[10] Bealach nam Brog lies about 20 miles northwest of Inverness in the parish of Fodderty, overlooking the A835 road that goes west past Loch Glascarnoch to Ullapool.

The pass separates the high ridge of Ben Wyvis from the lower summit of Carn Mòr, overlooking Loch Bealach Cùlaidh to the east.

[5] The Garbat and Strathrannock both run into the Blackwater, a tributary of the River Conon that flows east from Loch Glascarnoch.

[1] The earliest account of the Battle of Bealach nam Broig was written by Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656) in his 17th century manuscript of around 1630.

[11] This 17th century manuscript was published in a book in 1813, entitled A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland, and gives the time of the battle as having taken place in around 1275.

Incensed, the revolting clans seized the Earl of Ross's second son at Balnagown, to aid in the release of their leader, and carried him with them.

In the end the MacIvers, MacAulays and MacLeays were almost utterly extinguished and slain, and the Munros and Dingwalls won a hollow victory: though the Earl's son had been rescued, they had lost a great number of men.

According to Gordon's account there were killed 140 Dingwalls and eleven Munros of the house of Foulis that were to succeed one another, so that the succession fell to a child lying in a cradle.

They were pursued by the Munros and Dingwalls who MacAulay resolved to fight at a pass called Bellach ni broigg.

[13] It has been claimed that the Letterfearn manuscript, which is a history and genealogy of Clan Mackenzie, was written sometime between 1663 and 1670,[14] and only an incomplete copy has survived.

The generally accepted date of the Battle of Bealach nam Broig is 1452 which therefore casts doubt on the story written in the Letterfearn manuscript.

Her followers imprisoned him and tortured his servant, who stated that Eilean Donan Castle would never be surrendered by its constable, Macaulay, except to the one who wore Mackenzie's ring.

When Macaulay learned that he was tricked snuck into Dingwall Castle, and communicated with Mackenzie who devised a plan to kidnap the countess' uncle.

Fraser states that the rebels attempted to seize the Earl at Dingwall, who being aware of this made an expedition and captured their leader Donald Garve MacIver.

The Earl then acquaints Fraser, Lord Lovat who with the Monroes and Dingwalls pursued the rebels and overtook them at Beallach in Broig, where they were encamped and there ensued a cruel conflict.

The rebel clans were almost cut off and the Monroes had a sorrowful victory of it, having lost a great number of their own men but carried back the Earl's son.

[4] Alexander Mackenzie maintained the battle was fought in 1452, citing a manuscript, (the Fowlis papers), which backed up his theory.

The battle was instigated by Donald Garbh MacIver and vassals of their chief Mackenzie of Kintail, who attempted to seize the Earl of Ross.

[19] George Eyre-Todd writing in 1923 stated that George Munro of Foulis was killed during the wars of the Isles and Douglases,[20] the Battle of Brechin having been fought by supporters of the Douglases in 1452,[21] which was the same year that the Battle of Bealach nam Broig took place, but Eyre-Todd gives the year of Munro's death as 1454.