Wargaming Inverlochy (1645)

[Westmarcher]

D-g, have you tried Google Maps street view? Unfortunately, when I visited "Old" Inverlochy Castle (the "new" one is a 5 star hotel up the road), I didn't do my homework so missed a great opportunity to survey the area in its historical battlefield context. However, I do recall thinking, when wondering where Argyll's galley was, that the Loch must have since silted up considerably in the vicinity of the castle because the river today is not very wide at that point. I also seem to recall a railway line and a "modern" canal / watercourse cutting through the area between the access road and the castle which begs the question, where did the spoil go? For example, the castle almost appeared to be on the same level as the surrounding land - so different from most other castles I've visited. I think there was also a hillock at the entrance to the access road from the main road. Is that the feature discussed and, if so, is it natural or man-made? Nevertheless, considering you've never been there and the battle was fought over 350 years ago, you've done a grand job with your reconstruction.   

Maybe Techno will know?    
   

[d_Guy]

Thanks for those comments and first hand observations of the area. Interesting! The Covenanter left wing was said to be within a pistol shot of the castle which was very useful in placing some constraint on figuring out the position. Google's Terrain view has elevations at 20m intervals which makes the entire area between the Nevis and the Lochy appear flat. I have an OS subscription which gives me maps with 5 or 10m intervals and on them you can pick out the rising ground around the freight yard. The hillock you mention is between the castle and the freight yard. The canal you mention is also present and bisects the rail line near the castle.

Your observation about river silting is certainly born out by the satellite images and made problematic placing Argyll's galley within view of the battle. I do use street view - with wild abandon - and sometimes even YouTube when you can "drive through" as I did for Tippermuir.
Sometime streetview is a bit of a tease - you want to go another 20 feet in a certain direction and you can't!

Of course my interest had to be 17th Britian and Ireland didn't it? I live no more than a two or three hour drive from more than half the battlefields of the eastern theater of the ACW (and speak all the native dialects!) go figure.