Annals St. F Iollan Including Topography, Ecclesiology, Botany

AN N ALS

O ST F I L LAN

I NC LUDI NG

TOPOGR PHY ECC ESI O OGY B OT NY A , L L , A ,

P CE N ME EGE NDS &c. LA A S , L ,

A LE"AN D ER PO RTE US O ,

E . . cot S A , S .

A UTHOR OF

“ ” THE TOWN COUNCI L SEALS OF SCOTLAN D and “ ” TORY O F THE H IS CRI EF F .

WI TH

Twen ty Ifltistratio n s f ro m Pho to g raphs

tak n b A e y the uthor.

1 1 2 9 .

L I S T O F I LLU S TRATI O N S

AGE P .

‘ I L E n N eish sland , och ar ,

“ dam Eve T m A and o bstone ,

B id o f D n du n g g e u r ,

P urn arish Church ,

u rn M anse ,

m n A m Ho tel 1 8 o d r s , 44 ,

m n A m H 1 1 1 o d r s otel , 9 ,

C hurch ,

en f e the d A u og l a t r Floo , g u st ,

Cl b H e u ous ,

o f l n tarke n G e ,

Fﬁce 1 1 1 , 9 ,

59 4 9 8 1 ENGLI SH LOCAL U S vi . LIST OF I LL STRATION .

- f D n ma n R . a e o R f . C C P re e or tio h p l u d urn ,

T ma A ms Rev . ho s r trong ,

an 1 8 S t Fi ll s, 44 ,

an H S t Fill s ill ,

h a e T e V ill g S hop ,

Th o o d e e Cr c il ,

n e C U ited Fre hurch ,

— a En d—s w D o n H V illag e E st ho ing o ill ,

h Ea n Wi n ter S torm on Loc r ,

ARTH holds no fairer spot than St

ill an s F , that village nestling under

the shadow of the mountains , and resting sweetly on the eastern shore

of Loch Earn . Legend and mystery have held high revel amidst the fastnesses of the surrounding mountains , but these wild tales of yore , of sanguinary struggles during the centuries that a are gone , have , with a few notable exceptions , f ded from the memories of men .

Loch Earn , seven miles long and one mile broad , surrounded by mountain and glen , may fairly lay claim to be termed the gem of Scottish lochs . I t “ has been said o f it that it is a miniature and model o f scenery which might well occupy ten times its ” space . That the palm of beauty ha s been award

ed to other lochs in Scotland , I am well aware , but those who applied that term to them h ad surely never seen Loch Earn , either when lying like a mirror ‘ ' 2 AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

S k under a cloudless summer y , with the hills faith

reﬂ ected fully in its depths , or lashed into fury by a winter gale . At all seasons Loch Earn Shows a , beauty peculiarly its own , and in all its variegated c haracteristics of H ighland scenery it is surpassed

. f F ill a n s its by none Viewed rom St , all rare love l in ess e s o appears gath red together , that the whole panorama comes at once before the eye . The , ' l mountains , rising in stately simp icity to the

heavens , terminate in bold and craggy outlines , here and there diversiﬁed with precipitous masses

of outstanding rock . The Slopes are scarred with chasms and ravines , while innumerable torrents ,

“ pouring down from above , have hollowed deep

Channels for themselves , which , lower down , become

fringed with trees , till at last they are lost in the

deep waters of the loch . I n summer the loch often

o c lies immoveably placid , its glassy surface only

c a s io n ally broken by the ringed ripples of a rising

trout , or a dipping insect . At other times the whole surface may be only Slightly agitated under

the inﬂuence of a gentle breeze . In autumn , after

n a frosty ight , and soon after sunrise , a ﬁlmy , misty

Cloud frequently rolls lazily along its surface , until

s u n absorbed by the yet powerful rays of the , while the purple heather and vello w bracken mingling with

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 3

the many and varied autumnal tints of the trees , clothe the hill-side with a gorgeous chromatic dis

s u n play . The scene is most picturesque when the — sets on the Bra es of Balquhidder in the valley between the mountains . Many a time the orb of day sinks in a glowing mist of orange and yellow , the reﬂection streaming like a quivering golden bar

n t down the loch . The su being s e , the narrow lines o f ﬁ stratus , and the lmy wisps of Cirrus clouds beg in to S assume a rosy hue , which preads and deepens

s k until the whole western y is a blaze of crimson , the loch borrowing the tints and becoming a bur n ished o f sheet vermilion ; while , especially in

September , the hills around become grey and cold , veiled in a Shadowy bluish haze . Still later these rosy clouds appear suspended in a pale green firma ment , which gradually changes to a wan steely hue “ as the Shades of night deepen . Anon , the moon ” takes up the wondrous tale ; the hills assume a softer and more peaceful aspect , though one can imagine that in the dark shadows mystery lurks ; while , instead of a golden bar , a pure Silver stream stretches along or athwart the water . Winter

S is hows it under other aspects , and nothing , or can w be , more beautiful than when , after a heavy sno

s u n fall , the clouds having dispersed , and the Shines 4 AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

ﬁ rm a m en t once more in a deep azure , the loch lies like a sapphire in a pure silver setting . The principal lands situated at the east end of

Loch Earn were those of Dundurn , Port of Loch

Gl en ta rk a n . erne , and Dundurn makes its ﬁrst

f 1 appearance on o ficial record in 444 , when Andrew

Mercer , the Chamberlain of Strathearn , in his

2 6 1 5 d account , acknowledged receipt of £ 3 4 , being the rent for the lands of Dundurn . In these “ ” accounts the lands of the port , or , more fully , “ “ Lo chern e the Lands of Port of , and the lands

Gl en ta rk a n of , are frequently mentioned along

with those of Dundurn . The latter name is Spelled .

vx a s . a s D zm n edu m in various y Thus we ﬁnd it ,

’ z n c u e B a n daw e D u n dr une D u n du r n e D zm ~ D m a m , , , ,

’ dr u m r D r u ma ozm , o , which latter peculiar spelling

o f appears in the account of Peter Scott , Monzie ,

I s t y 1 2 2 o tb 1 2 6 . a c from J ul , 5 5, to July , 5 The

o f 1 6 1 count Robert Mure , for 4 , mentions receipt of

D n n edu rn e 6 5 j6 2 2 as rent from the lands of u ; £3 8d as rent from the lands of Port of Lo chern e ; and

£6 3 5 4d as rent from the lands of Gl en ta rk a n . The easter island in the loch went along with the lands

1 80 of Port o f Lo ch e r n e . I n 4 the fermes or rents of

D u n d ru n e (D u n du r n e) were let for a period of three

v hil i o n e v ea r s to F in l a P p s , and at the same time AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

those o f the Port and Gl en ta rk a n were granted to

some members of the Murray family . The above

F Phil i so n e inlay p was the ﬁrst miller of Dundurn , and the ﬁrst mill o f Dundurn was erected in or about

1 . o f 497 The account William Drummond , Cham

ber l a in o f 1 Strathearn , for 49 7 , mentions the mill as

an d a s F in l a s o Ph l s u n newly built , let to y y p o e for

o f 2 2 . Hi three years , at a rent J6 s original name

‘ “ M N a b had been , as he is afterwards called Finlay M ‘ N Phil ” ab a lia s so n e . 1 06 p H e died about 5 , and w a s succeeded in possession of the lands and m ill

his s o n Phil s n . by , John p o e At this period Dundurn

to M ill was a grain mill , which the surrounding growers of corn were thirled for the grinding of

w a s their grain , and it not till after the abolition — of thirlage that it became what it now is a s a w

m . Phil so n e ill However , to return to John p , we

ﬁnd that he also obtained the right to ﬁ s h in “ Lo u che r n VV ir Estir and est . H e had married o n e M a r io ta C hes elm his , and after death , which

1 2 2 occurred before 5 , hi s wife found She was in

0 arrears of 5 0 marks of the fermes . She evidently

1 1 paid these up in due time , as in 54 sasine was “ o f M a r io te C h e h lm f taken in the hands s o , relict o

Phil i so u n f f r m the deceased John p , in eu a by

2 th charter granted by King J ames , date 4 May , AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

a r o &c . 6 1 5 d m , , paying annually £4 3 4 for Dundurn ,

with the mill . M a rio te appears to have died with

o h in the next ten years , and a relative of her own i ta n ed . th 1 2 s w a s possession On s April , 55 , asine

given of the lands of Dundurn , with the mill , ex

ce tin p g the lands of Easter Dundurn , to J acobo

C hesho lm e , who was afterwards known as Sir

James Chisholm of Dundurn . During the succeed in g centuries the mill was worked by many diff erent

1 8 0 owners , and in 5 it was in the hands of M r

‘ 1 Duncan M I n tyr e . I n 8 53 it came into the

possession of M r Alexander Menzies , who was

n in due course succeeded by his so , M r Duncan

Menzies , the present tenant . All these lands eventually came into the hands of the Drummond

family , and for long have formed part of the Drum

mond Castle E states .

Lo chern e th On the lands of Port of , or simply e

ill a n lands of Port , St F s was afterwards built . At ﬁ rst the village was called Portmore . This name ,

’ “ P or t~ m5r , means , according to Robertson s Gaelic

9 ) 6 6 Topography , the large port or harbour , and ,

as an instance of the name , Portmore at St Fillans

i s mentioned . In this case , however , the name doe s

- not refer to a harbour ; it here means a g ate way , w ith reference to the pass between the mountains , AN NALS OF ST FI LLAN S .

through which access to the loch is gained . The n a me in Gaelic of the mountain behind is M on adfz

’ ’ ' ’

ﬂ a /zu zr t mkérr . or rather , M o P

n M a d el}; means a moor , the top of the hill being a

- long stretch of heather clad moorland . For long the place was wild and uncultivated , only a few w retched hovels , which scarcely deserved the name of houses , standing on it .

The village of St Fillans , as now known , is less than a centu ry old , and has only borne that name S ince the ﬁrst feus along the margin of the loch ,

S 1 8 1 . and by the river ide , were granted in 7 I n olden days what might be called a Clachan existed S on the hill ide at the entrance to Glen Tarkin , but life on that exposed S ite was found both in co n v en i ent and uncomfortable . Accordingly , the families were removed to more salubrious surroundings at th e foot of the loch , and the cottages in Glen Tarkin were allowed to fall into ruins . Many of these may still be seen in heap s of stones here and there , testi f yin g to the sometime existence of a rural home stead ; while cattl e and Sheep graze at will round ,

o f and in , the erstwhile abodes . humanity The hovels before mentioned were destroyed , and the ﬁrst f eus of the villag e were given o ff at an almost

- w n ominal feu duty , hile it was arranged that each AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

cottag e Should have a few feet of ground in front of it wherein to grow ﬂow ers . An inn was also

- erected , being a two storey house , which did good business , and in after years assumed to itself the

a n . h o tel more pretentious title of , called the Drum

HOtel mond Arms , with a signboard , bearing these

o n . arms , swinging at e corner Mr John Brown , the village schoolmaster in the beginning of the nineteenth century , describes the St Fillans of his time thus “ I t consists of a Single row of houses or villas , in extent upwards of half a mile , and for the most part slated ; of which several are two stories in height . But that which will forcibly arrest the stranger’ s t f a tention , and a ford him the greatest pleasure , is the happy way in which the little plots in front of

“ a ar e ch house e laid out and Cultivated . These are invariably stocked with the choicest ﬂowers and

- shrubs , and occasionally with wall trees , all fresh

— n and vigorous the whole fancifully , but neatly , e O closed with round timber railing , generally f fan tas tic o r network , or such other form device as the taste and abilities o f the respective owners incline f them to adopt . The rest o the feu ground , chieﬂy behind , but towards the west end of the town , in

- f ront of the dwelling houses , is partly converted

AN N ALS O F S T F ILLAN S . 9

in into gardens , which are likewise , in various

div is io n ed to stances , tastefully , and contribute ” diversify the local scene . What M r B rown called villas do not harmonise with our ideas of that kind of dwelling of the present day . Of these old buildings only two or

. th ree now remain , the rest having all given way to more ornate and commodious residences , which are in m a n v cases the summer abodes of those dwellers in the cities w ho desire to inhale the pure mountain air , and revel among H ighland scenery for a few months in the year .

The Inn w a s originally built by Mr Alexander ” w a s Stewart , who better known as Alaster More .

n 1 8 2 1 The St Filla s H ighland Society , about , built an addition to it , for holding their meetings and

in dinners in , and a white marble oval tablet , with

w a s . scription , built into the wall When the Hotel was being enlarged a few years ago , this tablet was built into the wall higher up . M r Stewart died

1 8 0 w a s . . about 4 , and succeeded by M r D Walker

The illustration shows the Hotel of that period . The portly form of M r Walker himself is seen standing apart , proudly surveying h is family , guests , and hi employees . On his death s widow retired , and built the villa known as Portmore . H is successor AN NALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

M r was a Bishop . He carried on the business f o r

1 86 Mr only a short time , and at Whitsunday , 5,

Andrew Davie became the tenant . M r Davie, with b his genial temperament , is still well remembered , e

a s 2 rd 1 8 . having died as recently 3 February , 94 H e

r tir was succeeded by Mr J ames Carmichael , who e h ed last year , and the Hotel is now in t ehands of

Mr Robert Campbell .

About the year 1 844 a Mrs J amieson was a f re

u q ent visitor to St Fillans , and did a good deal o f

Sketching in the somewhat peculiar style which w a s

r . S p evalent at that period One of her ketches ,

C r hk apparently taken from the Slope of o c Mbat ,

is here reproduced . I t takes in the loch Side upwards from the wooden bridge opposite the

Ti r i . hn ac a H otel , the latter being well Shown g g ,

the largest house at that period , appears on high

ground ; while , further along , on a lower level , is C Rose ottage , and still further west is seen either the cottage adjoining Portmore or the old School

is the house . The island an interesting feature in

S M r co ketch , but s Jamieson must have drawn n

" s iderably on her imagination as regards the height

of the mountains . I n o r about 1 849 a Post Ofﬁ ce w as opened in

was s the village , which under the charge of M is

AN NALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

W . alker , daughter of M r Walker , of the Inn The postal business was conducted in the cottage next to , and east from the Inn , which cottage still stands .

At that period a stage coach w a s run by the pro

r ieto r f p of the Drummond Arms H otel in Crie f , between that town and Killin , and it conveyed the mails to St Fillans , among other places on the route .

After the coach was withdrawn , a mail gig ran from f Crie f until the completion of the railway . Miss

f 1 86 Walker gave up the Post O ﬁce in or about 5, w hen Mr J ames N eish was appointed Postmaster , i and , ably ass sted by his daughters , conducted the business for many years in that house now known a s Ingleside . In 1 876 the telegraph w a s in tro du c

. 1 88 ed I n 9 Mr N eish retired , and the appointment ffi was conferred upon M iss Ferguson , the Post O ce being transferred to that cottage at the east end of the village . Miss Ferguson , having married M r

1 02 James Scott in 9 , resigned , and her sister , M iss

Jessie Ferguson , was appointed in her stead . The

t 1 0 M rs la ter held the position until 9 7 , when , Scott

a h ving returned to the village of her birth , along w ~ ith her husband , the latter received the appoint ment a s Postmaster . Ere these pages appear in

n print , the old rural cottage , of which an illustratio is given , will have become transformed into a AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

u - - modern , p to date building , and one views with regret the gradual disappearance of the old well known landmarks .

F o r many years the villagers lived a quiet and uneventful life , the solitude of the place being only

o f broken by occasional visits enthusiastic anglers , o r , perhaps , by a ﬂeeting visit of some of the nota i bil it e s of the l a n d . Chief among the latter was the . late "ueen Victoria , who , accompanied by Prince

Albert , passed through the village during her tour i in Scotland in 1 842. At last tales of the beaut es of this Spot began to circulate throughout the king dom , and soon it became known as an ideal summer resort for the jaded toilers in the cities . Demands for feus began to come in to the Drummond Estate fi Of ce , and the owner of that estate perceived a lucrative Speculation for the future . Feus were

ff - given o at a largely increased feu duty , which ,

o ff however , did not deter those well with this

’ world s gear from building villa residences . On I st

1 8 2 in J une , 7 , the Caledonian Railway Company a u g u r a ted a Circular tour round the district , with coaches running from Crieff to Lochearnhead a n d

vice ver sa . At St Fillans , an hour was given for

lunch , and thus many , who would not otherwise have seen the place , becoming enchanted with it ,

O F ' AN NALS ST F I LLAN S . 1 3 resolved either to take up their permanent abode in

o r . it , at least to build a summer residence All these factors tended to bring the village under the public eye , and while for long a railway had been ff contemplated between Crie and Comrie , as soon

' th at w a s as accomplished . the scheme was mooted

‘ to extend the line to Lochearnhead . This , how ever , met with very determ ined opposition from some of the more conservative owners of property in the village . They maintained that the quiet

s o seclusion which had been long enjoyed , as well w as the rustic amenities , ould be disturbed and spoilt by the anticipated inﬂux of day trippers from

a . w v rious parts The objections , however , ere over ruled , and the construction of the line went on . It w a s f opened for tra fic , at ﬁrst between Comrie and

1 0 1 St Fillans , on I st October , 9 , and afterwards

I s t between St Fillans and Lochearnhead on J uly ,

1 9 04 . The forebodings of the objectors have been i found to have had no signiﬁcance , and the n ev it able scars formed on the hill Side are now obliterated with a green mantle of natural vegetation . Even the day trippers have not lowered the tone o f the

locality in any degree . In fact , Since the railway w a s opened an impetus has been given to the build

ing trade , and the only fear now is that the erection AN N AL S O F ST FI LLAN S .

e -d u of villas may b over one , and St Fillans ass me the aspect of a fashionable town , rather than a

- l . peaceful , health giving vil age T owards the end of the seventeenth century , a limestone quarry was opened on the hill side near

L was ochearnhead , the stone from which conveyed

’ in a large boat , specially constructed , to the east end of the loch , to undergo the process of burning .

- Here a large lime kiln was erected , and Mr John Wilson was appointed to superintend the lime burning operations . For his accommodation , what w a s considered a large house in these days was erected , and along with it went a considerable amount of arable land and hill pasture . The lime burning went on , on a very large scale , for a period of some six or seven years , after which it was given u p . The massive mason work of the kiln still

a n d remained , gradually commenced to fall into decay . A number of years ago , to avoid accidents r f om the gaping vents on the top , these were pro tected by large stone slabs being placed over them , and the whole was covered with earth . I n the course of time the earth on the face of the kiln has

a nd begun to fall in , the tops of the arches appear ing , are a source of curiosity and wonder to the m a n v strang ers who now frequent the place , as to

AN NALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

- what this peculiar mound is . The dwelling house became the residence of the village schoolmaster , w and a schoolroom a s erected close at hand . The schoolmaster was elected by the inhabitants, subject to the approval of the lord of the manor , in whose gift were all the privileges and emoluments , except the school fees , which he enjoyed . At this period

w a s the schoolmaster Mr John B rown , before men tio n ed , who , possessing a large amount of literary — “ ability , wrote a small volume entitled A P ictu re

’ o S tr u t/wa r n in P er t/zsﬁzr e or a To o r a /zieal D e f , p g p

' ' Cr ze to Loeﬁea m /zead in ter s er sed wit/z Anecdote ﬁ , p s. M r B rown dated his preface at St Fillans

1 2 th 1 82 on August , 3 , and to him I am in debted for part of the contents of this volume . “ z— Mentioning his own residence , he writes That domicil , or castle in miniature , with adjoining o ﬂi ces , erected on an airy rising ground , and ter m in a tin g the whole line of habitable buildings on i S the west , s the residence and phere of humble ” exertion of the vil l ag e sell oal mas ter M r B rown was evidently a keen sylviculturist , and I have no doubt that it was he who formed the orchard which

ﬂourished for s o long in front of the old school

o f house . This consisted apple , pear , plum , and AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

cherry trees , the last remnants of which , except one , were cut down several years ago . The

is last survivor an old Cherry tree , which grows in front of the old schoolroom window , and even yet is profusely laden in spring with its sweet - smelling blossom , though the birds hardly give the fruit a

n Chance to ripen . I am of opi ion that Mr B rown w a s also the planter o f the various forest trees sur rounding the grounds on which the old schoolhouse stands , and this j udging from their apparent age .

One of these is a very peculiarly shaped ash tree , which , from the way the branches Spring from the top of the trunk , has long been known in the village “ ” a s The Seven Golden Candlesticks . Three mag n iﬁce n t copper beeches also ﬂourish here , which are known far and near , the re being none to equal them for miles around . I t is a curious coincidence that this present volume is written on the same spot , and am id the same surroundings , though not in the same house , where John B rown penned his “ ” i Picture more than ninety years ago . H s dwell

- ing house still stands , though now converted into a laundry . Since the days of John Brown the following have held the o ﬂice of village teacher . H is immediate

‘ M La ren successor was M r Samuel , who instilled

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . knowledge into the youth of the village and neigh

r bo u ho o d for many years . Following him in rapid

‘ succession were M r J ohn M N a u g hto n Mr John

‘

Mis s Peddie . c Carmichael , and The Edu ation

1 2 Act of 87 having now come into operation , M r w George S . Carlisle a s appointed teacher at St

ill an s F by the Comrie School Board , and commenced

2 th 1 8 . duty on 4 N ovember , 73 H e did not remain long , being succeeded by M r David Silver , who

th 1 8 . began work on 7 September , 74 About this period the o ld school buildings at the w est end of

M . the village were condemned by H . Inspector as “ o f - being insanitary . Part hi s report reads The only openings for air are in the ceiling , and these actually Open into a cowhouse under the same roof , the smell from which pervades the schoolroom .

fi - There are no of ces , and the premises in their pres ent condition are altogether unsuitable . These defects were remedied in the following year , but the same time the School Board took steps for the erection of entirely new buildings . A Site for these was obtained at the east end of the village , and the school being erected , the scholars were removed

1 1 0 1 - there in the Spring of 876 . I n 9 2 the school was enlarged . Mr Silver held his appointment until 8 t 1 88 h . , when he resigned on the 9 of August H i s B AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

successor was Miss Barry C . Anderson , who con

8th 1 888 2 th ducted the school from October , , to 5

1 8 2 . February , 9 She was succeeded by Miss ﬁ M argaret A . N eilson , whose tenure of of ce extend

2 th 1 2 a th 1 0 1 . ed from 9 February , 89 , to 4 May , 9

After M iss N eilson an interim teacher , Miss Jessie

A . Menzies , was appointed for the remaining week s

1 th 1 0 1 of the session ; and on 7 September , 9 , M r d George Elder , the present teacher , commence duty . What were known as the Goose Oaks grew by the loch - Side about two or three hundred yards west - i f from the H otel . The story s told o a celebrated

a 1 6 0 goose which att ined to the great age of years ,

1 i and ﬁnally gave up this life in 1 8 8 . I t s solemn ly averred by M r B rown that the history of this

w a s goose well authenticated , and that the families

' and individuals who successively were owners of the

its histo r goose were hig hly respectable , and that . y

1 6 8 was preserved entire for the period back to 5 , wh ile he naively adds— “ How long it was in being

” ’ prior to that date is uncertain . The goose was buried at the spot indicated , and the oak trees , two in number , of which only one remains now , plant O ed ver its grave ; but the story , as regards the age ,

be . must , I am afraid , looked upon as apocryphal AN N ALS OF ST F I LLAN S .

1 8 In or about 75, M r Alexander Sandison , who had travelled extensively in Peru and Chile , in the course of his wanderings , alighted upon St Fillans .

H e was So charmed with it and its surroundings , that he resolved to make it his permanent place of

. 1 8 6 residence Accordingly , in 7 , he erected that

o Ea r n ho lm c villa , now kn wn as , on what was alled

“ ’ ” the Smith s Feu , and settled down in it to spend the Closing years of a restless life . Mr Sandison was

en r ti a man of many parts , and threw himself e g e cally into every scheme connected with the welfare o f the village . For long a small library had been kept in the Schoolhouse , under the Charge of the school master of the period , which was free to residents and visitors . M r S andison took a great interest in it , and after his death , which occurred rather

y o n i 8th 1 88 suddenl September , 9 , it was found he had left a s u m of money to erect and endow a build ing to be used as a village library and hall , and had also bequeathed a large number of interesting and useful books . The building , a zinc one , was erect “ a n d w ed soon afterwards , is kno n as the Sandison ” Foundation Library . I t is free to all residents , while a small Charge is made to V i s i tors . From the endowment fund a certain su m is devoted each year to the purchase of new books , and the Library S T AN N ALS O F FILLAN S . has thus proved a boon of incalculable value to the village . The hall is let at a small charge for vari o u s public functions , such as concerts , and political and other meetings , while two or three times every w inter the youth of the village assemble to enjoy a

’ few hours innocent recreation by dancing . The devotees of the “ roaring game ” residing in

1 880 St Fillans formed a Club in , the moving spirit being the Rev . J . W . Blake , then in charge of the

- - o f . Chapel Ease , and himself an enthusiastic curler

diﬂicu l t The principal y , however , was the want of ic e to curl on , there being no suitable pond in the vicinity . The loch very rarely freezes over ; in fact , for the first time within the memory of man , during the severe winter of 1 89 4-9 5 the lower part w a s

Ar dtro s ta n frozen as far as , when curlers and

Skaters enjoyed a unique experience , the former

2 1 51: 1 8 . dif ﬁ playing a match on February , 9 5 The

‘ culty was overcome by a piece of m a r shy g ro u n d on the south side , through which a burn from the

B ir r a n ﬂows , being , during winter , converted into

- a curling pond by damming up the burn , and regu a lating its ﬂow by means of a sluice . M ny a hila

i r r ic u s game has been played here until the . w n te shadows fell , and an adjournment made to the

H otel to spend the evening in conviviality . On the AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

1 th 1 0 en 3 day of M arch , 9 9 , several of the more h ia ti t u s s c curlers from St Fillans and Dunira , de

i o f spa ring getting ice on their pond , ascended to

B o l tach a n p Loch , where they s ent a few hours at their favourite pastime , waking the echoes around this lonely mountain tarn , in all probability for the

ﬁrst time , with their peculiarly Characteristic

Clamour . The stones had been taken up on ponies

a d the previous day , and the following were the v en tu r so m e players ' ’ — ‘ . M La r en . . S t ﬁ zll cm s R ¢r esen f a tz ves J , sen , D

‘

. . . M La ren . . Menzies , W S Doig , and J , jun (Skip) ' ' — u m a R e t A . . D r ¢r es n a tzves Smith , W Laidlaw ,

‘

I n . . M t r e . D y , and P Sharp (Skip)

On the Tuesday and Wednesday following , they again ascended to the loch , and enjoyed a repetition o f the novelty

ha s - The name Earn , like most place names , various derivations . I t is alleged to have been traced back to the people who inhabited the country

- in pre Celtic times , of whom we have little informa

a n n a l o f tion , though the ancient s . I reland repeated ly mention them under the name of Firbolg and

I n . Silures o r v eria s Sir H erbert Maxwell , in his

' “ - - S wif ts/z La nd N ames (p . writes The ﬁrst syllable of the name I reland is a contracted form o f AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

the name Iver , Emer , Eber , or Eire , which was very likely a pre-Celtic vocable Adopted into Gaelic

i i B u speech , it received the gen t ve case , irin , the

a n favourite name for I reland , just as Alban , the cient name of Scotland , is the genitive case of ” Alba . H e then , dealing with Scottish place names , as in many cases being recruited from those “ : of I reland , goes on to remark What lends

a special importance to this name Iver or Emer , p p a ren tly the designation of a notable branch of the

- pre Celtic race , is the fact that it occurs in the

' ' ' . S r a ztlz JYz r ena e m iddle of Scotland , now Strath arn , can hardly be other than the vale of the Era n n or

I v eria n s , commemorating , probably , a settlement of the same people from whom Lough Erne , in I reland , i s said to have taken its name . We are told in the ‘ Annals of the Four Masters ’ that in the year

1 F iacha La bh ra in n e 443 , , King of I reland , defeated

‘ Ern a i irbo l the , a sept of the F g , on the plain where

Loug h E rne now is . After the battle w a s gained i from them , the lake ﬂowed over them , s o that it s — i from them that the lake is named that s , a lake

’ over the Er n a i. All the names by which I reland — was known in ancient poetry namely , Eire , Banba ,

F o dl a — , and Elga seem to be reﬂected in the

- f F o tl a Scottish place names Earn , Ban f , Atholl (Ath ) ,

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

M o n a dh Phu ir tm Or 1 , or Portmore , 500 feet , behind the village , has been already mentioned , and “ ” B ir r a n 2 0 1 1 O be The , feet , pposite the Hotel , will more particularly referred to afterwards . To the “ M o n a dh Phu irtm Or west of , the little round

is topped hill , crowned with a coronet of ﬁr trees ,

“ ’ l u x u r i known as The Arns , apparently from the

o f ant growth alder shrubs which clothe its slope ,

Arn being the old Scottish name for the alder . The “ grassy bank at the foo t is known locally as Green

‘ ” “ 0 Arns . Behind this rises the hill called Mea ll

Rea m ha r 2 2 0 , 5 feet , from the bosom of which

- - issues the Allt am Fionn . The Gaelic word r ea m/za r means thick or bulky , but , as most hills are bulky , the application does not Seem clear . The contour of the hills is now Sharply cleft by Glen Tarkin, with the burn of the same name ﬂowing through it , and

’ seeking the level behind the gamekeeper s hou se in

. i a Series of cascades The name Tarkin , or , as t

its n is spelled in old documents , Tarkan , is , in mea ing , somewhat obscure . I t is well known that long ago the wild boar was a favourite animal of the

- ed Chase , and many place names have been deriv from some incident connected with that sport . I t is not at all unreasonable to assume that some m a rau der in g boar met with its doom in this lonely AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

tor c glen , and , as the Gaelic word for a boar is , the glen would afterwards become known as Glen

To rca n . , or Glen of the Boar To the west of the Tarkin rises the solid mass of

2 2 0 Sron Mhor , 3 feet , which occupies the space between the Tarkin and the B eich . The Gaelic word

' ”— “ ” S r on means a nose thus the big nose . Glen be ich means the Glen of the B irches , and explains itself . The hill to the west of the B eich is known ” “ Eildr ea ch Eildeach 2 0 as or , 9 9 feet high ,

“ ” “ bin ds meaning abounding in , and , no doubt , at o n e time deer were very plentiful on its slopes . “ ” M ea ll S l iata Across the Ogle is the h ill called y , along which runs the Callander and Oban Railway .

S léa f The name is the Gaelic g , Slate , and as the composition of the hill is principally slate , it thus “ means Slate H ill . The large hill behind , bound ing the view from St Fill a n s towards the head of S the loch , and the southern lope of which forms the “ ”

is M eall S ea ll a idh . Braes of Balquhidder , called

I t 2 2 is 79 feet in height , being , with the exception

o f Loc hea rn s ide . Ben Vorlieb , the highest . hill on “ ” The Gaelic name S ea l/a id}: means the view . From its highest point there i s a magniﬁcent and extensive view , and it thus well merits the name “ ” o f the hill from whence the view is obtained . AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

o n the Taking now the hills the south side of loch , “ ” w m B ein n F h u a r to the est of the B irra rises , or “ ” “ F u a rbh in n 2 000 e , feet , the name meaning a

. o ff cold , bleak mountain A spur it to the north ,

’ S h rOn above the shepherd s house , is known as the

' sr on or Strone ( , a nose) , and this may be compared “ ” with the big nose ( S r on M /zor ) opposite . The curious round projection on the hill - side above Ard

o f trostan bears the name the Doon H ill , or Simply

The Doon . This apparently means the hillock , and “ ” C dorm an old ornish word , signiﬁes high , while

‘ “ ” ’ tome m zﬁ n . , y means a hillock (J amieson s Scot

. 127: D zkin tish Dictionary ) The Gaelic word 0 or , besides meaning a fortiﬁed house or hill , also signiﬁes a hillock or mount , and I am informed that “ ” in this county dun fort is applied where there is no fort .

in l B ein n a Behind F do g en rises Bh n , — 2 2 2 5 feet . Ebon o r B dn means white thus “ White H ill —and the name of the h ill on the “ F in do l en B ein n opposite Side of the g burns , ” ozo 2 2 0 Odhar , pronounced r , 5 feet , means dun or g rey . That these names , taken in conjunction with

- Finn glen (White Glen) , and the whitish mud wash

6 as ed down during the ﬂood referred to on page 3 ,

- - also the All t am Fionn (White Water) opposite , AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

a h ve some special meaning , there can be no doubt , but the Signiﬁcance appears to have been now lost

V rl i h sight of . Ben o c is especially referred to on

8 6 . o n page 5 , and Glen Ample on page 5 The hill the west side of the Ample bears the name of M ea ll ” U a m h 1 2 0 . nan , and is 5 feet in height The word — Ua mlz means a cave or den thus the hill of the ” c a n caves , but no apparent reason be assigned for

the bestowal of the name .

Loch E arn possesses two islands , both artiﬁcial ,

one at the head of the loch , and one near the eastern

extremity , wh ich latter concerns u s most . Both these islands appear to date back to the era of th e

lake dwellers , who erected their habitations in the centre of an expanse of water for protection from

their enemies . In after ages the island at St Fill a n s

became a Royal fortalice , owned and occupied by

many of the Kings o r Chiefs of F o r tren n . This was ff a stone building , divided into di erent chambers ,

which now lies in ruins , but the great thickness of

the walls testiﬁes to the care , foresight , and energy

" which were expended in the erection thereof . A small harbour and land ing stage for boats still exists on the east side , and at one time the island was connected with the mainland by a kind o f causeway f formed of large boulders , the remains o which may AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . b e seen in a line between the island and the villa

’ called Portmore . The Exchequer Rolls have several

1 notices of this building . Thus we ﬁnd that in 445 Andrew Mercer had a fee of £ 1 0 for the custody of

' ’ the manor of Loch Earn (p r o custoo ia ma n cr ii o e Lo ucﬁem ) ; and in the following year he received 53 5 4d for the custody of the island in Loch Earn

’ r o cu toa ie in u r ne (p s s l e l ocu s do E ) . At an early period this island had been the residence of the Clan

N eish , and it is owing to their occupancy , and the

bef el tragedy which there them , that it obtained

’ o f N eishes the name the I sland , which it bears to this day .

N eis hes Like all the rest of the Scottish Clans , the h ad their own particular feud . This was with the

‘ M N a Clan b , whose territory lay along the southern shores of Loch Tay , their principal residence being

. w a s Kinnel , at the head of the loch The feud the outcome of a long -continued series of petty jealousies and imagined grievances on both S ides .

Frequently isolated parties of the clan met , and a

ﬁght ensued . At last both clans mustered their

Gl enbo l tach a n full force , and , meeting in , a regular

N eishes battle w a s fought . The Chief of the for i long held h s own , standing with his back to a

large boulder , until at last he was overcome , and AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

fell covered with wounds . Tradition says that his blood still stains this boulder , and that the marks N i h cannot be obliterated . The rest of the e s es

fought equally stubbornly , but ﬁnally they were

completely overcome , a remnant only making their

escape . These settled down on the easter island

in Loch Earn , under the leadership of a relative of

the Chief , and became practically freebooters , lying

in wait for defenceless travellers , whom they robbed t h and murdered . Many years elapsed Since e battle

of Gl enbo l tacha n ere the N eis hes thought themselves once more formidable enough to try conclusions

‘

M N . with their ancient enemies , the abs

‘ On one occasion the M N a bs resolved to hold a

great feast to celebrate Christmas , and the Chief sent his man -servant to procure large quantities of N i h provisions and liquor from Crieff . The e s es

heard of this , and resolved that they would have

their own Share of the good things going . Accord

in l Gl en led g y, they proceeded across the hills to

n ock , where they lay in ambush awaiting the arrival he of the messenger . When appeared they sprang

out on h im and relieved him of all his goods , mal

l re treating him as wel . H e warned them that

r i l ev en u a te . p sa s would , and left them The

N eishes laughed at his threats, and retreated to AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

their island fastness . H ere they held high revel ry ,

s i ecure in , as they thought , their impregnable dom

cile , especially as they possessed the only boat on

the loch . At last , the potency of the liquor over

coming them , they all succumbed to deep slumber .

I n the meantime , the messenger had made his way

to Loch Tay side , and related to the Chief of the

‘ M N abs the ignomin y to which he had been s u b

jected . After the tale had been told the Chief mused S in ilence for a while , and then , being a man of

few words , he conveyed a dark hint to his twelve stalwart sons by Simply remarking— “ The night i s

the night , if the lads are the lads . S ilence again

a t ' l a st fell upon the company for a space , until ,

so n without uttering a word , the eldest , a gloomy ,

“ ‘ ” s a s M N ab aturnine man , known Smooth John , a satire on his rough manners and countenance ,

rose and went outside . H is brothers followed him .

The night was pitch dark , and the path over the h ills to Loch Earn was long and toilsome . N ot

a withstanding , these sturdy youths shouldered boat ,

and s et out through the night on their mission of

vengeance . Steadily they pressed forward , and ,

o n passing down Glen Tarkin , launched their craft f the surface of Loch Earn , and with mu fled oars

’ s tarted to row across to the N eishes stronghold .

AN N ALS O F ST FILLAN S .

proceeded , carrying the boat as before . Some miles

a n having thus been traversed , they , being weary d footsore , found the boat becoming a heavy burden on their hands , and resolved to abandon it . They

then f laid it down there and , and tradition avers that even up to the close of the eighteenth century the

- remains of it could be seen by the curious passer by .

Tramping onwards in the grey dawn , they at last

’ “ ” reached their father s home , and Smooth John , placing himself in front of the old man , silently unfolded his plaid . Out rolled the head of the “ Neish , and Smooth John addressed his father in

— “ ’ ” N a oioo lz om /z oir olz these words ﬁ g , which “ meant , Be in fear for nothing , or Dread

‘ naught . When the M N a b s a w the grizzled head “ o f — his enemy , he exclaimed The night w as the ” night , and the lads wer e the lads . From thi s incident originated the crest and motto of the Clan

‘ “ M N ab— a bearded head , and the words Dread ” N ought . I n the year 1 49 0 the well-known tragedy of the bu M o n z iev a ir d rning of the Kirk of occurred , which was the climax to the long - standing feud between th the Drummonds and Murrays . On the 9 of the

a n d following J anuary , John , Lord Drummond , Sir

Tu ll iba rdin e e William Murray of , appeared befor AN N ALS O F ST FILLAN S .

King James IV . and the Lords of Council , at Lin lithgow , and agreed to make reparation to all who could prove that they had sustained injury . I n addition , Lord Drummond promised and agreed “ within "V . dais fra this day furth to ger cast do v n the bous of the e st Ile of loch em and dis tr o y all the s tr en this of the samy and tak away the bate and put ” hir to the west Ile . The demolition was accord in l g y carried out , and now , after the lapse of more than four centuries , these ruins yet remain a testi mony of the turbulent times in which our forefathers lived .

o f w From a geological point vie , the surroundings

of St Fillans are distinctly interesting . Where the s u 1 f ace earth has been removed from the hill side , exposing the rock underneath , the furrows caused by striation during the glacial period are clearly visible . One especially interesting specimen of this was to be seen a Short distance up the mountain road leading past the lime kiln . There , an enormous smooth , sloping rock showed these furrows very distinctly , but , unfortunately , some years ago thi s rock was blasted ; though these evidences of the period when the basin of Loch Earn was one vast mass of ice may still be found by removing the superﬁcial covering of turf from almost any part of C AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

- . B irr a n the hill side The bold , rocky mass of The ,

-o u t and the curious rounded , jutting knob , known as the Doon H ill , as well as the softer outlines of

C ro chk Mhat S f and St Fillans H ill , how the e fects

a s of aerial , well as aqueous , denudation . The latter process can be watched at any time during the winter and spring ﬂoods , when the mountain torrents , coming down in spate , bring with them boulders of all sizes , tossing and tumbling down the ravines with thunderous up roar , and often uprooting and bearing whole trees along with them . The process of levelling the hills into the valleys , and forming alluvial deltas at the mouths of the burns , i w s sho n in a marked degree in Loch Earn . Each of the more prominent streams protrudes itself through a promontory into the loch . Thus , the

a F in do l en T rkin and the g Burns , and , further up , l the Ample and the Be ch , point long ﬁngers towards

a . e ch other , foreshadowing the time when , in the course of ages , these points will meet . Owing to

a s the great depth of the loch , conjecture is in vain to how many centuries may yet elapse before that result will be brought about .

1 1 0 A storm w hich occurred in August , 9 , brought visibly before the eve the mighty potentialities which

e l i in the s udden rising of a mountain stream . The

AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S . 35

in do l n twin burn s at F g e , which enter the loch a few yards apart from each other , ordinarily appear very

al quiescent and incapable of doing much harm , though in winter they often come down in ﬂood . For long no one suspected that these streams were only biding their time , and the farmhouse of Findo g len , and other cottages , were built in front of a bend of the easter burn . The inhabitants lived there in fancied security for many years , until , on

a th i the 4 of August , their dreams were rudely d s tu r bed . On the previous evening rain commenced

w a s to fall heavily , and next day little short of a

’ deluge . About two o clock thunder was heard among

- the hills towards the south west , and suddenly the roar of the torrent was heard far up the glen . In a twinkling the ﬂood descended , bearing on its bosom immense boulders and uprooted trees , which became piled in a chaotic mass behind and round the sides of the house , the m arvel being that the entire building was not swept away . Two servant girls narrowly escaped with their lives , being caught by the ﬂood as they were rushing out o f the house .

‘ M I n t re Fortunately , Mr J ames y , Shepherd , seeing w their danger , gallantly ent to their rescue , for

o f 1 w a s which deed heroism , he , on oth October , p r esented with an award from the Carnegie Hero AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

Fund . A peculiar feature of the ﬂood was the large amount of whitish mud or clay w hich was washed down , and which it is believed has never before been noticed , unless , indeed , long ago it was from

l - F irm this white c ay ”that the glen derived its name — Glen White Glen . The illustration Shows the a o cumulated mass of boulders at the back of the house .

Although St Fill a n s is not noted for an y especially rare plants , yet some of the less common ones are to be found in the neighbourhood . I n spring the banks by the roadside are almost one mass of brilliant e yellow from the ever proliﬁc Primros , and azure beds of Hyacinths appear here and there ; while in summer the numerous masses of Meadow Sweet dis

-b til a grateful perfume to greet the passer y , and

n Wild Roses , pink and white , bloom o all sides , inter spersed with the pure white Sprays of the H awthorn , while Foxgloves make a brilliant Show , not for getting tc mention the Furze and Broom . These may be called the genii of the locality , but in walking along the high road other less common plants will be found . Thus , the Sneezewort , in company with its Y w commoner relative , the arro , as well as the Eye

- w bright Cow wheat , ith its pink ﬂowers , grows here and there on the road - side between St Fillans and

v w o n T n reo ch , hile the waste ground below the

8 3 AN NALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

- plants are good examples of the insect eating , or

S . insectivorous , plant , and here ﬂourish side by ide Close at hand may be seen the deep orange spikes

n of the Bog Asphodel . N ot far away ca be gather S ed the hort , succulent stems , bearing pink labiate

two ﬂowers , of the Lousewort ; while in one or places , the gem of all marsh plants , the Grass of

Parnassus , with large white corollas , and a fringed nectary at the base of each petal , appears . Here also various species of Orchis ﬂourish , including the small white Butterﬂy Orchis , sometimes called the

Fly Orchis . S t Fillans H ill gives a habitat to the w Pearl ort , and also to the Blinks , or Blinking

C M on l ia F on l a n a W hickweed ( ) , hich is found in

- thick mossy like patches in the rill at the base . Thi s is the only indigenous B ritish plant of the ord e r

- r t l a a . Po u ce e On the hill side behind the village ,

— e - M ilkwort pink , white , and blu Pepperwort , and

Eyebright , are very common , along with the large yellow ﬂowers of the Rockrose , the white woolly tufts of Cudweed , occasional plants of blue Gentian ,

’ and clumps of Wild Thyme . The Cat s Foot

’ A n ten n a r ia o ioico ( ) is also common , the generic name having reference to the resemblance of the pappus of the male ﬂower to the antennae of the butterﬂy . On the top of the lime kiln the Gromwell AN N ALS O F ST FILLAN S . 39

grows . Of an insigniﬁcant appearance , though tall , it is a somewhat rare plant in Scotland . Juniper bushes , with the fruit in all its stages , also grow on

’ - the hill Sides . The Enchanter s N ightshade , of old used by Circe in her love potions , grows here and there by the loch S ide . The Globe Flower is found

an d on the river banks , grows in great abundance by the loch side at the Tarkin promontory . The marsh used as the curling pond is , in summer , profusely covered with the curiously tufted ﬂowers of the

B uckbean , intermingled with the more sombre leaves

“ P ol a mo oton of various species of Pondweed ( g ) . Another piece of marshy ground at the foot of the

is loch abundantly ﬁlled with the broad , sword shaped leaves of the yellow I ris , the ﬂowers of which , however , rarely have an opportunity of being seen to advantage , as they are plucked almost as soon as they appear . The island is redolent , on a

- hot day , with the onion like smell of the Wild Garlic , which , to sensitive nostrils , i s sometimes anything but pleasant . I n the autumn the hills are ruddy with heather and heath , while , later on , the wither

~ ing bracken imparts a golden sheen . White Heather may occasionally be found at a high alti tude . Up in the dells , through which the mountain burns ﬂow , many species of ferns may be found , AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

including the Holly and the Beech ; while on ' the

f Phu irtm Or ré summ it o , diligent search will be

m n . a warded by the Parsley Fern Lower down , p g ’ ’ O some boulders , the Adder s Tongue may be btain ed , and the Royal Fern at one time was common enough . The latter appears now , however , to be extinct , though assiduous search may yet reveal it in some sequestered nook . I n several of the moun tain rills , long and magniﬁcent tresses of the Stag

Moss may be discovered . By the loch side a stray shrub of the Bird Cherry appears here and there , A while the Mountain sh or Rowan is common .

The loch itself is not without its ﬂora . In shallow

- parts at the east end , grass like beds of the Looel ia

D or tmcm n a cover the bottom , sending up long stalks to ﬂower above the water .

The loch contains numbers of excellent trout , and from March to the end of J une they take the ﬂy freely , the weather conditions being suitable . These are most favourable during a half gale , when the

ﬁ sh loch is rough , and the leap at the ﬂy in the crest

o f . the waves It is a curious circumstance , how

a ever , that should cloud be resting on the summit

' of the hills at Lochearnhead , the angler need not expect a good take ; but if these hills be Clear he may s et forth conﬁdently . A few yards out from the 1 AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 4

Shore , where the bottom suddenly commences to

an d shelve down , especially at the mouths of the

. 15 burns , are the likely spots I t utterly useless to

fi sh with fly i n the centre of the loch . Each angler has his own favourite fishing ground . Among — favourite stretches may be mentioned o n the north

e C o l leo n a r d A hin shor , between the villas and u c

All t-a m - doune , and from the Fionn burn to the

Tarkin , the bay on the east side of the latter being especially good during an east wind . The reason for this is simply because a west wind does not agitate the water in the bay . Another good stretch is for about two miles or so along the Derry shore .

c a n The south Shore be recommended , from the

Ar dtro stan V o rlich promontory up to the , especially

F in do l en at the g burns , and what are known a s the

Ardvorlich dykes . At the latter , large trout may be

conﬁdently looked for . The trout in the loch , as

a whole , are not of any very great size , and the largest ones are usually got by minnow- trolling natural m innow , if possible . After the end of June the minnow is the most satisfactory lure if heavy baskets are desired , and the stranger will do well

to engage a boatman who knows the loch , with its deeps and shallows , thoroughly . I t may be mentioned at the same time that the story of “ nae AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

w h u sk a y , nae fush , has done duty on Loch Earn s

a well s on other lochs . The ﬂies most attractive here are , in spring , the March Brown and Green H k m well Glory ; and in summer , the various ec a

Peck a m s " , the Butcher , the ulu , Greenwell Glory ,

Plover and Red , though , of course , others are found to be equally satisfactory . Many years ago two trout were captured , by trolling , on the same day , which weighed respectively twelve and fourteen pounds . These , however , were exceptional . The largest of recent years weighed four pounds , while trout of one or two pounds are not at all uncommon .

A Sea trout may occasionally be captured , and in late autumn salmon come up the river , and may sometimes be seen disporting themselves in the waters of the loch . I am not aware that the fauna of St Fillans differs from that of any other mountain region to

- w a any great extent . . Formerly the red deer s wont to roam all around , until at last they were conﬁned to the forest of Glenartney . I n recent years the

r f orest ha s been extended , and now embraces pa t o f the southern shore of Loch Earn . H ither in winter the deer come down from the mountains a“ nd

’ congregate behind two of the keepers cottages ,

- where they are hand fed . The bellowing they AN N ALS OF ST F I LLAN S . 43 keep up in the month of N ovember i s beyond words to describe . Roedeer may occasionally be seen in the woods on the north side of the loch , gracefully ﬂitting about among the trees .

Rabbits are a standing nuisance , and unless wire fencing is lavishly used , woe betide the garden s which are exposed to their depredations . Otters are frequently seen in the loch . Among birds , the following may be mentioned . Every winte r o n e or two pairs of herons take up their s tance on

the island , where they stand in grave solemnity , occasionally varying the monotony by making a sluggish ﬂight to the shore . The wild duck is common , and frequently some arctic geese may be observed making this a resting -place on thei r m igratory ﬂights . Several swans have been placed on the loch , and their graceful movements giv e

an additional touch of beauty to the scene . Sea

gulls often make their appearance , either during the a storm , or as heralds of one . I n summer the rather monotonous note of the cuckoo is heard on all sides , and during the long winter nights the eerie hoot of the owl makes one start for the moment .

The grouse , pheasant , and woodcock are the prin c i al - p game birds , and the shootings on Lo chea rn s ide are well known . AN N AL S O F ST FI LLAN S .

A Short distance west from St Fillans H ill stands , in the centre of a small circular graveyard surround

a e d by wall , the rooﬂess ruin of the old Roman C Catholic hapel of Dundurn , said to have been erect e d about the year 1 500 . Tradition alleges that a

“ p revious ch apel had been built on this site by St

Fillan himself , when he was evangelising the strath . A great deal o f m isconception has arisen round St

Fillan , the fact having been entirely overlooked that there were two Fillans , both canonised . I t has generally been considered that the St Fillan who was connected with S tr a thﬁll a n and Killin ; whose arm was borne by the Abbot of I n chaff r a y at the

n battle of Ba nockburn ; whose crozier , after variou s

m 1 8 6 vicissitudes , was brought fro Canada in 7 , and placed in the N ational Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh ; and whose miraculous double burial h a s v a n li been recorded , was also he who ﬁrst e g e s

d . e Strathearn This is not so . The St Fillan connected with this district ﬂourished between the fourth and ﬁfth centuries , fully more than two hundred years earlier than the above , who lived in

ac the beginning of the eight century . He was , r ’ “ ” c o ding to Forbes Kalendar of Scottish Saints , “ e A n hu s d scended of the race of e g , son of N ad

’ f r e h i. . a c , e , King of Munster , and was known as

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 45

The Stammerer or The Lepe r . He was one of

w - o f Ailbe w ho t enty two disciples , were sent forth to preach the Gospel . H e found his opportunities here , as at that time the hill fort of Dundurn w a s

F o r tren n the capital of the district of , and apparent l his y here he spent the remainder of life , becoming

a s ao l a n o f Ra ther r a n hi known to after ages St F , s

2 0t Festival being held on h J une . I t may be that St Fillan built a previous chapel or

is cell , but it certain that for many centuries the now ruined Chapel w a s the chief centre of the ecclesiasti c al - life of the district . In pre Reformation time s

Dundurn was a separate parish , and the little chapel was the parish church . After the Reformation the Parish of Dundurn became absorbed into the Parish

a n d w a of Comrie , the chapel s abandoned . Some time afterwards it w a s appropriated by the Stewart s

a s - of Ardvorlich a family burial place . Various mem bers of the family were buried within the old Cha pel w alls , within which also several other members o f the Clan obtained the right of burial . The enclosure outside became reserved as a graveyard for the A natives of Portmore and district . S a rule the heri tors of a parish take charge of all old burial -grounds within the bounds , but in this case the ground being s o far removed from the ecclesiastical centre AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

of the parish at Comrie , the heritors declined to take any charge of it . I n these circumstances it became necessary for the inhabitants of St

ill a n l o ok F s themselves to after it , and keep it in p roper condition , as an interesting relic of the past .

o l th 1 8 0 A public meeting was held n g May , 9 , at which measures were taken to have the old Chapel and surrounding burial - ground carefully cared for U in future . p till this period the building retained

n is es m its roof , but the interior being dank and o o e , t he w a s roof removed , and the building now appears

- as a picturesque ivy clad ruin . Several very ancient

- tombstones , worn and moss grown , refuse to give i any clue as to who rest beneath . One of these s u n ique . On one Side is carved a tree representing the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ; on the other is an angel grasping a sword ; while , beneath , Adam and Eve stand hand in hand facing each

i tin i h other . They can be clearly d s g s ed in the

. so in illustration There are also some letters , d istinct that they cannot be deciphered . For many

- l a years a round , hollow , basin Shaped stone y neglected in an embrasure of one of the windows , from whence it was removed to Ardvorlich; This stone is considered to have been used by the Saint w f o r holding the consecrated ater , and that it was

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 47 put to a Similar use during the centuries in which

Roman Catholicism held sway . Soon after the present church of Dundurn was erected , Colonel Stewart presented the stone basin for use as a bap

‘ m l M Ara tis a font , while M r , who erected the villa “ known as The Oaks , presented a handsome

- wrought iron pedestal to hold it in position .

ill a n s As already said , St F , and all the surround ing district as far as within a mile of Lochearnhead , now lie in the parish of Comrie , and for many years after the Reformation the people were obliged to go to Comrie to attend divine ordinances . I n the course of the seventeenth century , year unknown , a church w a s erected beside the bridge of Dundurn ,

' af t r bein which , e g used for a considerable number

a rs w a s . of ve , , for some reason or other , abandoned and now no trace of it c a n be found . In the year

1 770 a new Church or Chapel of Ease was erected on a small knoll opposite the north end of the bridge .

' o ld - This was of the barn like type of parish church , w w ith narro , uncomfortable pews , and a small gallery or loft . Here , for more than a century , the people of Lo chea rn s ide were wont to come to attend service , which was conducted at stated intervals by the parish minister of Comrie . In the course of o time , when the village began to grow S mewhat , and AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

b w a s to b ecome etter kno n a summer resort , it was f elt that this church w a s Situated too far away from the centre of the life of the community . Accordingly , steps were taken to erect an entirely new church in the centre of the village . The late Rev . John

M h er s o n C o m rie ' th r ew a , minister of , himself heart and soul into the movement , with the result that in

1 8 8 7 the present neat little church , or Chapel of

w a Ease , as it was then called , s erected at a cost of

1 000 . 2 0 about £ I t was seated for about 5 , and

2 r d 1 8 was opened on 3 February , 79 , the service being conducted by M r Macpherson . I n due course w the Rev . J ames W . Blake a s elected minister.

The old church was demolished , the materials being

1 0 sold for £ and , on the site on which it stood , a ”

w a s . villa , called The Oaks , erected by Mr D

‘

M Ara . 1 88 1 , stationer , Edinburgh In M r Blake was appointed to the charge of Temple , in M id

. e lothian , and the Rev Thomas Armstrong was lect t ed to St Fillans . Mr Armstrong at once s e him self to have his Church endowed , and disjoined from ff the parish of Comrie . After strenuous e orts he succeeded in obtaining the sum necessary for endow c ment , and a decree of disjunction and ere tion , whereby the surrounding district was ecclesiastically d e r ect d isjoined from the parish of Comrie , and K e

AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S . 49

u oa cl sa cr a o ld o f into a parish g , under the name the

w a s - o u 1 th Parish of Dundurn , pronounced s March ,

ix 1 89 5. For s and twenty years M r Armstrong laboured faithfully in this corner of the vineyard hi until death overtook him in the fulness of s career .

n 2 th 1 0 s u c H e died o the 7 of September , 9 7 , his cessor being the present minister . For many years the absence of a manse was

f r much felt . M r Armstrong lived in lodgings o

' some years , until he erected a manse for him self behind the church . Here he was ever to be found ready at the call of duty ; to minister to the

o r sick to the bereaved ; and here , also , the stranger was ever sure o f a hearty and warm welcome from i the minister of the parish . After h s death the congregation had the option of purchasing thi s

o o r tu n itv building for a parish manse , but the pp

w a s . allowed to pass I n time , the want of a manse began to be accentuated , and measures were taken by several of the more prominent parishioners to have that remedied . Sufficient funds having been raised , a new building was

’ erected close to M r Armstrong s house , to be held as a manse for the present and all future m inisters o f the parish . A white marble mural tablet was placed in the

1) AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

church by Colonel and M rs Stewart of Ardvorlich

‘ in memory of their two youngest sons , who had died in early manhood . Recently a very rich and hand some stained -glass window was i nserted in memory

his of M r Armstrong by congregation and friends , “ ” the subject being The Good Shepherd , a striking and appropriate tribute to one who never failed in his duty .

1 8 in habi At the Disruption , in 43 , several of the tants of this district seceded from the Church of their fathers , and for a considerable number of years they had to proceed to Com rie to obtain spiritual nourish

1 6 P . ment . I n 85 , eter Drummond , E sq of Drum C C earn , omrie , an ardent light of the Free hurch

ben e vo l congregation there , moved by the spirit of

the ence , erected a small Church in St Fillans for accommodation o f the adherents to the Free Church

w a s n residing there . This church placed u der the

who Free Church m inister of Comrie , came at stated ' w intervals to conduct orship . Some years ago , arrangements were made whereby two weekly s e r Th vices are now held during the summer months . e services of a minister from elsewhere are engaged ,

' a furnished house being placed a t his disposal in

r etii ﬁi the village , where he can enjoy a holiday in

E rv f o r hi s services . v e month sees a change of o to b J Tr ot r [P h y . te

EV O AS ARM S TRO N G . R . TH M

1 AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 5 '

minister . This little church is very neat and co m pact , but the accommodation is so limited that it is usually ﬁlled to overﬂowing in summer . I n

1 0 s t December , 9 5, new lamp were placed in he

C 1 06 - hurch , and in J anuary , 9 , a stained glass

o window , of c nventional design , was inserted , both

Mr Edm n t n being gifts from Mr and s o ds o , Beacons

ﬁ eld o , who for many years had been in the habit o f making St Fillans their summer quarters . t As S t Fillans began to be bet er known , many Episcopalians found it a pleasant resort for the holiday Season . There being no Episcopal place o f worship , a small wooden chapel , known as Christ

1 8 in Church , was erected in 9 7 , which likewise is variably ﬁlled in summer . St Fillans is a good centre for several interesting

i . excursions , either walking , driving , or cycl ng A capital walk , for those able to accomplish it , is round the loch , a distance of Sixteen m iles . Setting o u t along the north shore , the ﬁrst object of interest , especially if there has been heavy rain the previous

- - night , is a very pretty waterfall on the All t a m Fionn

burn , about a mile from the hotel . A large villa , h owever , bearing the name of the burn , has been e o f rected almost in front the Falls , which detracts

from their beauty as formerly seen from the road . AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S . and one requires to scramble through the wood to the back of the house ere a proper view can be o h i i m ta n ed . The n a me s traditionally said to eanthe

Water of Fingal , and the following is the legend taken almost verbatim from the lip s of old \V il l ia m

w a s Mackay , who , in former years , the best known “ tm n o w a bo a a o n the loch , and s locally known as The ” w a Admiral . The old man s being teased one day about the alleg ed want of traditions connected with

Loch Earn , wh ich he was rather disposed to resent , and the foll o wing conversation took place between him and his interrogator

“ ’ There s plenty of old and queer stories , said he . ” N ame some of them , said I .

’ ‘ M N a Why , there s the story of the bs coming w over the hill ith their boat , and harrying the

’

N e ishes . I sland , and killing them all “ “ s a is But , says I , lots of folk y that all a haver , ” and that no such event ever took place .

s o Whoever says are leears , for my grandmother

‘ used to tell us aboot g aun up the hill and breakin

’ ’ th s sticks oot o e auld boat for firewood , and that nae haver at ony rate . “ Any other story "”

O o f . n , aye , there are plenty other stories

' ’ Al l t- a m - tha t o t There s the Fionn up there , g its name

AN N ALS OF ST FI LLAN S . 53

in consequence of a ﬁg ht up on the level there be between Finn M acC o u l and his men and the ‘ Y M La ren s . e see it was in the time when the

a s Romans were in the country , and , ye nae doot ken , they had a camp doon yonder at Comrie . The

‘ ’ M La r en s had a the country frae Comrie till Loch

’ a rn h ad w i e e , and they were on gude terms the

Romans , and loot the Roman pedlars gang amang

’ 0 to them , and were paid a sort blackmail besides

. a a gie them protection Weel , e day Fing l was ’ ’ ’ w takin a view frae the tap o thae hills 0 what a s . gaun on in the valley , and he sees the pedlars on

’ ’ ’ 0 w i w i bits pownies , Side baskets ﬁlled eggs and

Ch ickens and other trock , for Roman consumption .

’ s o Fingal and his men had a crap for a corn , doon

’ 0 the hills Dunira he comes , and seizes baskets and

’ ’ s ic ﬂ e powneys and a , and gie d the pedlars a g that

’ T n reo ch they ne er halted till they got to y , where the

‘ M La r en Chief lived , and laid their complaint before

w a him , of which there s plenty of evidence , as the

’ MacC o u l s were seen cutting along the tap o the braes with the evident intention of getting into Glen

’ ‘ ’ ’ M La ren w i Tarkin . The Chief o the s a the men he had at hand gave immediate pursuit , and soon

’ v r tak began to o e the thieves , who had to mind their

’ o w a plunder ; and , besides , ane the powneys s a “ AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

’ w a s ﬁ ts . willyart beast , and aye takin dou r So the

‘ M La r n e s came up on the level there , and a desperate

M a cC o u l s fecht took place , in which the had the

’ ’ ’ o t worst , and had to rin for t , leaving a their plunder behind , besides their killed . So the Chief

’ ‘ ’ o the M La ren s ca ed the bit burn there the Al l t

m - a Fionn , or Water of Fingal , in memory of his

’ victory . So that s a story . “ “ o f But , says I , there is no mention made such a ﬁght in the poem of Fingal in the ‘ Songs of

’ Selma .

“ ’ I S e N a , warrant no ; there will be naething but ” victories told in them .

' E om z The name really is the Gaelic , and mean s the Wh ite Water .

Continuing on our way , at the mouth of the

VVo o dho u se Tarkin , stands prettily embowered

f r among trees . This o long has been the residence

th e of the principal gamekeeper , who looks after

game , and generally supervises the sporting inter ests of the Drummond Castle E state on the hills on the north side o f Loch Earn . B ehind the house there are large kennels . Further on , the pedestrian

ﬁnds his olfactory nerves greeted with a sweet O doriferous perfume , and discovers he is passing through a wood principally composed of larches , D UN D URN M N E A S .

F T F AN N ALS O S I LLAN S . 55

from which , especially before and after rain , eman

- ates a health giving resinous aroma . We now come to what is known as the Derry . The word , according to Sir H erbert M axwell (“ Scottish Land ”

. 1 08 do u r N ames , p is a derivative of , the old “ - I rish word for Oak , meaning strictly an oak wood , ” but more generally any wood or thicket . The farm - house of Derry Stands a short distance up o n

' - an d o v iew o f the hill Side , c mmands a magniﬁcent

V r l i h t o Ben o c , with its twin peak wering in solitary grandeur towards the heavens . At this place , also , great devastation was wrought by the ﬂood mention

Glenbeich n . ed o page 34 Further on , , possibly the

' is B eich Glen of the B irches , passed , the burn being the boundary between the Drummond Castle and

Breadalbane E states . About a mile and a half

is up the glen there is a splendid waterfall , which well worth the extra walk to go to s ee . About

r two miles furthe on the road , the village of Loch e a rn hea d is reached . A short distance from the

- ha bridge over the Ogle a tea house s been erected , where refreshments m ay be obtained by those who do not care to enter the hotel . A capital view up

Gl en o g l e was to be obtained before the railway w a s

no w Constructed , but some consider the view to be ruined by the long span of railway arches . AN N ALS OF ST FILLAN S .

The village faces the loch , the view being bounded l ’ in the far distance by Dunmore , with Lord Melvil e s

. O n a n Monument crowning it resuming the w lk , o e

turns sharp to the left at the Free Church , which i occupies the base of a triangular p ece of ground , and a long ascent has to be faced . From the s um m it of this the road descends to Edin ampl e . N ear

r at hand , by the loch side , is the site of what was e

u ted p to have been a chapel dedicated to St Blane . A tradition lingers in the district that after the battle of D alg in ro s s a number of the Caledonians were pursued by the Romans up the south side o f

Loch Earn . I t is narrated by the Rev . Alexander “ his M . Macgregor in Gaelic To pography of Bal ” “ u h idder q Parish , that the former , when near the head of the loch , were reinforced by a large number of their friends , and , turning upon their pursuers , ” drove them back almost as far as Ardoch . The place where the Caledon ians obtained help was at

Edin a m l e p , and it is said that the name , in Gaelic “ ” “ Eu da in - a m - P il lidﬁ , means the face of the hill at the time of turning . The Rev . David Cameron , the present minister of the parish of Balquhidder , in a note , gives a much more prosaic derivation of “ the name . He says it Seems to be from En da in a - /zzcill — br ow o r a ce o f ma r s/z r ou n d o r p the f the y g ,

AN NALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 57

” ond o r ool p p , alluding , doubtl ess , to some natural Characteristic which the water of the loch (Earn)

. o n f ormed with the land To the left , the low

ground , surrounded by tall trees , stands the old

Edin a m l e baronial Castle of p , the property of the

Marquis of B readalbane . The Ample here form s

a magniﬁcent waterfall , which cannot be seen

its from the road , though its roar gives evidence of

existence .

The road , high above the loch , now winds through

a Shady copsewood of oak , elm , beech , and other

trees . I t then steeply descends , with Ardvorlich C ottage , the Dower House of the Stewarts of Ard

v o rl ich . , on the right A high rhododendron hedge S ff huts o the view of the road , which reaches the loch V i level at the foot of Glen o rl ch . The pedestrian

is now on the estate of Ardvorlich , the residence of

- Colonel John Stewart . The mansion house of Ardvorlich w a s the scene of the gathering of the

o f i 8 th Clans to meet the Earl Montrose on April ,

1 6 w a s D a rn lin v r h 45, and the a ac Castle o f Sir ” Walter Scott in A Legend of Montrose . I n

1 8 is f f 5 9 , as well known to students o the history o U D pper Strathearn , John rummond of Drummond

e r n o ch w a s killed by a band of the Macgregors , who

h is exhibited head to h is sister , Mrs S tewart , at AN N AL S O F ST F I LLAN S .

w in Ardvorlich , in consequence of hich She became

sane , soon afterwards giving birth to a son . The

latter was of a peculiar temperament , and in after

years became the slayer of Lord K ilp o n t. The above tragedy has been graphically described by Sir Walter

’ - Scott in the above mentioned novel . M rs Stewart s

husband , Major Stewart of Ardvorlich , soon after

co n wards captured twelve of the M acgregors , and

M eo v ie v eyed them to a place called , near Woodend ,

T n e reo ch or H ouse of Heath , now y , where he hang

ed them on an oak tree which grew near the road .

V r i Ben o l ch dominates the glen , and from Ard

I ts vorlieb the mountain may be easily ascended .

s ea 000 height i s 3305 feet above level , and 3 feet

above the level of the loch . Various derivations

a have been given of the name . Some s y it means f ” the mountain o the great lake , but I would be inclined to transpose this , and call it the great mountain of the lake . The Rev . Alexander Mac “ ” gregor , in his Gaelic Topography before referred — is B ein n m/zoir [m to , says it the Gaelic g the hill of the great hollow , the east side of the hill being evidently the crater of an extinct volcano . Another “ derivation is that it means the mountain o f the

th l u ir ic/z 5 belling of e deer , from Gaelic (the having the sound of meaning bellowing , and AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

- referring to their challenge in the rutting season . i C Ardvorlich House itself , and Ardvorl ch ottage ,

a re typical instances of H ighland country residences , both being beautifully embosomed among trees and

parks . Close to the west end o f the bridge crossing

e o f the Vorli b , and on the south side the road ,

o n stands a tombstone , the inscription which tell s its own tale — “ N ear this spot were interred the

‘ M D o n a lds o f bodies of 7 Glencoe , killed when — attempting to harry Ardvorlich . Anno Domini ,

Continuing the walk , one soon passes through a beautiful grassy sylvan glade with four teen rn a n iﬁ ce n t S o f g larch trees , seven on each ide

o f the path , resembling the pillars of the aisles some vast cathedral dedicated to the worship o f N ature . A little further on another tombstone stands solitary by the loch Side . I t bears the following inscription — “ This stone marks the place of interment of Major

J ames Stewart , afterwards removed to the family i vault at Dundurn . D ed about 1 66 0 . Thi s Major

Stewart w a s the s o n born to M rs Stewart of

Ardvorlich after the tragedy previously mentioned .

As he was said never to have spared a Macgregor ,

' hi on the occasion of s death , which took place

to peacefully at Ardvorlich , that Clan resolved revenge themselves by perpetrating an indignity AN N ALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

o n his corpse . They lay in wait for the f u n erz

e ~a c i cort ge near Dundurn , but the mourners s e

t a in ed their intentions , and temporarily buried th

Major by the loch side . Another version o f th

tale is that while the funeral was proceeding 0

a - w hic its way furious snow storm came on , th rendered further progress impossible , and

temporary burial took place . Some months a f tei

’ a n wards the Major s body was disinterred , conveyed with all possible reve rence and r esp ec

to the old chapel of Dundurn .

is w t On the right hand there a green knoll , on hi : w g rows a solitary Scotch ﬁr . This latter is kno

l o i‘ as the Gal ows Tree , and tradition says that n

o r r r , more probably , a predecessor , the Stewa ts th Ardvorlich , in the days when they possessed

the" power of pit and gallows , were wont to hang c o r dis aptured enemies , their retainers when they i . s 11 pleased them The tree , however , solitary

. f ] longer A plantation - o young ﬁrs was recent m i t n . ade all over the knoll , and these in course of

will grow up and obscure it . Continuing the wall

in tk a Short time the kennels are passed , where d ogs connected with the shooting on the Ardvo rlic

f a rm Estate are kept , and almost immediately the

h o f F in l en F in n a l en . ouse do g , or g , is reached V I GE E S T E N D S HOWIN G D O O N HI LLA , A , LL .

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

. B u on the promontory as a memorial rosta , however , was a common enough name at an early period . Three most interesting drives or cycle rides m ay be taken after reaching Lochearnhead . The ﬁrst may be through Glen Ogle , in Gaelic Gl ea nn

’ 7 O lzu ill l g , meaning the awful g en , from the general desolation , and the wild storm s which often sweep down it . This narrow pass was compared by the late "ueen Victoria to the K yber Pass in

Afghanistan . I t is between three and four miles in length , with a continuous ascent all the way . On each side the frowning mountains seem to hem i n the traveller , making him feel terribly alone and isolated , were it not that high up on the western side the line of communication with the outer world , in a n d the Callander Oban Railway , gives him a sense

o f . security This line , at the time of its construction , was considered a triumph of engineering Skill , and with reason , on account of the excessive steep n ess of the s lope to be negotiated . During winter and spring , after hard frost , danger is continually to b e anticipated owing to large boulders loosened by t he frost having a tendency to roll down on the rail way . To guard against accidents , a su rfaceman c onstantly patrols the line throughout almost the 6 AN N AL S O F ST FI LLAN S . 3

o f th whole length of the glen . At the top e

L La r i glen a pretty little Sheet of water called och g , a or Loch na Lairge , meaning Loch of the Pass , p pears in view . I n the days when fairies and other supernatural beings held revel in the plains and

o r among the mountains , it is said that a kelpie ,

- water horse , had his residence in the bosom of Loch

La r ig . Legend tells us that on one ﬁne summer day ten children were frolicking beside the loch , when they observed a Splendid horse coming out of it . They were instantly seized with the desire to mount him , which they did , and found that his back accommodated the whole ten comfortably . N o sooner had the horse received his burden than he plunged into the depths of the loch . The child at

o ff the hinder end fell , and took home the dismal C tidings of what had befallen his comrades . lose at hand , in a cave among the mountains , a robber

his once took up abode , and levied tribute on all travellers . From here the drive may either be co n tin u ed Do ch a rt r down through Glen to the west , o to Killin , at the head of Loch Tay . Another d a v may be well spent by turning to the

c left at Lo hearnhead , and between three and four miles further on , at Kingshouse , turning to the right , along a very rough road leading to the AN NALS O F S T FILLAN S .

o f village of Balquhidder , not far from the head

Loch Voil . Here , in the ancient churchyard , rest the remains of Rob Roy ; whilst all aro und lie the

u his B raes of Balquhidder , eloq ent with name , with which they will be for all time associated .

o f Instead turning to the right at Kingshouse , i the drive may be pursued straight onwards , pass ng

S o f through trathyre , along the shores Loch ’

' Lu bn a i S B en Ledi . g , under the hadow of classic , and o u - throu-g h the green shades of the Pass of Leny

a nd e to Callander . Another very lovely int resting r o u te b l , y which to reach Callander from St Fi lans

Gl en o in in i s; to good walkers only , through g and w Glen Ar tn ey . The path to be follo ed is past the

' - V t r the farm ho u se o f V e s e Dundurn , near which is

Gl en o in in B ir r a n entrance to g , that glen with The

r lzcin n on the right and M a B , or Ben More , on the

Ar tn e is . left , and after a few miles Glen y entered

f ew Leaving St Fillans by the road to Comrie , a yards beyond the station road , a path leads through a ﬁeld up to the farm of Littleport . Originally the

- farmhouse was a simple white washed cottage , and the farm for many generation s had been tenanted

‘ ’ M VV h a n n el the by a family named , lease descending

o f from father to s o n . The last two tenants the

‘ M Wha n n el - name were M r Thomas , a well known

AN N ALS OF ST FI LLAN S .

- and highly respected man in the district , where he “ ” was universally greeted with the title o f Baron ‘ W M h a n n el so n . , and his H e died shortly before

1 8 0 w a s s o n 4 , and succeeded by his , Duncan , “ ” also known as Baron . H is successor , about

‘ 1 8 M I n t re w ho d 54 , was Mr William y , hel the farm for some years . A nu mber of years ago the cottage w a s demolished , and a substantial modern farm house e rected in its stead . A short d istance east

w a s from the farm , an ancient tomb discovered in

1 808 w a s , which , on being opened , found to contain

- S - a s a curiously shaped pear head , as well the usual charred bones .

o n o f A little further , the old bridge Dundurn i s

i n - passed on the right . This s o e of the old time bridges , consisting of a single arch , rising steeply in

. o n the centre Opposite the bridge , the left , is the “ ” villa known as The Oaks , occupying the site of the old parish church of Dundurn . In front , by the

“ ’ - . o ccu road Side , is a cottage named Casetta I t

- ‘ pies a site where formerly a toll bar stood , casez ta

- being the Spanish for a toll house . About three

o f the quarters a mile further on , on left , a long ,

- curiously shaped boulder lies at the foot o f the hill .

a n tidil u v ia n I t bears a resemblance to some monster , “ ” and for long has been known as The Crocodile . E AN NAL S O F ST FI LLAN S .

To heighten this resemblance , a number of years f t ago , some young men from Crie f , with a few def

' ' o touches of red and white paint , bestowed up n it

n . eyes , and a gaping mouth showi g formidable teeth

O ld In the coaching days , the drivers of the Loch e a r n h ea d coaches were wont to narrate to their passengers that on one occasion this crocodile had chased Rob Roy when he w a s engaged on a ﬁ r st Y ’ footing expedition one N ew ear s morning . N o

’ c a n its light , however , be Shed on the reason for having become petriﬁed , unless the bold outlaw possessed some unknown occult powers , and utilised w them to put an end to its un elcome attentions .

N ot many yards further on , at the base of a long

Slope up to the bridge crossing the railway , is the

t T n reo ch pretty lit le cottage of y , embosomed among

. e trees The name is the Gaelic n /z a F r a oclz, hous f o heath or heather , a much older building being known as such . The place also bore the name o f

“ a s appropriately enough , we now begin

s . a to enter the wood Long ago , a village c lled

M eo v i e was situated here , in the neighbourhood of

o f which the deed revenge , in connection with the tragedy at Ardvorlich , before narrated , is said to

. 1 8 0 have been enacted I n or about 3 , when the .

w a s public road here being altered , the workmen

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S . 67

came upon a number of human skeletons , lying as though recklessly ﬂung together , and , interming led

- o f with the bones , were metal buttons and shreds i clothing . I n all probability , these were the rema ns of the Macgregors hanged by Major Stewart of

- Ardvorlich . N ot far d is tant is a so called Druidical circle , where a large stone cist , containing charred ashes of human bones , was found . The farm of

K in dro cha t , on the south side of the river , reached by a wooden bridge , is passed ; a little further on the B o l tacha n B urn is crossed ; and soon afterwards the

- mansion house of Dunira appears in view . This

- i s the second mansion house . A previous one had

1 been built about the year 793 by Henry Dundas , the

ﬁrst Viscount Melville and Baron Dunira , to whose

' o n C o m r ie Wa s memory the obelisk Dunmore , near ,

1 1 erected in 8 2 . Lord Melville did much to beautify the estate by planting w ood and groves on the hills as well as on the plain . Robert , the second Lord

1 8 2 Melville , sold Dunira in 4 to Sir Robert Dundas ,

. . so n Bart of Beechwood H is , Sir David Dundas ,

1 8 2 - a in 5 , erected the present mansion house , little east from the old one . It is built entirely of Bannockburn freestone , which had to be carted from Greenloaning , that , then , being the nearest w railway station . Sir Robert a s one of the AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

principal Clerks in the Court of Session , and also

Deputy to the Lord Privy Seal in Scotland . H e w a s the ﬁrst B aronet , and was succeeded by his

s o n . 1 8 , Sir David Dundas H e died in 77 , and it is curious to note that he was succeeded in the title and estates by three sons in succession . H i s immediate successor was Sir Sidney J ames , who

2 th 1 0 . died on 4 September , 9 4 H is brother , Charles

- . w a s H enry , succeeded H e a well known and most popular man in Perthshire . An enthusiastic agri culturi st , he ﬁtted up a steading at the H ome Farm , w - a here he reared high class stock , which usually p p ea red high on the list of prize - winners at the prin c ip al agricultural Shows . Sir Charles did not long

2 2 n d enjoy the title and property , as he died on

1 08 N ovember , 9 , and was succeeded by his brother ,

Sir George Whyte Melville Dundas , the present

B aronet . The pedestrian , if fortunate , may catch

D al cho n z ie a train back to St Fillans at Siding , opposite Dunira .

Crossing the w ooden bridge opposite the hotel , a

s ﬁeld will be observed on the left . At one time thi must have been an island , as its southern boundary is still marshy ground , which , when the loch is very

e high , gives another exit to its waters besid s the

v d normal channel o f the river . O erlooking this ﬁel

AN NALS O F ST F ILLAN S .

’ . s in Dragoon Loup I t wasna sae very lang syne , maybe 1 50 years syne . Some dragoons had been

’ sent to help the gaugers , and ane o them had lost

Gl en beich his way up aboot , and gaed to the castle

. s ee C there to speir his way N oo , ye , the hief was

u idw ill s oot , and h ad nae g to dragoons or gauger either , and would be delighted to get ony excuse

- to ill use them , or maybe waur . The wife was

’ m ilk in so oot too , the kye , there was naebody in ] the hoose but the only dochter , who was a wee faured quean . “ hi his The dragoon trotted up s horse , and made

- way in , and , as he was by no means an ill looking w i’ chap , he soon stated his case , and found favour

’ the lass , wha was bakin scones at the time . On his telling her he had had naething to eat since last night , the lass took compassion on him , and butter

’ 0 ed some the scones for him to eat , and he had ’ w disposed o a couple , hen suddenly the auld wife appeared crying to her daughter to bring the milk ,

. f o r wh ich she had forgotten The dochter went it , but warned the dragoon to h ide the buttered

w a . bannocks , for the old lady s a real rudas The dragoon clapped the bannocks in his helmet , and looked as innocent as he could . The auld wife , seeing a stranger there , demanded who he AN N ALS O F ST FILLAN S .

’ w a s s , o he told her he was a King s ofﬁcer and dragoon . ‘ ’ "’ Whaur s yer helmet , then So he brought the S t helmet out from under his hort cloak , and put i on , but , unfortunately , one of the bannocks came down on the run and showed the buttered Side

‘ ’ Y e thieving vagabond , cried the wife , ye r

’ stealing oor bannocks an butter . On my word

’ ’ ’ ye r no blate , but I ll see what my man and sons

’ ’ ’ 0 -a n - will make ye ere ye r half hour aulder , King s

’ ’ ’ man tho ye be . “ Out the old lady went to get assistance . The

~ daughter ran out also , and , knowing the rough

s he the handedness of her parents , besought stranger to mount his horse and make for Po rtmo re

. Off s t t r as fast as he could he e , and shor ly afte

r the Chief and his sons were in full c y after him .

So terriﬁc was the pace , that just as he reached the end of the loch his horse dropped dead under him .

As his pursuers were now near at hand , he waded

C ro chk across the river , and , scrambling up Mbat , came to the big split . The Chief , not far behind , thought he had him now , but , with one mighty d bound , he Cleared the abyss , and disappeare ” among the woods on the other side .

w a s e Such the tale told by the Admiral , but a mor AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

probable version is that which tells that the troo per was a deserter from his regiment , then stationed at

f . his Crie f H e as pursued , and horse being shot somewhere near the Bridge of Dundurn , he saved his own life by rushing up the hill , and making the marvellous leap into safety and obscurity .

Continuing along the path from the wooden bridge , the south road is reached . Between seventy and eighty yards to the east there is a level , grassy piece of land between the road and the rising ground of C ro chk Mbat . This is the spot where the St Fillans H ighland Games were

w a a wont to be held , and long ago it s known s the

’

n . Society s Sta ce Formerly , there was a little gate leading through the fence at the west end o f this

o f piece ground , but it has been removed , though one o f the posts still stands .

’ ’ 1 8 1 ca ll d th I n the year 9 , what was e e St Fillans ” H ighland Society was instituted , for the purpose o f holding various athletic competitions , such as tossing the caber , putting the stone , racing , jump ing , dancing , and also for emulation in the art of playing the bagpipes . This Society included in

o f o f its membership many the nobility , and most the gentry of West Perthshire , who appeared at the annual gathering attired in full H ighland costume .

AN NALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

Fillans . The situation w a s well chosen for the purpose . It forms a kind of amphitheatre , where a large stage was erected to accommodate the ladies and judges . E arly in the morning the company

f " began to assemble . The di ferent Clans ap

ea red the p , descending stupendous mountains for

a ll which the country is so remarkable , dressed in the full H ighland costume , with bagpipes playing in front , and claymores drawn , as they approach ed the ground o f competition . Their appearance was noble and warlike in the extreme ; the diff erent gentlemen appeared to vie with each other in the elegance of the ancient garb and in the athletic ap p ea r a n ce o f their clansmen . They met like H igh S landers , greeting each other with a incere shake

. c of the hand The ompany being assembled , thousands of pedestrians were seen seated in the front of the hill overlooking the stage , and upwards of twenty carriages belonging to different noblemen a nd gentlemen , exhibited in the midst of these sequestered mountains a display of beauty and fashion that would have graced the ball - room o f any metropolis . The ladies were in general dress ed in the tartans of their respective Clans . Many of those present , both on horse and foot , came from a great distance . The signal being given to AN N ALS O F ST FILLAN S . 7 5

commence the sports , the marksmen ﬁred at a target at a considerable distance , and displayed evident proofs of their superior skill . The bagpipes were

o f keenly contested , and exhibited a knowledge s mu ic which had a most interesting effect , favour ed by the S ituation . The Gaelic compositions gave universal satisfaction , excited great interest among the H ighlanders , and reﬂected much honour on the competitors . The foot race took place on Loch

Earn side for one mile , which was gained in grand s tyle ; the winner ran the last half-mile with evident ease in less than two minutes . The sports of the day terminated with a boat race for two m iles o n

w a s Loch Earn , which decided in favour of M r ‘ I ’ M n tyr e s boat . Thereafter the members s a t down to an elegant venison dinner , four deer having been ” presented by Lord Gwydyr . The games o f 1 8 2 4 were visited by Sir Edwin

- Landseer , then a young man of twenty two . H e , along with the painter Leslie , had come north to s ee

e Sir Walter Scott , but , on arrival at Edinburgh , th y

were told that S ir Walter was not at Abbotsford , so they arranged to have a short trip into the High

. . . Tim lands M r J R Aitken , in a recent article in ” Scotsma n on Landseer and Sir Walter , describes ‘ —“ their visit to Lo ch Earn thus They visited Loch AN N ALS OF ST FI LLAN S .

Lomond and Loch Katrine , whence they walked across the hills to Loch Earn to be present at an a nnual gathering of H ighlanders under the patron

f . o n age o Lord Gwydyr In a large rowing boat , a morning fresh and fair , and destined to live long in their memories , they left Lochearnhead for the

o f o ther end of the loch , a distance seven miles or s o , accompanied by a number of H ighlanders , men ,

. As women , and children they rowed down the loch , the rowers amused them with stories of the fairies that inhabited its shores , though the fairies l were fearfully real and serious enough to the subt e .

. t y imaginative Keltic mind Ever and anon , he h sa w the eard the distant sound of bagpipes , and h ills enlivened with parties of H ighlanders in cos

f o r tume , each headed by a piper , and all bound

‘ the place of gathering . This little voyage gave them an entrance to the wonder-w orld of H ighland l its ife , with all native charm , and they never forgot

‘ o f . it . The amusement the games which we after

’ ‘ wards witnessed , they wrote , was nothing to the delight of gliding gently down the Clear smooth l ake with such accompaniments

These events did not pass without incident , and o n e ludicrous tale i s told in Crieff I ts Traditions ” a n s a d d Characters (Second Series) , of a

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

w a attractions by the formation of such , which s deemed all the more nece ssary because there were

v no facilities for any other recreation whate er ,

C . except boating , ﬁshing , or h ill limbing At a public meeting it wa s deﬁnitely resolved to form a

VV ill h Er C . o u b esb Golf lub The then Lord g y de y ,

present Earl of Ancaster , was approached with a

request for a grant of the necessary ground . H e

willingly acceded , and part of the farm of Wester

C rochk Mha t Dundurn , lying between and St Fillans

m o s t s u itabl e - H ill , was deemed the for a nine hole

Au chterlo n ie course . Willie , of St Andrews , laid

w a s 8th o u t the course , which opened on the day of

1 0 i August , 9 3 , by the Countess of Ancaster driv ng

is c m o ff the ﬁrst ball . The course generally o

a ra tiv el p y level , the most sporting hole being the e fourth , where the ball requires to be driv n over a marsh , and up to the summit of a very steep , though not high hill . This course has proved most attractive , and recently a neat little club

- hou se was erected at the starting point . I t has a very rustic and picturesque appearance , with

- - C ro chk its red tiled roof , the oak clad slope of

M h a t forming a sylvan background .

- 600 N ot far distant rises , to a height of feet , the

’ isolated rocky craig known as St Fillan s H ill , the

AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

been miraculously transported thither from I taly . The alleged Shifting of St Fillan ’ s Well may at

once be dism issed as a monkish fable . What is evidently an artiﬁcially built well still exists

near the top of the hill , retaining water even

in the driest summer , and everything points

to this being the original well . I t is not improbable that from this well the garrison o f the

Fort of the Dundurn obtained their daily supply Of

water when hard beset by their enemies . For

’ long the waters o f St Fillan s Well were held in the highest repute for the cure o f various diseases o f o r body m ind , and the well had also great fame a s a Wishing Well . I n the eighteenth cen

tury , however , the belief had gained ground

among some that a Circular depression , then holding water , and lined with stones , situated about two hundred yards south from the foot of the hill , and lying a few feet west from the bank

Gl en o in in of the burn ﬂowing from g , was the true

well , and many quaint ceremonies were wont to be

so to performed round about it , as obtain the full

- est beneﬁt from the s o thought sacred water . The

‘ M Dia rmid Rev . H ugh , minister of Comrie , writing —“ 1 1 : about 79 , says The invalids , whether men ,

r o r women , o children , walk are carried round 8 1 AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

— the well three times in a direction D eisha l that is from east to west , according to the course of the the sun . They also drink of the water and bathe in it . These operations are accounted a certain remedy for various diseases . They are partien l a rl f o n y e ficacious for curing barrenness , which account it is frequently visited by those who are very desirous of offspring . All the invalids throw

’ a white stone on the Saint s cairn , and leave behind them as tokens of their gratitude and conﬁdence some rags o f linen or woollen cloth . The rock on the summit o f the hill formed of itself a chair for m . co the Saint , which still remains Those who plain o f rheumatism in the back must ascend the

o n hill , Sit in this Chair , then lie down their back , and be pulled down by the legs to the bottom of i . s the hill This operation still performed , and is reckoned very eﬂi cacio u s . At the foot o f the hill

i o n o f there is a bas n , made by the Saint the top a w large stone , which seldom ants water even in the greatest drought , and all who are distressed with sore eyes must wash them three times with this water . Considering such heroic measures , it i s quite certain that faith -healing had its prototype even in those days . The stone basin mentioned was built into a dyke near at hand , and cannot now F AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

be found . The depression is now complete] ;

and , to account for the absence of water , it ha

said with a ll sincerity that the above -men burn formerly ﬂowed past the farm -house of V

w a s Dundurn , which thus subject to ﬂooding

w a s avoid this , the burn , further up , diverted its original channel by a large stone emban

s o being built , thus tapping , it is said , the S

of the spring , with the result of drying it up . burn once ﬂowed past the west side of St 1

H ill , but in consequence of being diverted , i

ﬂows past the east side . The real reast Changing the channel was to reclaim the “ ” “ D a l e ak a n th l a nd known as , which means

H b ba Se ti lia l e to ﬂooding , at the western of

By no possible stretch of imagination c a n it I that this burn e ver flowed past Wester Du The very configuration of the ground forbids burn certainly flows not far from the farm but this burn is fed by streams coming dowi

The B ir r a n .

H ow the above - mentioned depression I

' a s is n o w im o s s identiﬁed the sacred well , it p

s a tl y , in view of the fact that the well on

side is the s a m e a s it was centuries ago .

tw o f o f bo t o the oldest natives St Fillans , i mmortalised the Well of St Fillan in The La of the Lake ’

Harp o f the N o rth "that mo u ldering lo n g h ast h u ng ’ ” n the wi h -el m h ha ll O tc t at s des S t F i an s spring . After this invocation the poem proceeds

The a at eve had drun k his ﬁll st g , ’ Where da n ced the mo o n o n M o nan ril l s , A nd deep his midnig ht lair had m ade

‘ ’ ” n I n l o e Gl en a rtney s haz el Sh ade. Monan ’ s rill is identiﬁed as the lower part

“ tr the above burn , which , shadowed among e

‘ meanders peacefully along by the base of St F ill az

H ill . This burn rises near the bothy at the head

Gl en o in in Ar dtro t: g , directly over the hills from s

a s o f and ﬂowing , said , past the eastern base

’ Fillan s H ill , joins the Earn near Easter Dundu

The quantities o f loose stones now forming distinct ramparts , with which the Slopes of

’ Fillan s H ill are covered , indicate that at a rem period th is w a s one o f the fortiﬁed places w which Scotland abounded . I t may be safely a S S l

f re u ei ed that this was the Castle of Dundurn , q “ ” referred to in the Celtic Chronicle , which 68 G mentioned as being besieged in 3 , and where

88 . or Giric , King of the Picts , was slain in 9

' — — t fact , the name Dundurn goes to corroborate

f dar n D u n means a ort, while , when found in pl

promontories stand out clearly . Over the top the surrounding hills the peak of Ben V o rl ich m en ces its to make appearance , becom ing more more majestic the higher one goes . After a a dyke is reached , with a gate , and here the p way p ractically ends . This path we have com i was originally a peat road used by the peat c u t i in the olden times , and led into and through

. is 1: Tarkin N ow , however , it very rough , the ing snows o f countless winters having washed 3 all its surface , leaving the bare rock exposed ,

Choking it up in many places with boulders O shapes and sizes . Beside the gate mentioned convenient resting - place before tackling the re : m the ascent . Far to the west the mighty a s Ben More heaves its rugged shoulders over

Lochearnhead hills , with its more slender twin ,

Ein a n tc , towering gracefully beside it ; while

w ' north Ben La ers , and the other h ills on Loch

o f S CC ] side , present grand examples H ighland

w r H aving rested here for a h ile , and feaste eyes with the sublimities of mountain , moor ,

i s et l loch , the mounta neer may now himse

f i his achieve the nal part of Climb , and i possesses the accomplishmen t known as “ ” - w e heather step , he ill ﬁnd his labours consid AN N ALS O F ST FILLAN S .

a s lightened , in some places here the heather

- is almost waist high . After a toilsome climb the

is m a n iﬁ summit of the hill at last reached , and a g

o n . cent prospect is revealed all sides N orth , west ,

and south , mountain towers over mountain , while to the east glimpses are caught of the valley o f the

Earn , the view only bounded on the far horizon by i the green chain of the O ch l s . I n a hollow will be observed a small mountain tarn . This is Loc h

B o l ta c ha n a n d . , the mountaineer may descend to it

is e is I t about a mile in circumfer nce , and well stock

w . ed ith trout These , however , are very uncertain , and w hile sometimes the angler may ﬁ s h for a whole y da without getting a Single rise , at others he

- - m a v succeed in obtaining a basketful in half a n hour . The most favourable condition under which to ﬁ s h

this loch is during an east wind , with the mist

around . These disadvantages , however , have their “ ” compensations in an u nusually good take . From

B o l tach a n Loch , St Fillans may be reached by de

scending the hill in a southerly direction , which i brings o n e down to the station . If one s desirous

i B l ta ch a n of go ng to Loch o only , this way by the

is station the best , being the shortest , though

steepest .

n o f I f , i stead turning up the mountain road over AN N ALS O F ST F I LLAN S .

Ph u ir tm oi' the railway to ascend , the stranger keeps straight on , he will come eventually into

Glen Tarkin . This is a lovely walk , through sylvan

- dells , in which occasionally a roe deer may be seen

w a ﬂitting along , while a sudden hirr indicates th t a blackcock or pheasant ha s been disturbed .

Squirrels , also , may be seen at play , leaping from w tree to tree . On emerging from the ood the entrance to the glen is faced . Proceeding for

the o f a little over two miles , with huge mass

S rOn Mhor on the left , a boulder of great interest i s found in the centre of a green gentle slope .

This boulder is known a s the Great Stone of Glen

Tarkin , or the Rocking Stone . At one time it

o w uld rock gently to and fro when pushed , but by the action of some natural cause , probably by sink ing deeper in the ground , it has now lost the deli cate equipoise it once had , and stands immoveable

e I as th surrounding heights . ts Circumference at

0 the base i s about 7 feet , but about ten feet further up it is increased to 1 1 0 feet . This forms an almost equal projection all round , under which fully sixty men c a n ﬁnd shelter if necessary . I t has been calculated that the part above ground contains more than cubic feet , and the stone was pronounced by General Sir Ralph Abercromby , at the time he

O F T AN NALS S FILLAN S . 89

w a s to visiting Dunira , and who had been taken see it by Lord Melville , to be the greatest natural

r n curiosity he had ever seen . The ascent o f S O

is . Mhor easy , and well worth the trouble

Several other curious boulders in the immedi a te [

o f . vicinity St Fillans may here be noted Thus ,

w b v o f in the ater the loch side , a little to the west

Al It-a mLF io n n f e w the burn , two stand within a

e yards of each other . One is known by the nam ” a of H eather Jock , from the circumstance that large tuft of heather grows in a crevice o n its top ; the other bears the somew hat suggestive name of “ n ” The Whisky Sto e , and is well known to all h anglers frequenting Loch Earn . The name a s been bestowed upon it from an old belief that n o luck would attend the angler unless a copious draught o f whisky was partaken of each time the stone was passed , or , in other words , a libation poured out (or in) to the god of ﬁshing . Rising up from the bottom of the loch , a few yards from the shore , and almost opposite the villa called

Au ch in do u n e , stands an immense boulder with a

broad , ﬂat top , a little below the surface . This

“ ’ bears the name of the Table Stone , and , from i i the fact that the summ t s usually under water , it

f . is somewhat di ﬁcult to locate When , however , AN N ALS O F ST FI LLAN S .

one sees it , the question immediately arises as how such an immense ro ck i c a m e to be in such “ ” position . I t may be a travelled boulder ,

there after the ice age , but , on the other hand , may have been , as appears to have been the c a m with the other boulders mentioned , simply a a torn from the mountain - side during some V iOl t i convulsion of N ature , and ﬂung with titanic fo

- on to its present resting place .

d B ir ra n To ascen The , it is well ﬁrst to deci I what course is to be followed , by viewing the w from St Fillans . The lo er part of the ascent n o t fﬁ very di cult , but the worst part will be fou

- about half way up . H ere a broad grassy 510]

5 with precipices on each side , runs up the east of the burn . One may either go up the face of t

o r ridge , scramble up through the valley on east side . The top of the ridge having bi

co m a r a tiv reached , the rest of the ascent is p

- ' o n e . s u m easy , if goes in zig zag fashion The of the hill is composed of three small peaks , wh ich the centre one is the highest . The nam e

B ior B ior a n n derived from the Gaelic , , a poi stick , a prickle , a wire , a spit . The B ioran is on e Sharp point , and the name has extended to hill as a whole . I t may appropriately be ca

I N DE ".

B ein n Odhar ,

V rl i h Ben o c ,

B irr a n , The ,

B ishop , M r ,

W . Blake , Rev . J . ,

B o l ta ch a n , Loch ,

Botany ,

B r idge of Dundurn ,

Bridge , Wooden ,

Brown , John ,

n z i v a ir d Burning of Mo e Kirk ,

Callander , b Camp ell , Robert ,

S . Carlisle , George , C armichael , J ames ,

Carmichael , John ,

Casetta ,

Castle or Fort of Dundurn ,

Chapel of Dundurn , f Chapel o Ease ,

l m M a r io te C hesho , ,

Ch isholm , Sir J ames ,

Churches , Old ,

Ch urch , Dundurn Parish , ". I N DE iii .

PAGE .

h I C urch , Memorials , 49 , S

1 1 1 2 ,

1 6 Co pper Beeches ,

r Chk C o Mbat or Cnoc Mhad ,

Crocodile ,

C 20 urling Club ,

D l a k a n a e , 8 2 “ D a rl inv a ra ch Castle , 57

Davie , Andrew , 1 0

1 Derry , 4 , 55

2 Doon H ill , 6 ,

Dragoon Loup , 69

Dundas , Sir Robert , 67

Dundas , Sir David , 6 8

Dundas , Sir Sidney James , 68

Dundas , Sir Charles H enry , 6 8

Dundas , Sir George Whyte Melville , 6 8 6 8 Dundurn , 4 , , 44, 4 5, 49 , 4 6 8 8 Dundurn Easter , , 3, 5

Dundurn M ill , 5

6 8 8 I Dundurn Wester , 4 , 7 ,

Dunira , 67

- I 2 1 2 8 Earn , Loch , , , , 7 5 G i a m l e Ed n p ,

Eildea ch ,

l E der , George ,

Episcopal Church ,

Fe u n a ,

Ferguson , M isses ,

Fillan , St H ill and

l n F i n do g e ,

Fing al , Legend of ,

Fingal , Water of ,

il i so n e Fi nlay Ph p ,

s Fi h ing ,

- F ist Fort ,

in do l en F lood at F g ,

n F o r tren ,

F r ee Church ,

i n F u a rbh e n ,

w ( i a ll o s Tree ,

o Geol gy ,

n Gle Ample ,

Ar tn e Gl e n y ,

G len be ic h ,

L ime Kiln ,

Littleport ,

Lochearnhead ,

r i , Loch La g , or Loch na Lairge

M anor of Loch Earn ,

hl a n s e ,

U amh M e al l nan ,

M eall Rea mh a r ,

M e all S eall a idh ,

l ia ta M ea l l Sy ,

Melville , Lord ,

Menzies , Alexander ,

Menzies , Duncan ,

A. Menzies , M iss Jessie , i M eo v e ,

M ill of Dundurn ,

’ Monan s Rill ,

M o n z iev a ir d Kirk , Burning

Mackay , William ,

‘ I n t re M y , Duncan ,

‘ I n t re M y , J ames ,

‘ r n M La e , Samuel , ‘ b M N a , Captain , IN DE ".

‘ M N a b , Clan ,

‘ M N a u hto n g , John ,

‘ M N ee , John

‘ M VVh a n n el , Baron ,

A . Neilson , M iss Margaret ,

Neish , Clan ,

N eish , James ,

N eish Tragedy ,

Oaks , The ,

Ogle , Glen ,

- Pebble Fort ,

Peddie , Miss ,

Ph u ir tm r O ,

o P rtmore ,

Port , Lands of ,

r Lo ch rn Po t of e e , f Post O fice ,

Railway ,

Rob Roy ,

Rose Cottage , viii . IN DE ".

Sandison , Alexander ,

Sandison Foundation Library ,

School , N ew ,

School , Old ,

Scott , James ,

Seven Golden Candlesticks ,

S h rOn , or Strone , The

Silver , David ,

’ Society s Stance ,

Spit of Dundurn ,

S rOn Mhor ,

St Fillans H ill ,

St Fillans Village , w Ste art , Alexander ,

Stewarts of Ardvorlich , i Stewart , Colonel John , of Ardvorl ch ,

a T ble Stone ,

“ 2 Tarkin , 4 1 7 a 4 1 39 1 4 L 53:

Ti h n ac r a i g g ,

- Tombstones by Loch Side ,

’ Trooper s Loup ,

T n reo ch y ,

ill a n Victoria , "ueen , at St F s ,