Travellers on the road from Port Ramsay to Laggan may never have wondered how this unsealed but perfectly navigable road came about. Particularly as, although it is clearly not an adopted road maintained by the council as the roads to Balnagown, Balure and Sailean are, it is very serviceable.
They may not give any of this a thought. Until, that is, they reach the stone memorial.
As they leave Port Ramsay, cross the bridge, pass the caravans and begin to see the houses, the stone will tell them that this road is the work of one man who built and maintained it for his entire life.
Today it is known as Duncan’s road and many residents and visitors have reason to be grateful for his labour, ingenuity and engineering.
Duncan Angus Livingstone was born at Laggan on the 20 May 1935 the son of Hugh and Peggy and sister of Margaret. When he took over the running of the farm in 1961 it was possible to drive his tractor round the shore at low tide. As he was on his own with only two other unoccupied dwellings, he realised a road would help and in 1965 began to build it. 6 years later it was possible to drive to the end.
The result is that the 3 dwellings at Laggan eventually became 10.
And it was the residents of these 10 dwellings who, led by Stephen Grindrod who created the memorial fittingly from stone from the road, who gathered to ‘open’ it on 14 September 2025.
What a fuss, Anne, Duncan’s widow suggested he might have said, but added that he would have been very pleased at the celebration afterwards. Duncan was always hospitable and welcoming.
But there was more to Duncan than farming and road building. He will be remembered for many other things including his organising of the annual Comann Eachdraidh ceilidh in which he always took part. He invited and welcomed performers from all over the Gaidhealtachd who willingly answered his call to participate. He worked for the Comann Eachdraidh as Chair for a number of years and in 2009 he welcomed many visitors in the nationwide Homecoming Year.
Duncan died on the 10 May 2023. It was a beautiful day when the Parish church was packed to pay their respects.
The memorial ensures that neither he nor his road building will ever be forgotten.
Mary MacDougall wrote the following in his memory part of which is quoted on the memorial.
A Tribute to Duncan Livingstone
Some more memories of Duncan:
Hugh and Peggy Livingstone with Margaret and Duncan
The Oban games 2013 Heritage Stall Duncan Livingstone, Chairperson of CELM
Heritage exhibition 9.02.06 Duncan Livingstone and John Livingstone
Duncan Livingstone singing at Celm Ceilidh 2005
Museum 10 year celebration 28.03.17 Duncan Livingstone
Duncan Livingstone opening Homecoming Scotland 19.07 2009
Margaret and Duncan Livingstone, Catherine Carmichael, Duncan MacGregor, Mairi Smith , Jimmie MacCormick