Roshven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roshven
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 Marino Lodge |
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 Roshven
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| OS grid reference | NM7078 |
| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LOCHAILORT |
| Postcode district | PH38 |
| Dialling code | 01687 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Roshven (Scottish Gaelic: Roisbheinn) is a small village found on the eastern side of Loch Ailort in Lochaber, Scotland. It's part of the Highland region. A huge hill called Rois-bheinn stands tall over the village, being the highest point around.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Roshven's History
Long ago, this little village was known as Irin. In 1749, a man named Ranald Macdonald was given the right to farm the land here.
Later, in 1854, a famous artist named Jemima Blackburn and her husband, Hugh Blackburn, bought the Roshven Estate. Hugh was a professor of mathematics at the University of Glasgow. Jemima was well-known for her amazing drawings of the local plants, animals, and beautiful scenery. She was especially good at painting birds and flowers.
The Blackburns made their home at Roshven a popular place for many important people to visit. These visitors included famous writers, artists, and scientists like John Ruskin, Sir John Everett Millais, Anthony Trollope, and Lord Kelvin.
In 1894, Roshven felt a small earthquake. It measured 4 on the Richter scale.
Exploring Roshven: Geography and Climate
Roshven is located in the Highlands of Scotland, in an area called Lochaber. It sits on the southeast side of Loch Ailort, along the A861 road. To the southwest is Inverailort, and to the east is Glenuig.
The area around Roshven is very mountainous. Rois-bheinn is the tallest and most important mountain here. Other mountains nearby include An Stac and Sgurr Dhomhuill Mor. The biggest stream in Roshven is the Irin Burn. It starts in a small lake called Lochan na Craoihhe and flows down past Roshven Farm, emptying into the loch.
Roshven's weather can be quite changeable. The nearby town of Fort William gets a lot of rain, usually between 3500-4500mm each year. Roshven has warm, wet summers and mild, wet winters. It doesn't snow very often because warm, moist air from the Gulf Stream affects the area.
Amazing Animals and Plants of Roshven
Wildlife: Animals You Might See
Just like many parts of the Scottish Highlands, Roshven is home to lots of different animals, both in the water and on land.
- In Loch Ailort, you can find fish like mackerel, sea trout, and salmon.
- Brown trout live in the smaller streams that flow down from the hills.
- Sometimes, dolphins and whales are seen in the loch.
- On land, you might spot deer, foxes, wild cats, squirrels, and pine martens.
- Birds are a big attraction in Roshven. Golden eagles are often seen flying over the loch or near the mountains and trees. These birds inspired Jemima Blackburn's famous paintings.
Flora: Plants and Trees
Roshven has many green plants because it gets a lot of rain. One common plant is rhododendron. You'll also see trees like Scots pine, oak, birch, and ash. Even with all the rain, the land isn't great for growing crops because the soil is thin and not very fertile.
Roshven's Economy and Activities
Tourism is very important for Roshven's local economy. Roshven Farm has five small holiday homes, called chalets, that visitors can rent.
People enjoy many outdoor activities here:
- Deer stalking: A type of hunting for deer in the hills.
- Hillwalking: Hiking in the mountains.
- Fishing: Catching fish in the loch and streams.
- Sailing: Boating on the loch.
- Rock climbing: Climbing on the rocky hills.
Farmers also raise sheep on the hills. In the lower fields near the shore, they grow hay and silage. These are types of food for cattle and sheep to eat during the winter.
