IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
ALEXANDRIA, G83 8RF

The farm shop is beside the A82. At the time of writing, the map uses the older name Auchentullich Namoin. Another farmstead, the similarly-named Auchentullich Natra, was at c.Image It is shown, for example, on Roy's Military Survey (1740s–50s) as Achentullochnatra, and appeared on OS maps until recently, but has now been cleared away; this took place around 2006. (For the pronunciation of Natra and Namoin, see end note *1, below.) A while ago, it was explained to me in person, by someone very familiar with these farms, that the elements "Namoin" and "Natra" signify, respectively, "on the moss" (that is, on the mossy or boggy ground) and "by the shore". If this is correct (as it most probably is), they are derived from the Gaelic words "mòine" and "tràigh". Specifically, the derivation of these elements would then be as follows (where I have employed the appropriate genitive forms): "Namoin" < "na mòine": "of the peat moss" "Natra" < "na tràghad": "of the shore" It is likely that the names, being old, might have had their endings worn down a little over the centuries. As it happens, the spelling "Auchintullich-na-moine" was current in 1760 (see note *2 below); that derivation, then, appears to be sound. The lands of Auchentullich as a whole are referred to (as Achadhtulech) in a charter (see note *3) by Maldowen Earl of Lennox (1225–c.1270), alongside some early though recognisable forms of the names of nearby places: Inverlauren, Dumfin and Luss. The name Auchintullich combines "achadh" and "tulach", and means "field of the mound (or knoll)". Given the allusion to a mound or knoll in the Gaelic place-name, it is perhaps relevant that John Mitchell, in his "Loch Lomondside" (2001, New Naturalist Series), when commenting on glacial debris that can be seen in the area, mentions "the remains of eskers in the form of sinuous ridges beside the main A82 at Auchentullich between Luss and Arden". Notes: (*1) The present-day pronunciations are not evident from the written forms, but were passed on to me orally: in the modern names "Auchentullich Natra/Namoin", "Natra" is pronounced [nəˈtra:] (meaning that the stress is on the second syllable, which has a long vowel), and "Namoin" is pronounced [nəˈmɔ:n] (again, the stress is on the second syllable). The Gaelic expression "na tràghad" is pronounced [nəˈtra:.əd̥]; if its last syllable was lost over time, the resulting pronunciation would be the same as that just given for "Natra". (*2) "Auchentullich-na-moine": that form appears on page 373 of volume 1 of "The Chiefs of Colquhoun and their Country" (William Fraser, 1869), in a discussion of lands that changed hands in 1760. (*3) The spelling "Achadhtulech" in a 13th-century charter: see "Cartularium Comitatus de Levenax" (Maitland Club Edition, 1833): the charter is in the Addendum, and appears on pages 96–97 of the book.

This path is the one that is shown leading away on the right in Image It was the earlier line of the A82, and, as the picture shows, it still has traces of road markings on it. I was not particularly interested in the line of the A82, past or present, in itself: what was of greater interest to me was that the former course of the A82 followed (as far as I know) the line of the old military road from Dumbarton to Inveraray. I discuss the former line of the A82 below, but bear in mind that this was probably also the line of the military road. The A82 was re-aligned in the 1960s. In this area, the stretch of road affected was from Image northwards. That point is the beginning of a short track to Nether Ross Farm: just north of there, the A82 formerly ran just to the west of the present-day road; its former course survives there as a farm track, and can be seen on the 1:25000 map. That track swings back to cross the present-day road again at Image That point of crossing is shown in Image, where the current line of the A82 is on the left, and the former line of the road is represented by the Image, on the right. The bridge was built in 1931; part of the near end of the west parapet of that bridge had to be removed to accommodate the new line of the road. The bridge itself stood on the site of an earlier one, which had been built at a cost of £900 in 1769; the 1931 bridge incorporates an inscribed tablet from that earlier bridge, which bears the date, 1769, and the name of the Inspector General of the Military Road, Sir Charles Preston: see Image for that tablet, and Image for further information and some references. The former A82 continued over that bridge (Image) and then along what is currently a road from the Carrick Golf Club and Spa, as far as the point shown in Image The line of the road then continued along the path shown in the present picture (the path, as already mentioned, seems to have retained traces of road markings), to meet and cross the line of the present-day A82 not far ahead, at about Image Beyond that point, the former line of the A82 can still be seen as a layby, to the west of the road; it is shown in Image North of there, the line of the old and the present-day A82 meet up again at about Image

The short length of path connects the A82 with the access road for the Carrick Golf Club. It's described as a 'multi-user' route and presumably continues both north and south in some way.

Ahead, on the left, a road from the Carrick (Golf Club and Spa) meets the A82, as shown in the opposite direction (from the A82) in Image A path, which is also a cycle route, branches off to the right. The road, up to this point where the path leaves it, and the path, which continues along the same line, follow the former course of the A82; that road was re-aligned in the 1960s. The former course of the A82 was, as far I know, also the line of the old military road. The building that can be seen on the other side of the A82 is Image

A cycle path of sorts has been arranged along Loch Lomond by using the footpath beside the A82 and the previous road where it has been realigned.

From A82

Taken from the path to the west of the farmhouse.

"Protected" by a vast array of goml signs, making it pretty plain that this is to be a course for rich people, the soon to be opened new Loch Lomond course is now grassed over, but the traps await their sand, there was a pile nearby. It was also being enjoyed by local folk making their way to and from the loch, as is their right. I was particularly amused by the "Danger Keep Out Bull" sign. -- 2010 The "bull" has gone, expelled for not replacing divots presumably, and this is now the Carrick Club a complement to the outrageously expensive Loch Lomond course.

This lay-by on the banks of Loch Lomond was strewn with litter and smelled like it had been used frequently as a toilet stop.