The Rough Bounds

The Rough Bounds (in Gaelic, Na Garbh Chriochan), in the Scottish Highlands, is the area of West Inverness-shire between Loch Hourn and Loch Shiel, consisting of the districts of Knoydart, North Morar, Arisaig and Moidart. The area is famous for its wildness and inaccessibility and remains very sparsely populated.

History

Historically, ownership was divided (and intermittently contested) between the Macdonalds of Clanranald and the Macdonells of Glengarry - both clans being persistent thorns in the side of central government. In particular, the Rough Bounds in the 18th century represented a hotbed of Catholicism [Denis Rixson, "Knoydart: a history" (Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh, 1999), at page 69] and Jacobitism. A succession of flamboyant but unsuccessful chiefs (including especially Alasdair Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry (1771-1828) and Ranald George Macdonald of Clanranald (1788-1873)) resulted ultimately in the area passing into other hands.

References

* [http://www.mallaigheritage.org.uk/exhibit/bounds.htm | Mallaig Heritage Centre web-site] , accessed on 18 August 2008.
*Mary Miers, "The Western Seaboard: an illustrated architectural guide" (Rutland Press, Edinburgh, 2008)