Thursday 5 July 2012

Culag Woods

 Culag Woods is one of several lovely birch woods we visited during our recent holiday in Assynt. Not only is it a lovely piece of woodland but there are several pretty beaches alongside the paths that run through the woods.

 In parts, the path is quite steep, and there is a sign to warn of this along one of the paths. Yes, I was (perhaps surprisingly) brave enough. I didn't work out though why the Gaelic on each of these signs is different while the English is the same in each case!


12 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

I feel as though I am on holiday with you Juliet.

Gerald (SK14) said...

O wow I remember this - the beach was called White Bay. I had a summer job at the Culag Hotel in Lochinver in 1966 and when we had free time we'd follow the footpath through the woods to the little bay. There were no signposts then at all.

Sandy's witterings said...

Was it not Assynt that was much beloved by Norman MacCaig. For a poet this could almost be a pilgrimage.

Naquillity said...

what a beautiful area. i love those trees you photographed in that first picture. and i wouldn't want to leave that bay. have a great day~

Ms Sparrow said...

It looks so cool and serene there.

Howard of Belvedere Mountain Express said...

A bheil misneach agad? = Are you brave?

Ceum an Dùbhlain = Path of the Challenge

So I suppose in English it is the ‘Are-you-brave-enough Path’, or merely Ceum an Dùbhlain in Gaelic. On one sign it effectively says that in both English and Gaelic, while on the other it just says ‘Are you brave enough?’ in both languages. I think some punctuation would have helped, as ‘Are you brave enough? Path’ doesn’t appear to make sense, so you need the hyphens or at least quotation marks. I hope this explanation at least makes sense!

Carol Steel said...

The countryside is wild looking, fierce and rugged, yet beautiful.
Elemental and magical. What a terrific place to explore on your vacation!

RG said...

Looks a bit like Canada in places.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Howard, i thought you might be able to help with the Gaelic, thanks!

Gerald - that must have been a fun summer!

Sandy, yes, MacCaig country indeed!

Caroline Gill said...

What an exciting set of paths ... which was the one 'one less traveled by', I wonder! I recall reading At the Loch of the Green Corrie (written somewhat in the footsteps of MacCaig) when we were in the area.

Christina said...

Such beauty and everything looks so clean in your country. Never see plastic bags and trash like we see here?

SzélsőFa said...

'are you brave enough' - uhm, someone did have a sense of humor :)))
what a lovely and peaceful landspape, btw.