madadh alluidh n-aigh' - the wolf's lair
Allt Madadh Dhuinn - stream of the otter
Slochd a' Mhadaidh - the pool of the dog
Beinn Chaorach - hill of the sheep
Aird nan Rn - promontory of the seals
* Names involving birds:
creag na h-Iolaire - the eagle's rock
creag na Fitheach - rock of the ravens
Corloch - loch of the herons
Creag na Cadhag - rock of the jackdaw
Loch nam Faoileag - loch of the seagulls
Cleiteadh nan Sgarbh - rock of the cormorants
Port na Feannaiche - harbour of the carrion crow
Cnoc an Seabhaig - hill of the hawk
* Afew other significant names:
Glenrickard - 'gleann Ruighard' glen of the high slope
Sheeans - 'Suidheachan' - fairy seats
Trr nan Shian - (Sithean) - hill of the fairy mound
Glen Cloy - 'Gleann Cloiche' - glen of the stones
Glen Shant - 'gleann seunta' - sacred glen
Corrie - 'Coire' - a hollow, or cauldron
Clach Mhr - the great stone; Clach a' Chait - the cat's stone;
Clach an Fhionn - Finn's stone; (three impressive boulders along the Corrie
shoreline)
Coch na h'Oige - the maiden's pap
Cir Mhr - the great comb, a mountain so called after its shape
Ceum na Cailliche - the old woman's pass
Creagan Dunse - 'creagan dun sith' - little rock of the fairy hill
Allt a' Chruiteir - glen of the harper.
Suidhe Choir Fhionn - the cauldron seat of Fionn
Trr Righ - the king's hill
Ballygown - 'Baile Ghobhainn' - the homestead of the blacksmith.
Cnoc na Comhairle - the consultation hill
This is not an exhaustive list. There are also many place names on Arran which
have great significance in Celtic mythology.

Dalriada Celtic Heritage Trust, Brodick, Isle of Arran