The town of Ballachulish in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, is centred on previous slate quarries. The name Ballachulish (Ballecheles, 1522-- Straits town,) was a lot more correctly applied to the area now called North Ballachulish, to the north of Loch Leven, but was laid hold of for the quarry villages at East Laroch and West Laroch, either side of the River Laroch, which were actually within Glencoe as well as South Ballachulish specifically. The major sector is now tourist, although most site visitors pass promptly by the village itself. The name Ballachulish (from Scottish Gaelic, Baile a' Chaolais) implies "the Town by the Narrows". The narrows concerned is Caolas Mhic Phàdraig - Peter or Patrick's child's narrows, at the mouth of Loch Leven. As there was no road to the head of Loch Leven until 1927, the Ballachulish Ferry, established in 1733, as well as those at Invercoe/Callert and Caolas na Con were crucial. The Ballachulish ferryboat closed in December 1975 when the Ballachulish Bridge lastly opened up. The Ballachulish Hotel and Ballachulish House (until recently a lodge hotel) are located near the tightens at (south) Ballachulish Ferry rather than in the "modern" town some 3 miles (5 km) eastern. Ballachulish House was deemed to be haunted, and the drive causing it was ridden by a brainless horseman. The hamlet of Glenachulish depend on Gleann a' Chaolais, the glen that diminishes to the tightens. This is the topic of the Gaelic song, Gleann Bhaile Chaoil written by John Cameron (1865-- 1951) and recognized locally both as the Paisley Bard and by his local label Iain Cealaidh. He is often confused with one more neighborhood poet also called John Cameron, known locally as Iain Rob (1822-- 1898). Gleann a' Chaolais is ringed by Beinn a' Bheithir, a massif which consists of 2 munros - Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill. In recent times a number of brand-new residences have actually been developed in your area together with holiday chalets and an art gallery. Also the fields of Gleann a' Chaolais have actually been turned into the 9-hole Dragon's Tooth golf course. Overlooking the narrows is the monument to James of the Glen, "hanged on this place for a criminal activity of which he was not guilty". Robert Louis Stevenson based his novel Kidnapped around the tale of the Appin Murder. Whoever did kill The Red Fox (Campbell of Glenure) is still not known.