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Balquhidder

<b>Balquhidder</b>Posted by tiompanGartnafuaran © tiompan
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Added by Rhiannon

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Clach Nan Sul Natural Rock Feature
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Gartnafuaran Cairn(s)
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Puidrac Standing Stone / Menhir
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Wester Auchleskine Cup Marked Stone
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Wester Auchleskine II Cup Marked Stone
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Wester Auchleskine III Cup Marked Stone

Folklore

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Bit of a link here for folklore addicts (just me then): The Reverend Robert Kirk, he of 'The Secret Commonwealth', was a minister here in Balquhidder for 19 years, before he transferred to Aberfoyle. And eventually disappeared into the Other world.
You can read 'The Secret Commonwealth' at the Sacred Texts Archive, here:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/sce/index.htm
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
4th April 2007ce
Edited 11th April 2007ce

Saint Angus really liked it here.
[He] is said to have come to the glen from the eastward, and to have been so much struck with its marvellous beauty that he blessed it. The remains of the stone on which he sat to rest are still visible in the gable of one of the farm buildings at Easter Auchleskine, and the turn of the road is yet called "Beannachadh Aonghais" (Angus's Blessing).
From p83 of JM Gow's (1887)
'Notes in Balquhidder: Saint Angus, curing wells, cup-marked stones, etc',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 21, 1886-7 - link below.

If the building's still there, the stone probably will be too - the OS saw it at NN 5499 2071 when they checked in 1979. "This much weathered stone, locally associated with St Angus, is built into the top of the E gable end of a farm building." (RCAHMS record).

There are lots of other stones with cupmarks or stories in the vicinity (including a rumoured stone circle and a 'stone setting', but the RCAHMS don't seem to think these have much antiquity, when they can be tracked down).
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
4th April 2007ce
Edited 4th April 2007ce

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James Mackintosh Gow's article on 'Notes in Balquhidder: Saint Angus, curing wells, cup-marked stones, etc', in the Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 21, 1886-7.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
4th April 2007ce

Latest posts for Balquhidder

Showing 1-10 of 17 posts. Most recent first | Next 10

Puidrac (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Puidrac</b>Posted by juamei<b>Puidrac</b>Posted by juamei<b>Puidrac</b>Posted by juamei juamei Posted by juamei
16th October 2010ce

Gartnafuaran (Cairn(s)) — Folklore

The beginning of this story is apparently much sillier than the version already posted would hint at. Monty Python style silly. Unfortunately after that it just gets nasty.
A sanguinary encounter once took place between the Maclaurins of Auchleskin and the Buchanans of Leny, arising out of the following circumstance:

At the fair of St. Kessaig held in Kilmahog, in the parish of Callander, one of the Buchanans struck a Maclaurin of weak intellect, on the cheek, with a salmon which he was carrying, and knocked off his bonnet. The latter said he would not dare to repeat the blow at next St. George's fair at Balquhidder.

To that fair the Buchanans went in a strong body, and on their appearance the half witted Maclaurin.. told of what had occurred.. The warning cross was immediately sent through the clan, and every man able to bear arms hastened to the muster.

In their impatience the Maclaurins began the battle before all their force had collected, and were driven from the field, but one of them, seeing his son cut down, turned furiously upon the Buchanans, shouting the war-cry of his tribe ("Craig Tuirc*," the rock of the boar), and his clansmen rallying, became fired with the miri-cath, or madness of battle, rushed after him, fighting desperately.

The Buchanans were slain in great numbers.. [the story carries on as below..]
From p36 of The Scottish Nation, By William Anderson (1863).

*actually says Craig Tuire. But they mean Craig Tuirc.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
8th May 2007ce

Gartnafuaran (Cairn(s)) — Images

<b>Gartnafuaran</b>Posted by tiompan<b>Gartnafuaran</b>Posted by tiompan<b>Gartnafuaran</b>Posted by tiompan tiompan Posted by tiompan
5th April 2007ce

Wester Auchleskine III (Cup Marked Stone) — Images

<b>Wester Auchleskine III</b>Posted by tiompan<b>Wester Auchleskine III</b>Posted by tiompan<b>Wester Auchleskine III</b>Posted by tiompan tiompan Posted by tiompan
5th April 2007ce
Showing 1-10 of 17 posts. Most recent first | Next 10