Glen Strathfarrar

Glen Strathfarrar is named for the River Farrar, recorded in Roman times as Varrar.[3] The name is from *h2uer, "flowing water" (c.f. the -wery- element in Tryweryn).[7]

Other etymologies have involved an Old Pictish element *var, apparently meaning "to wind",[3] the Latin varius with a connotation of "bending river",[8] and an Old Celtic *vo-arar meaning "gentle river".[8] Other hypothesizes connect Farrar with a river in modern-day France known in Latin as Arar, allegedly connected to Welsh, araf meaning "fast".[8]

The full name is a curious 'Gaelicisation' of the Gaelic: as a strath is an elongated glen, a title of 'Glen Strath' is tautological, and it is therefore likely that an English-only speaker, ignorant of the meaning of 'Strath' when transcribing the map of the location, recorded that this was the 'Glen of Strathfarrar'.

The River Farrar (Scottish Gaelic: Farar / Uisge Farair) is formed as the waters of the Uisge Misgeach and the Garbh-uisge merge around 2 km after the latter exits Loch Monar.[9] The river then adopts a sinuous course along the flat floor of the glen,[6] running eastwards through two lochs, Loch a' Mhuillidh and Loch Beannacharan, which is dammed as part of the Affric-Beauly hydro-electric power scheme.[10] The river then continues east, passing over Culligran Falls, before merging with the waters of the River Glass to form the River Beauly below Struy Bridge near the village of Struy.[9]

There are a number of mountains on either side of the glen, many of which are popular with walkers. These include the Munros of Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais, Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, Càrn nan Gobhar and Sgurr na Ruaidhe to the north, as well as Sgùrr na Lapaich, another Càrn nan Gobhar, An Riabhachan and An Socach to the south.[11] There are also two Corbetts - Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard and Sgorr na Dìollaid.[12]

River Farrar at Struy

Glen Strathfarrar contains several areas of Caledonian Forest,[13] the name given to the remnants of the old-growth temperate rainforest of Scotland composed chiefly of Scots pine trees that first colonised the area after the last Ice Age 8–10,000 years ago, and which forms an important habitat for species such as capercaillie, crested tit and the endemic Scottish crossbill.[14] Since the late 18th century commercial timber extraction (especially during the two world wars) and human settlement have contributed to the serious deterioration of the woodland.[3] In addition to the pinewood, there are areas of birch, and more open areas of heather, bracken and grass.[6] Red deer,[6] otters,[15] and golden eagles[16] are all known to inhabit the area, which also hosts several dragonfly species.[17]

Glen Strathfarrar is designated as part of both Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation under the Natura 2000 programme, as well as being designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[18] The glen, along with the neighbouring glens of Glen Affric and Glen Cannich, was proposed for inclusion in a national park by the Ramsay Committee in 1945,[19] but this has not been actioned as of 2020.

A small island in Loch a' Mhuillidh holds the remains of a building used by Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat on his flight from Culloden after the unsuccessful Jacobite Jacobite rising of 1745.[3] Following this rebellion the Highlands underwent massive social changes, and the introduction of sheep farming followed by the establishment of deer forests led to depopulation in the 19th century, a period known as the Highland clearances. The Affric-Beauly hydro-electric power scheme led to further depopulation in Strathfarrar, with only two buildings (the keeper's house at Monar and Pait Lodge) surviving the rising waters of Loch Monar.[3]

Locked gate

The road along the glen is private, and a locked gate system operates whereby permission for motor vehicle access must be requested at the gatehouse. A quota of cars are allowed in the glen each day. Access times vary, according to the month, between 9am and 8pm. In the winter the only means of access is to contact Mountaineering Scotland who will give a security code for the gate.[20] The resulting relative lack of cars through the glen contributes to the remote and utter peace and calm, especially of the upper reaches of the glen toward Loch Monar.

As with all land in Scotland, there is a right of responsible access to most of the land in the glen,[21] and there is thus no restriction on access along the glen by foot, bicycle or other non-motorised transport.[20]

• Glen Strathfarrar page from Strathglass Marketing