Hills around Ballachulish

This view of the hills around Ballachulish was photographed by M.E.M. Donaldson in the first half of the 20th century. <br /> <br /> Ballachulish lies at the western end of Loch Leven in Lochaber district and consists of the settlements of Ballachulish, South Ballachulish and North Ballachulish. Ballachulish village lies on the south side of the loch, to the west of Glencoe, while North and South Ballachulish stand on either side of the loch and since 1975 have been linked by Ballachulish Bridge. Prior to that a ferry operated between the two settlements. <br /> <br /> Slate has been mined in Ballachulish since the 16th century. The area is also linked to the 'Appin Murder'. A monument above Ballachulish Bridge traditionally marks the spot where James Stewart (Seumas a'Ghlinne - James of the Glens) was hanged on 8 November, 1752, for being an accessory to the murder of Colin Campbell of Glenure - the so-called 'Red Fox' - a government factor on the forfeited estate of Ardsheal. The characters involved in the 'Appin Murder' were immortalised in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, 'Kidnapped'.<br /> <br /> The photographer, Mary Ethel Muir Donaldson, was born in 1876 and came to the Highlands around 1908. She travelled extensively around the North and West Highlands, writing and taking photographs. Between 1912 and 1949 she produced many books on the social history and customs of the North and West Highlands. 'Wanderings in the Western Highlands and Islands' and 'Further Wanderings - Mainly in Argyll' are two of her best known works and both are illustrated with her own photographs. She died in a nursing home in Edinburgh in 1958, and was buried in Oban <br /> <br /> <br /> This image can be purchased.<br /> For further information about purchasing and prices please email the<br /> <a href="mailto: photographic.archive@highlifehighland.com">Highland Photographic Archive</a> quoting the External ID.