Glen Affric And Strathglass

A Memory of Cannich.

LIFE IN THE HIGHLANDS

I have written about Cannich and living in Fasnakyle under the Heading of "Glen Affric". However there is so much to write about my two years living there. It's part of this earth that is for looking at, being in, and absorbing the beauty of.
I live in British Columbia in Canada now and have done for many years. BUT Scotland's Highlands have always been calling me back to take in their majesty, beauty and history.
I am intrigued by the history of the beautiful big church which appears almost forgotten by time in the tiny village of Fasnakyle. Why was such a large church built for what appears to be such a small community?
A man named Donald Mann becsame a wonderful friend to me and my family. He was born in Tomich and worked as a blacksmith there, shoeing horses for the gentry who visited Guisachan House. He'd get called to the house at any time or the day or night to fix a shoe or repair some harness. Donald went to Canada when a young man and built up his Blacksmithing business in Binsgarth, Manitoba to the level that he could afford to bring his parents, and sisters to Canada.
Donald returned to Tomich and lived in one of the row cottages on the knoll in the village with his lovely wife Maggie, they had no children. We met Donald when my Dad and I worked with him for John Cochrane & Sons on the Glen Affric Hydro Electric Project (1947-1949). Maggie his lovely wife of many years died and is buried in Struy churchyard. Donald, now retired, returned to Canada and moved back to Russell Manitoba
Donald told me stories about Guisachan House and how ownership changed over the years. I understood that one of its last owners (during the late 1940s) was a Lady Islington who had to sell the lead off the roof and all the fine wooden floors and door frames inside to pay the taxes! The house is in ruins today.Perhaps a future reader can support or contradict this account?
In any case THIS part of the world is where I left a large part of my heart - The Beautiful Scottish Highlands.

It is now 2007. I haven't been back to see this lovely country since 1995. However the small crofter's cottage we lived in then was still being lived in. The old church I have mentioned is still there but looks boarded up and unused. The rest of the Glen looks much the same. The quiet peace that comes over me when I visit there stays with me for a long time. It really is God's Country!

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