Camas Driseach Depot

Location type

Place

Name and dates

Camas Driseach Depot (1897-1901)

Description

This landing site on Camas Driseach, a sandy bay, was used during the construction of the Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway). The name translates, rather off-puttingly, as bay of brambles. Flat bottomed puffers could be beached as the tide went out and unloaded. There were storehouses at the roadside above the bay. Nearby was the largest of the navvy camps - Kinlochailort Camp.

It is perhaps ironic that the location is not far away from Roshven, originally promoted as the western terminus of the West Highland Railway, but blocked by the owner of Inverailort House, amongst others, for it would have cut through his land. This landing site was nearby and within sight of the house.

Tags

Depot Construction camp