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Back to Placenames Index
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An taobh sear
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The term which perhaps means the most to us in Stafainn is an taobh sear. It refers to the east side of Trotternish. It describes 'Stafainn' really. We believe an taobh sear starts at Tote (or possibly Rig) and comes to an end at the Grip, just at the border between Stafainn and Cille moluag.
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| Bereraig |
Precipice bay? |
Braigh an Taobh Sear
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When we talk of Braigh an Taobh Sear (the top of the east side), we are thinking of the townships of Ealaisiadar, Cùl nan cnoc, Bhaltos, Grealain, Leth allt, Tobht. It may also take in Rig and Holm, but this is not certain.
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Fladaigh
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Earlier this century, the collective geographical area which included the townships of Brogaig, Sartail, Glas pheighinn, Dìg and Flodigearaidh was known as 'Fladaigh'. All of these townships are north of the Brogaig River. And people from these townships were called 'muinntir Fhladaigh' (the people of Fladaigh). However, correctly speaking, the term 'Fladaigh' is the original placename for the island commonly known in the 1990s as Stoighseall island. When we look at the derivation of this placename, we see that this must be right. Flada is from the Norse flatr for flat and ey is island.
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Iochdar an Taobh Sear (the low land on the east side)
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This term takes in Grenicle, the Garadh fhada, Clachan, Stoighseall, Sartail, Brogaig, Glas pheighinn and Dìg, Dunans and Flodigearraidh. The term 'Muinntir an Iochdar' (the people of the low land) would be used by people from Cùl nan cnoc and Bhaltos to describe the people of Grenicle/Gara fada/Clachan/Stoighseall/Dìg and Glas pheighinn and Sartail.
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Iochdar Throndairnis (lower Trotternish)
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is a term for the whole of the Trotternish peninsula.
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Na Bailtean Monaidh (the moor townships)
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They include Malagar, Marisiadar and Geàros. People from there are known as 'muinntir na bailtean monaidh' (the people of the moor townships).
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| Quirang |
The range of rock pillars (Norse). A very good geological example of the "breaking up of the great basalt plateaux". |
| Sgurr a' Mhadaidh Ruaidh |
The peak of the red fox. The book 'Hill of the Red Fox' by Allan Campbell Maclean is a thriller, and well worth a read. |
Stafainn's boundaries
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Travelling north, Stafainn officially comes to an end at An Grip, where Andrew Stoddart had his home until 1997. Lon a' Ghrip is the border at which the territory becomes Kilmaluag. There is a waterfall near there that is called Steall a' Ghrip which traditionally serves as the border for Stafainn and Kilmuir fishermen. They had an agreement (a 'geim') in order not to encroach on one another's territory. This was particularly important at lobster fishing time.
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Suas no Sios?
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To this day in Stafainn we will say, "tha mi dol suas a Phort Righ" (I am going up to Port Righ), although the journey is southwards. It's all to do with when people walked everywhere. There are a lot of hills to climb if you are walking from Stafainn to Port Righ, so the implication of the journey in the minds before cars was of going up to Portree. On the way back, it is a much easier journey as it is downhill much of the way. And so people talk of going down to Stafainn from Portree.
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Trondairnis/Trondarnais/Trotternish
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Historically, the term Trotternish takes in more than the peninsula that we live in. Trondairnis starts at the Mol (south of Druim nan Clochd) and takes in the east peninsula of Skye all the way up to Kilmaluag, and as far west as the river Snizort. Trondairnis/Trodairnis was known as 'dùthaich na stapaig' (the land of the oatmeal and cream). Talking to old people years ago, it was understood that when the Clan Donald occupied Duntulm, Kilmuir itself was also known as 'Dùthaich na Stapaig'. Trondairnis takes in our own area here of course, but the term Braighe Thròndairnis (The braes of Trotternish) does not. It describes the area from the south of the Glenvarragil River, down through Braes to the Moll.
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