A Story of the Cateran Trail in 100 Objects “ If you’re going to have a story, have a big story, or none at all.” Joseph Campbell Introduction The Cateran Trail is one of Scotland’s great long-distance footpaths. Fully waymarked, its circular 64-miles (103 km) route through Eastern Perthshire and the Angus Glens follows old drove roads and ancient tracks across a varied terrain of farmland, forests and moors. Some of the routes follow those used by the Caterans, the name given to the Highland cattle raiders who were the scourge of Strathardle, Glenshee and Glen Isla from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, and after whom the trail is named. A Story of the Cateran Trail in 100 Objects is the culmination of a project that invited people who live and work around the trail and visitors to propose objects that they believe tell an important part of the story of this area of Scotland through history up to the present. Typically, an object is a material thing that can be seen and touched, but that definition has been broadened to include people, places and landscapes, as well as objects relating to them. Suggestions were collected online through a public campaign over the winter of 2016/2017, and in April 2017, an advisory panel chaired by one of the founders of the Cateran Trail, Bob Ellis, selected the final 100 objects, which are described in this booklet. The project formed part of the launch programme of a bigger initiative called Cateran’s Common Wealth, which is using the Cateran Trail as a stage for a multi-year programme of diverse arts, cultural and heritage activities and events aimed at inspiring people to think about and celebrate our ‘common wealth’. In addition to publishing the final list through this booklet and displaying of some of the objects in Alyth Museum, walks, talks and online resources relating to the history, heritage and archaeology of the Cateran Trail have been developed, including digitised lesson plans designed for primary schools around the Cateran Trail. Cateran Trail Map, courtesy of Perth & Kinross Countryside & Kinross Trust of Perth courtesy Map, Trail Cateran 1 People A Story of the Cateran Trail in 100 Objects The story of a place is also the story of its people, and equally, Alyth Family History Project Ballads and Songs of the Cateran the story of a people is also partly the story of their place. From Open every Sunday from Easter to Trail (various) the settlers who lived in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age Remembrance Day in Alyth Parish The public campaign for suggestions Pitcarmick houses near Glenshee to the fearsome Cateran cattle Church, this remarkable volunteer- as to what should be included in raiders, after whom the trail is named, from Donald Cargill the led archive houses publications and ‘A Story of the Cateran Trail in 100 covenanter to cultural icons Hamish Henderson and Belle and memorabilia from over 150 years, Objects’ attracted a number of entries including 6,500 photographs of local about ballads, songs and tunes from Sheila Stewart, their names and stories are as evocative as the people, schools, businesses, events, the area. Amongst the most famous landscape and places in which they lived, loved and laughed. views and weddings, Parish records is Belle Stewart’s ‘The Berry Fields o’ But as well as the more weel-kent names and faces, there are from 1623–1854, baptismal records Blair’ and ‘The Valley of Strathmore’ by the other less familiar folk whose stories are just as intertwined from the 1900s to the present day, Alyth-born Andy Stewart (former front with the landscape and place as those of their more well-known and 6,500 burial records and man of Silly Wizard and also a member neighbours. Here is the list of people and the objects relating to headstone photographs for Alyth’s of the Stewart family). Also proposed them that were chosen to be part of the final 100. three cemeteries. were ‘The Lass of Glenshee’ and the ‘Braes o’ Mount Blair’, both of which tell poignant love stories; the Reekie Linn dance tune, named after the area’s most dramatic waterfall; and the music of Jimmy Ritchie, known as ‘the Fiddler of Glenshee’, who played with Bobby MacLeod and Jimmy Shand during the period when Scottish dance music reached the peak of its popularity. Alyth Parish Church, home of the Alyth Family Church, Alyth Parish Cooper Clare Project,History photo Photo, courtesy of Christopher Dingwall of Christopher courtesy Photo, Photo courtesy of the Laing Photographic Collection Photographic of the Laing courtesy Photo 5 A Story of the Cateran Trail in 100 Objects Belle and Sheila Stewart Blairgowrie Drunks Cart Chalmers of Morganstoune Clan MacThomas Belle and her daughter Sheila were One of Alyth Museum’s most treasured During the 18th century, a man named Dating back to the 15th century, the Scottish traditional singers and objects, this cart was used to haul Chalmers, who lived at Morganstoune, clan takes its name from a Gaelic storytellers. Their roots were in the drunks off the streets in Blairgowrie at was prepared to protect his property speaking Highlander, known as Scottish Traveller community and both the end of the 19th century. Considering fiercely from the Caterans who plotted Tomaidh Mor (‘Great Tommy’), who were born in the Blairgowrie area. the state of the roads and the wooden to murder him in his sleep. While out settled his kinsman and followers in Famous for their songs and tales from headrest inside the cart, it would not tending his cattle, Chalmers spotted Glenshee. The early chiefs of the Clan the Perthshire berry fields, their artistry have been a comfortable ride! Those some Caterans lying in wait. Pretending MacThomas were seated at the Thom, was made world famous by another found to be drunk and incapable not having seen them, he went about on the east bank of the Shee Water local, Hamish Henderson, a key figure in were sentenced to either a fine of five the rest of his business, but that night opposite the Spittal of Glenshee. This the post-World War II folk revival. shillings or 24 hours in a police cell, and stayed up to beat them at their own location is thought to be the site of the they were named and shamed in the game. Eventually, a Cateran stealthily tomb of the legendary Diarmuid of the local newspaper. tried to enter the house and was killed Fionn mac Cumhaill sagas, with which by Chalmers, who then killed a second Glenshee has so many associations. Cateran. The surviving Caterans crept away and never troubled Chalmers again. Record Cover, the Stewarts of Blair the Stewarts Cover, Record Blairgowrie Drunks Cart, photo Clare Cooper Drunks Cart, Clare Blairgowrie photo Clach na Coileach or Cockstane, the gathering Clach na Coileach or Cockstane, Greig, Kevin by of the Clan McThomas place staneswinames.org Chalmers of Morganstoune by Ian Kirkwood by of Morganstoune Chalmers 7 A Story of the Cateran Trail in 100 Objects Curling Stones Donald McCoull Duff Memorial Church Fionn mac Cumhaill Curling was a popular winter sport As you cross the River Ardle by Born in the parish of Moulin in 1806, The legends of Fionn mac Cumhaill, around the Cateran Trail area whenever Enochdhu, the hillside immediately Alexander Duff was first educated in the famous Irish Giant, and his band the ponds developed sufficiently to the west is known to locals as Cnoc what is now the Kirkmichael Session of warriors, the Fianna, loom large thick ice, which was more common Donald Mor, and one of the streams as House. He went on to St. Andrews in Glenshee. Indeed, new research during 1300–1850 AD when Scotland Donald McCoull’s Burn. Tradition has University where he studied theology, has found evidence that the density experienced the effects of the Little it that ‘Big Donald’ was a notorious before being chosen as the Church of of place names connected to this Ice Age. In the Blairgowrie entry in the sheep rustler in the glen around 1700, Scotland’s first missionary in India. great myth is unprecedented here in Statistical Account of 1795, Rev Mr although for a long time no one could After an initial spell in India, during Scotland. Two ballads in particular James Johnston ended his description track him down. His underground which he had an important part to seem to locate Glenshee in the Fenian of the lakes of the parish with these hideout was eventually given away play in changing and modernising legends. One, ‘Laoidh Dhiarmaid’ (‘The words: “Curling is an exercise at when smoke was seen rising from a the country’s educational system, he Lay of Diarmuid’), tells how Diarmuid, which the inhabitants of this district hole in the ground, where his daughters returned to Scotland, where he rose a colleague of Fionn, dies on Ben excel.” So popular was the game in the were roasting one of the stolen sheep. to become moderator of the Free Gulabin at the head of Glenshee, killed area that when the railway line was As recorded in the Transactions of the Church of Scotland. During further by a boar. Other place names include constructed between Coupar Angus and Gaelic Society of Inverness, there was visits to India, Duff also played a part in Creag nam Brataichean or ‘crag of the Blairgowrie, a special halt for curlers no escape for Donald “…as the circle establishing the University of Calcutta. banners’ and Fèith nan Ceann, now was constructed at the side of Stormont of his foes closed closer and closer The Cateran Trail passes by the Duff known as the farming hamlet Finegand, Loch, complete with platform.