Strathrusdale

Strathrusdale (Brittonic or Scottish Gaelic/Old Norse Hybrid: Strath Rùsdail, Strath, [Brittonic/Gaelic] small valley, of Rusdale, rus, Norse for [male sheep] ram, and dale, also small valley) Glen in the Highlands of Scotland forming the western part of the area known as Ardross. The Strath runs east to west for 2.5 miles and the river Blackwater flows through it to merge at the eastern end with another tributary to form the River Alness. The floor of the strath is mainly fields used for sheep grazing. The strath is surrounded by commercial pine forest, except to the north, which is dominated by the mountain Beinn Tharsuinn (2831 ft). Traditionally the strath was populated by tenant crofters, however in recent years there has been an increase in the number of new homes and restorations, after many decades of gradual decline.