.PNG)
Map of Scotland showing the historic district of Badenoch
:''For
Badenoch, Ontario, see that article.
'Badenoch' (
Gaelic: ''Bàideanach'') is a traditional district which today forms part of
Badenoch and Strathspey, an area of
Highland Council, in
Scotland, bounded on the north by the
Monadhliath Mountains, on the east by the
Cairngorms and
Braemar, on the south by
Atholl and the
Grampians, and on the west by
Lochaber.
The somewhat undefined area of Badenoch covers 36 miles from northeast to southwest and 15 miles from north to south. Excepting the
strath of the
Spey and the great
glens, it consists almost entirely of wild mountainous country, many hills exceeding 3000 feet in height, and contains in the forests of Alder,
Drumochter, Gaick and Feshie some of the best deer country in the
Highlands.
The traditional district was eventually combined into the
traditional county of
Inverness-shire along with the traditional district of Inverness and parts of Lochaber and some island districts during reorganisation due to
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, this Act established a uniform system of
county councils and town councils in Scotland and restructured many of Scotland’s counties. (See:
History of local government in the United Kingdom).
The principal
lochs in Badenoch are
Loch Laggan and
Loch Ericht, and the
River Spey and its numerous tributaries water the district abundantly. The Highland railway traverses Badenoch from Dalnaspidal to
Boat of Garten.
The area has very few industries, and population groups itself at
Kingussie and at other places on or near the Spey.
From 1229 to 1313
Clan Comyn held the lordship of Badenoch. In 1371 King
Robert II granted it to his son
Alexander Stewart, 1st earl of Buchan (1343 - 1405), the "Wolf of Badenoch". Reverting to the crown, the territory came in 1452 to
Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly, and still gives the title of "Lord of Badenoch" to the
marquess of Huntly.
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''Originally from the
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. As such, it may not yet be properly adapted to Wikipedia (obsolete, typos, no accidental links, etc.).''