The Aird

The Aird (from the Scottish Gaelic: An Àird meaning "The High Place") is an area of the County of Inverness, to the west of the City of Inverness. It is situated to the south of the River Beauly and the Beauly Firth, and to the north of Glenurquhart and the northern end of Loch Ness.

Villages within the Aird include Kirkhill, Kiltarlity, Lentran and Inchmore.

It is the traditional heart of the Clan Fraser's territory, containing their family seat of Beaufort Castle. The first known Lord of the Aird, however, was Iain Mac Eoin Nan Gleann or "John Bisset of the Glens" in English.

The area gives its name to a Highland Council ward - "Aird and Loch Ness".

History

Blar Nam Feinne (grid reference NH595433 is a site on Cnoc na Moine that reputedly saw a battle in the early 11th century between King Malcolm and Thorfinn of Norway. It is also supposed to be the site of the defeat of Donald Balloch in the 15th century. Various cairns marked the burials from the battles, about 20 mounds have survived forestry operations with varying degrees of mutilation.