Aigas

Aigas (Scottish Gaelic: Àigeis, meaning "Place of the Gap") is a small hamlet in the Highland Council area of Scotland. It is 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Beauly and 15 miles (24 km) west of Inverness, on the north bank of the River Beauly. Crask of Aigas is nearby, to the northeast. In the past, Aigas was divided into two parts, Easter and Wester Aigas. In 1580, King James VI granted both of these areas of land to Alexander Forbes of Pitsligo, a nobleman of Clan MacFarlane and great-great-grandfather of Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. In 1610 however, ownership of the lands was again transferred by King James to Simon Fraser, 6th Lord Lovat. The lands since passed down the male line of Clan Fraser of Lovat. Archaeological evidence shows settlements around the area of Aigas dating back to the Bronze Age, with ancient dwellings made from local whinstone. Nowadays, Aigas is home to a popular, 9-hole golf course, established in 1993, and is served by Teanassie Primary School. There is also a nearby hydroelectric dam named after the hamlet, situated on the River Beauly.