MACLEODS OF ASSYNT

We returned to Lochinver feeling elated that we had found Cnocaneach, and saddened with the knowledge of what had happened to the MacLeods, who had gone from comfortable tenant farmers at Cnocaneach to crofters eking out their lives in Badnaban.

Whilst climbing over a fence to get nearer the ruins, I’d torn my trousers, so we went into the local post office to buy a needle and thread. The postmistress was as friendly as everyone there, and when we said we were investigating the MacLeods she said ‘Alison McLean at the Council Offices is the daughter of a MacLeod from Badnaban!’. We thought ‘why not?’ and went round to the office, which is behind the Culag Hotel on the harbour front, and asked for Alison. She was out, they said, ‘but her daughter works here. Would you like to see her?’.

Thus we met Elaine McLean, who was completely bemused by our presence there, and simply didn’t know whether she was related to Scott. She therefore rang her grandmother, Mrs Nan MacLeod, and let Scott talk to her. She certainly remembered Jimmy, Greta and the tragedy of Sandy, and invited us to visit her the next day.

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