CLUNIE, a parish, in the county of Perth, .5 miles
(W. by S.) from Blairgowrie, and 1.5 (N. by E.) from Perth;
containing 763 inhabitants. This place, which is of remote
antiquity, is said to have been the scene of the famous
battle between the Caledonians and the Romans under
Agricola. In a field near the Hill of Gourdie are still
remaining several mounds, in a parallel direction, separated
by trenches of equal length, called the " Steeds
Stalls "; and here the advanced guard of the Caledonian
army is supposed to have been posted to watch the
movements of the Roman army, said to have been encamped
on the plains of Inchtuthill, about two miles to
the south. There are also in several places numerous
cairns and tumuli, which are generally supposed to have
been raised over the bodies of those who fell in the engagement.
On the summit of an eminence to the west
of the loch of Clunie, called the Castle Hill, are some
vestiges of a very ancient structure, said to have been a
summer palace of Kenneth Mc Alpine, King of the Scots.
He conquered the Picts, and united the two kingdoms,
the respective boundaries of which are pointed out by
two immense heaps of stones, one in the north-west, and
the other in the north-east of the parish. The barony
anciently belonged to the see of Dunkeld; and in the
year 1500, an episcopal palace was erected upon the
ruins of a monastery on an island in the loch of Clunie_,
formerly called St. Katherine's island, by Bishop Brown,
who died in 1514. This palace, together with the barony,
now the property of the Earl of Airlie, was granted by
Bishop Crichton about the time of the Reformation to
his brother, Sir Robert Crichton, of EUiock Castle, in the
county of Dumfries, whose son, the Admirable Crichton,
is supposed to have been born here.
The PARISH, which is intersected by an intervening
portion of that of Caputh, is about nine miles in length
and four in extreme breadth, and is supposed to contain
about 8000 acres, of which nearly 3000 are arable, and
the remainder moss, heath, and mountain pasture. Its
surface is mountainous, interspersed with considerable
tracts of low ground, watered by numerous small streams.
The highest of the mountains is Benachally, which in a
clear state of the atmosphere commands extensive and
beautifully varied prospects; on its north side are the
remains of the forest of Clunie, said to have been a royal
forest, and at its base is the loch of Benachally, about a
mile in length and half a mile broad. Higher up among
the hills is the small lake of Lochnachat, which, like the
former, abounds with excellent trout; and about four
mdes to the south is the beautiful loch of Clunie, about
two miles and a half in circumference, and eighty-four
feet in extreme depth. In this lake are found trout from
two to ten pounds in weight, pike from twelve to twentyfour
pounds, and perch and eels of large size and excellent
quality. Near its western shore is the island
whereon the ancient palace was built, the walls of which
are nine feet in thickness; it is in good preservation,
and occasionally the residence of the Earl of Airlie. The
island is a fine verdant plain, embellished with plantations,
among which are some ash, plane, and walnut
trees of venerable growth. It is mostly artificial; and
in addition to the palace, now Clunie Castle, are some
slight remains of an ancient chapel on the isle.
The SOIL is various, and, though light and gravelly in
many parts, produces abundant crops of oats, barley, and
wheat, with peas and potatoes of excellent quality; the
system of agriculture is improved, and the annual value
of real property in the parish is £5706. The plantations
have been greatly increased in extent, and are generally
thriving; they consist chiefly of larch, spruce, and Scotch
firs, and many of the lands previously covered with
heath and furze are now embellished with well-grown
trees. Limestone is found on the lands of Gourdie, and
is wrought for agricultural purposes; there are also
some quarries of freestone and slate. Forneth, a seat in
the parish, on the north-west side of the loch of Clunie,
is beautifully situated on an eminence, at the base of
which the Lunan flows into the lake. Gourdie is a spacious
mansion on high ground a little to the south of the
lake, commanding a rich prospect over tlie surrounding
country. Williamsburgh is the only village of any importance;
the inhabitants are partly employed in handloom
weaving during the winter.
Ecclesiastically the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery of Dunkeld, synod of Perth and Stirling.
The minister's stipend is £173, with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £6 per annum; patrons, the Duke of AthoU
and the Earl of Airlie, alternately. Clunie church, erected
in 1840, at the expense of the heritors, is a handsome
structure in the later English style, with an embattled
tower crowned by turrets at the angles, and contains 600
sittings. A place of worship has been erected in connexion
with the Free Church. The parochial school is
attended by about forty children; the master has a
salary of £34, with a house, and an allowance in lieu of
garden. There is a parochial library, supported by subscription.
On the eastern acclivity of the mountain of
Benachally is a large cavern called the Drop, from the
roof of which water is perpetually dropping; and at the
base of the mountain is a sepulchral cairn, to the south
of which are numerous smaller cairns. To the north of
a hill named Stanley Know is a rising ground called
Gallow Drum; and near the glebe land is another, stjded
Gibbet Know: both are supposed to have been places of
execution during the feudal times.