Corpach
Encyclopedia
Corpach is a large village north of Fort William
, in the Scottish Highlands
. The canal lock
at Corpach Basin on Loch Linnhe
, east of the narrows leading to Loch Eil
, is the western sea entrance of the Caledonian Canal
. It is a natural harbour, unlike Fort William
.
.
The Battle of Corpach
in about 1470 saw Clan Cameron
rout Clan MacLean
.
During World War II, Corpach was the engineering base for HMS St Christopher
which was a training base for Royal Navy Coastal Forces. Some of the buildings are still in use. There was a large camp at Annat, now used as a caravan site. Prior to that in WWI, the US Navy had a base at Corpach as part of the laying of the Northern Barrage. Mines were shipped into Corpach from the USA, and were then sent to the Inverness base along the Caledonian Canal
, which joins Loch Linnhe
at Corpach.
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
, in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. The canal lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
at Corpach Basin on Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
, east of the narrows leading to Loch Eil
Loch Eil
Loch Eil is a sea loch in Lochaber, Scotland that opens into Loch Linnhe near the town of Fort William.Loch Eil Outward Bound railway station and Locheilside railway station are both situated on the northern shore of the loch....
, is the western sea entrance of the Caledonian Canal
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
. It is a natural harbour, unlike Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
.
History
The name Corpach is reputedly based on the Gaelic for "field of corpses", so called because it was perhaps used as a resting place when taking coffins of chieftains on the way to burial on IonaIona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
.
The Battle of Corpach
Battle of Corpach
The Battle of Corpach was a Scottish clan battle in which the Clan Cameron routed the Clan Maclean. It took place around 1470 at Corpach, just north of Fort William on the west coast of Scotland.-Background:...
in about 1470 saw Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands is the mountain Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The chief of the clan is customarily referred to as...
rout Clan MacLean
Clan MacLean
Clan Maclean is a Highland Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in many clan skirmishes with...
.
During World War II, Corpach was the engineering base for HMS St Christopher
HMS St Christopher (shore establishment)
HMS St Christopher was a Coastal Forces Training Base of the Royal Navy operational during the Second World War and located in and around Fort William, Scotland.-History:...
which was a training base for Royal Navy Coastal Forces. Some of the buildings are still in use. There was a large camp at Annat, now used as a caravan site. Prior to that in WWI, the US Navy had a base at Corpach as part of the laying of the Northern Barrage. Mines were shipped into Corpach from the USA, and were then sent to the Inverness base along the Caledonian Canal
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
, which joins Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
at Corpach.
External links
- Corpach on Undiscovered Scotland
- Killmallie Image Library