h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Milngavie is much more fun.

I remember seeing a BBC report - some years ago - on the last remaining shipyards on the Clyde and the v. posh English presenter kept referring to 'G'vaarrrn'. Obviously not actually talked to anyone there - either that or the good people of Govan had decided it was funnier that way.

Hi gnomon,

From what I can tell, the name Mallaig is 'semi gaelic' in that the first part 'Mal' is taken from the Gaelic for Shingly (as in that old favourite statement propounded across the Galaxies 'my what a lot of shingles') and the second part a corruption of the the Norse 'vik' as in that famous saying 'I have a blocked nose, quick, get me some vik') which meant bay.

So Mallaig would have been called 'shingly bay' (malvik) which somehow makes sense and is starting to scare me a wee bit.

If you look really closely, you will note that if you say Mallaig bearing these things in mind, it will sound like 'Mall- ig' which is pretty darn close to how the locals pronounce it.

On the other hand, I could be making all this up.

Dervaig in Mull is on a bay.

Presumably you go there to top up your tractor...

Diesel = DERV = Diesel Engine Road Vehicle
aig = Bay
Hence Diesel Bay
QED