BLAIR-ATHOLL, a parish, in the county of Perth,
20 miles (N. by W.) from Dunkeld; containing, with
part of Tenandry quoad sacra parish, 2231 inhabitants.
This place, the name of which in the Gaelic language
signifies "the plain of AthoU ", comprises the four ancient
parishes of Blair, Lude, Kilmaveonaig, and Strowan,
united into one parish in the early part of the seventeenth
century. In the reign of James V., that monarch, with
his mother, and the pope's legate, were entertained at
Blair Castle with great hospitality by the Earl of Atholl,
who, for their diversion, accompanied them in a celebrated
hunt on the north side of the mountain Beinnghlo.
The castle afterwards became the headquarters
of Viscount Dundee, in the memorable campaign of
Killiecrankie, the battle taking place on the fields of
Runrory, on the north side of Girnag mountain. It was,
indeed, frequently occupied as an important military
station, not only during the times of feudal warfare, but
also in the rebellion of 1745 and 1746, when it was garrisoned
with a force of 300 men under the command of Sir
Andrew Agnew, whom the Duke of Cumberland, on his
arrival at Perth, had despatched to take up his quarters
here, and so cut ofi' all communication between the
northern and southern parts of the country. In order
to gain possession of this station, Lord George Murray,
accompanied by several officers of the Highland army,
and with a force of 100 men, was sent to surprise the
castle, which, from its scanty supply of provisions, he
attempted to reduce by famine. With this view, having
made prisoners of all the detached out-posts, he took up
his head-quarters in the village, and closely blockaded
the castle. But after having reduced the garrison to the
last extremity, he suddenly raised the blockade, and returned
to join the Young Pretender's army at Inverness;
and on the following day, the garrison were relieved by
the Earl of Crawford, and received the thanks of the
Duke of Cumberland for their gallant defence.
The PARISH is bounded on the north by the Grampian
hills, and is about thirty miles in length and eighteen
miles in average breadth, comprising 105,000 acres of
hill pasture, 3000 of arable land under cultivation, and
2500 in wood and plantations. The surface is finely
varied with hills and valleys. On both sides of the river
Garry is an extensive and fertile plain, constituting the
vale of Garry, and extending from the pass of Killiecrankie
to Strowan, terminating in hills whose slopes arc
under cultivation, and the summits clothed with heather.
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B L A I
In the Grampian range are several lofty mountains, of
which Beinn-ghlo, Beinn-mheadhonaidh, Beinn-chait,
and Beinn-deirg are the principal; the mountain Beinnghlo,
which stands upon a base many miles in circumference,
presents to view four detached summits, one
having an altitude of 37'20 feet above the level of the sea,
and the others being little inferior in height. The
surface is also diversified with lakes, one of the chief of
which is Loch Garry, near the boundary of the counties
of Perth and Inverness; it is inclosed on all sides by
hills of lofty elevation, and is about six miles in circumference,
abounding with trout of excellent quality.
Loch Tummel is a picturesque sheet of water, four miles
in length and nearly a mile in breadth, tastefully embellished
with an island of artificial formation, on which
are the ruins of a castle, and inclosed with banks richly
cultivated, interspersed with small hamlets. The castle
was built in the time of Robert Bruce, by Duncan the
Gross, founder of the clan Robertson. This lake, also,
abounds with pike and trout of the largest size. The
river Garry issues from the lake of that name, and after
a course of nearly thirty miles, in which it receives the
streams of the Erichkie, Bruar, and Tilt, falls into the
Tummel at the south-eastern extremity of the parish;
the Tummel has its source in Loch Tummel, and urges
its rapid and impetuous course but for a short way
through the parish. The river Tilt, from the loch of
that name, on the summit of the Grampian range,
pursues a course of sixteen miles, and flows into the
Garry at Blair, displaying in its progress a succession of
beautifully picturesque scenery. Almost all the rivers
form interesting cascades. The falls of the Garry, obstructed
in its course by shelving rocks, are peculiarly
interesting; and those of the Tummel are magnificently
grand, from the vast body of water which is precipitated
from rocks clothed to their summits with stately birchtrees.
The Bruar, also, descending from a height of
some hundred feet, forms a succession of cataracts,
rendered still more striking from the beauty of the surrounding
scenery.
The SOIL is various: in the valleys, and on the slopes
of the hills, a light loam or a gravelly soil prevails, and
in the more elevated lauds the mossy soil of the Grampian
range. The chief crops are different kinds of grain,
and turnips, for which latter the soil is well adapted, and
of which considerable quantities are raised. The farmhouses
are generally well built; and considerable improvements
have been made in husbandry, under the
auspices of the AthoU Club, which distributes annual
prizes for the promotion of agriculture and the breed of
stock. The cattle are usually of the black Highland
breed, to the rearing of which great attention is paid;
about I'iOO milch-cows are regularly pastured, and
30,000 sheep are annually fed, all of the black-faced
breed. AthoU "forest", formerly enjoying many privileges,
is partly in the parish, and about 1 '2,000 head of
red deer are found within its limits. The annual value
of real property in the parish is £11,847. The natural
woods are principally oak, ash, birch, alder, and aspen;
and the plantations, which are very extensive, consist of
Scotch firs, spruce, and larch, with lime, elm, and plane
trees, of which there are some very fine specimens in the
park of Blair. The substratum is chiefly limestone,
which forms part of the great vein extending from near
Callender to Braemar, and is quarried for agricultural
B L AI
and other purposes, but not insufficient quantity for the
lands, in consequence of the scarcity of fuel for burning
it. Marble, also, of various colours is abundant, especially
a vein of a green colour, much esteemed for mantelpieces.
Blair Castle, already noticed, the baronial seat of the
Murray family, Dukes of AthoU, is a spacious structure,
supposed to have been erected by John Cumin, of Strathbogie,
who became Earl of AthoU in right of his wife.
In 1750 the building was reduced by taking down two
stories, and converted into a family mansion. It contains
a handsome suite of state apartments, but its castellated
appearance has been lost by the removal of its
turrets. The house is inclosed in a very extensive park,
embellished with ancient timber and thriving plantations;
and the grounds, which are laid out with great
taste, command a rich variety of scenery. Her Majesty
and Prince Albert, on their second visit to Scotland,
spent three weeks at this place, in September, 1844;
the castle was prepared by Lord Glenlyon (now Duke of
AthoU) for Her Majesty's reception, and he introduced to
the royal notice the most remarkable natural features of
the vicinity. Lude House, a spacious modern mansion,
occupies an elevated site, and forms an interesting object
in the scenery of the Garry. Auchleeks is also a handsome
modern mansion, pleasantly situated. A post-office
has been established, which has a daily delivery; and
fairs are held at Blair-AthoU on the 2nd of February for
general traffic, and the third AVednesday in May for
horses and cattle; at Tilt Bridge, on the 25th of June
and the '20th of August (O. S.), for cattle; and at Trinafour,
on the third Tuesday in March (O. S.), for horses,
and the Wednesday in October before the tryst of Falkirk,
for cattle.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Dunkeld,
synod of Perth and Stirling, and in the patronage
of the Duke of AthoU; the minister's stipend is about
£'200, with a manse, and the glebe is valued at £150 per
annum. The parochial church is a handsome and substantial
edifice of modern erection, adapted for 650 persons,
and the churchyard is spacious. A church was
erected in the Strowan district, in 18'29, for a congregation
of 450 persons; and divine service is performed on
two consecutive Sundays at Blair-AthoU, and every third
Sunday at Strowan. The old church of Kilmaveonaig
was rebuilt in 1791, and appropriated as a place of worship
by the Episcopalians. There is also a meeting-house
for Baptists, The parochial school affords education to
about a hundred scholars; the master has a salary of
£34. 4. 4., with about £30 fees, and a house and garden.
There are vestiges of an old religious establishment on
the banks of the Tilt, called Cill Aindreas, consisting
chiefly of sepulchral remains; and in various parts of
the parish are upright stones, the remnants of Druidical
circles, near some of which are traces of ancient cemeteries.
The walls of the church of Lude are also still
remaining.