The beauties of Strathearn have often been pictured by writers of
poetry and prose, but without reaching the head of Strathearn these
beauties can be only partially seen. The drive from Crieff to
Lochearnhead in a summer day is universally regarded as one of the
finest in all Scotland. To within a mile or so of St. Fillans the road
resembles one long avenue stretching along the base of the Grampians.
The scenery is unequalled for its mixture of grandeur and beauty.
There you have the rough, rugged hills of the Highlands combined with
the cultivated plains of the Lowlands, and waving woods, affording an
air of warmth and freshness to the landscape. The great storm of 1893
has, indeed, laid low many of our finest plantations and marred the
beauty of our scenery. Turleum Wood, which used to wave its shaggy
head so high, is now laid prostrate, and appears to the eye what its
Celtic name implies--_tor lom_, a bare hill. And yet, as far as
appearance and scenery are concerned, there are few places which can as
well afford to part with some of its trees as the head of Strathearn.
Comrie is best known to the public generally by its earthquakes, and as
a quiet summer resort, with sequestered walks over hills and dales and
along the banks of flowing streams. But to the botanist, the
geologist, the antiquarian, and the lover of ancient legend and
historic incident there is, besides all this, something to awaken
interest and engage attention. The number and variety of plants is
very considerable. Slate is the predominant rock, but there are also
limestone, whin, the old red sandstone, and granite. At one time there
were two slate quarries wrought on the Aberuchill Hills, but for the
last twenty years they have been closed. A lime quarry on Lochearnside
in former times supplied the whole district with material for lime, but
carriage, labour, and fuel have become so expensive, that both builders
and farmers find it more economical to get lime ready for use from the
south. There is granite in Glenlednock, and as the railway has now
been extended to the village from Crieff, it is possible that some day
it may be a source of industry to the inhabitants. In several places
in the district of which we write there are traces of what are supposed
to be Druidical remains. One cannot help regretting that the old
Druids should have confined the knowledge of their religion to their
own order, and that they should have left so few traces of their
mystical rites to posterity, except what may be gathered from rude
stones scattered here and there throughout the country. On the plain
of Tullybannocher, and near the east lodge of Dunira, there are several
standing-stones, which antiquarians believe to be the remains of
Druidical circles. On the plain of Dalginross, also, near the junction
of the manse road with the public road, there are three large stones,
supposed to be the remains of a Druidical temple. One of these, about
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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