Commonly used Gaelic and Scots
Many Gaelic and Scots are used when talking about Scotland in the English language. You may find some of the ones below in vetter’s comments and TGOC East Information sheet.
- bealach = col
- bothy = hut or cottage used as a basic shelter
- burn = stream
- loch = lake
- lochan = small lake
- spate = high fast water, in flood
Hill Lists
You may also hear references to various hill lists – most commonly the Munros.
- Munro = Scottish Hill 3000ft (914m) or over
- Corbett = Scottish Hill 2500-2999ft (762-914m)
- Graham = Scottish Hill 2000-2499 ft (610-762m)
There are various other ways Scottish and UK Hills can be defined and listed. For more infomation
Gaelic Hill and Mountain names
Highland hill and place names are often descriptive so knowing a few Gaelic names will often help you visualise the hill before you see it and let you know what kind of ground is likely to be under your feet. So when you walk in the Cairngorm Hills you know they will be stony underfoot and when seen from a distance they will have a bluish tinge. If you are walking up Sgurr Mor you know its going to be big and steep and if going across the Moine Mor your feet are unlikely to stay dry . . .
- allt = stream
- baile = farm, township
- beag/ bheag = small
- bealach = col
- beinn/ bheinn = hill or mountain
- bhuidhe = yellow
- brae = steep bank, hillside
- burn = stream
- cairn = mound of rough stones
- camus = beach, bay
- clach = stone
- cnoc = hillock
- coille = woodland
- creag = crag
- dearg/dhearg = red
- doire = woodland
- drochaid = bridge
- dubh/dhubh = dark, black
- eas = waterfall
- eilean/ eilein = island
- fada = long
- feith = stream
- fiacail = toothed
- fraoch = heather
- garbh = rough, stony
- glen/gleann = valley
- gorm = blue
- hoolie (Scots) = strong wind, gale
- lairig = pass
- liath = grey
- linn/ linne = pool
- loch = lake
- lochan = small lake
- meall = rounded
- moine = moss, bog
- mor/mhor = big, large
- ruadh = red
- sgor/sgurr = pointed peak
- slug = mire, morass
- socach = snout shaped hill
- spate = high fast water, in flood
- stob = peak
- strath = wide valley
- stuc = conical hill
- uamh = cave
- uaine = green
- uisge = water
- uisge-beatha = water of life (i.e. whisky!)