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Acrach (Uamh na h-) [placename]

Mullach an Aird, Kirtomy, Bettyhill, Sutherland.

Cave(s)?, on the north coast of Scotland, east of Farr Point, in the west facing cliffs on the east side of a wider bay incorporating Bay of Swordly and Kirtomy Bay, west of Mullach an Aird and south-soutwest of Kirtomy Point. There may or may not be a cave here (there may only be the appearance of a cave or a former cave may have collapsed due to the action of the sea).

The name appears on OS maps as early as 1873.

A pretty large creek, about 1/2 a mile south from Kirtomy Point. Signification: Cave or Creek of the Anchor. [OS Namebook]

Alternative Names: Uamh na h-Acrach, Uamh na h- Achrach, Uamh na h-Acraichte, Cave of the Anchor, Creek of the Anchor

Notes: Uamh is the Gaelic word for cave, but in some instances it has been used to describe inlets. The OS 25k map shows this name in blue lettering, suggesting that it may simply be an inlet/geo. [Iain Greig]

'na' means 'of the' . 'h-' is added where a vowel would otherwise follow which produces an inappropriate conjunction in Gaelic. Visually, this gives separation. Phonetically, 'h-' indicates lentition or aspiration meaning a breathy gap. the 'h-' is not sounded and the the final 'ch' is a harsh ending as in 'loch' hence [phonetically] - oo-av or wav na cra-ckh. The meaning would seem to be 'Acrach' - genative singular of 'Acair' - thus a cave belonging to or 'of the' Anchor rather than 'of the' Anchors whereas 'acrach' an alternative meaning meaning would be 'hungry persons' plural which would require 'nan' rather than 'na h-' . [John Crae - Gaelic grammar dubious and pronunciation worse, so please correct me if I got it wrong.]

Not entirely sure of the extent of the Pentland Firth (fjord of the land of the Picts (painted ones)) aka Orkney Sea (sea of the Orcs (or Orkneys - Islands of the Orcadians (people of the Orcas or Killer Whales)) [John Crae - again, derivations here very dubious but just too far north to be part of Kintomy Bay - if too far west to be the Pentland Firth, it would otherwise be the Atlantic Ocean].

Hydrographic Feeds: Pentland Firth

Hydrographic Resurgences: Pentland Firth