GLENMUICK-TULLICH-AND-GLENGAIRN, a parish, in the
district of Kincardine-O'Neil, county
of Aberdeen, 16 miles (W.) from Kincardine O'Neil;
containing, with the village of Ballater, 2118 inhabitants.
The compound GaeUc term Glean-muic, expressive
of "a valley frequented by swine", is supposed to
have been applied to this place from some part of it
having been formerly celebrated for its breed of swine.
The word TuUich is corrupted from tulach, signifying
"rising grounds, or hillocks", and is descriptive of the
vicinity of the village of Tullich. Glengairn is derived
from the three words glean-garbh-amhain, meaning " the
hollow or glen of the rough water", a term properly
applied to the water of Gairn, on account of the rocky
channel through which it pursues its course. The outline
of the parish is very irregular, the length in several
places being eighteen miles and the breadth fifteen miles,
and the average length about fourteen and a half and
the breadth twelve and a half. Glenmuich measures in
average length fifteen miles, from east to west, and five
and a half in breadth; Tullich, fourteen miles in length,
from east to west, and seven miles in breadth; and
Glcngairn, eight miles in length and four in breadth.
They comprise together about 115,'200 acres, of which
3643 are under cultivation, 318.5 in woods and plantations,
and the remainder hills, moss, and moor, affording
pasture, fuel, and game. In most parts the surface
is mountainous and hilly; the small portion under tillage
is chiefly in fertile straths, and on the banks of
the rivers. The lands are watered by the Dee, the
Muick, and the Gairn; the first divides the parish
throughout its whole length, the district of Glenmuick
being nearly all on its southern side, and Tullich and
Glengairn on the northern. There are also several rivulets or burns.
The chief mountains, which are partly in contiguous
parishes, are Lochnager, Cairntaggart, Mountkeen, and
Morven, rising respectively to the height of 3814 feet,
3000 feet, 3126 feet, and 2934 feet. The most considerable
hills are in ranges, varying from 1000 to
2500 feet: that of Culblean, at the east of Tullich, extends
from Morven in a southern direction, for six
miles, as far as the river Dee. From the centre of this,
another range runs westward, along the north bank of
the Dee, to the valley of Gairn; and though interrupted
here, it rises again on the west side of the valley, and
stretches parallel with the Dee to the church of Crathie.
A third chain, on the south side of the Dee, extends in
a line with the former, for about six miles, towards the
west; and after often changing its direction, and bounding
several lochs, it reaches the parish of Crathie and
Braemar at the mountain of Cairntaggart. There are
also some isolated hills, of which that called Craigandarroch,
400 yards north of the church, rises to the height
of 1400 feet, and another, named the Cnoc, a mile west
of the church, attains an elevation of 1150 feet. The
ground rising from the streams, where the ascent is not
too abrupt or rocky, is cultivated to the height of between
100 and 200 feet above the streams.
The wild and romantic mountain scenery of the district
is blended with many beautifully picturesque features,
for which it is much indebted to its rivers and
lakes. The Dee, rising in the mountains of Braemar,
flows into this parish, and on its northern side, about
one mile and a half north-west of the church, receives
the river Gairn, which has passed through the district
of Glengairn; while, half a mile west of the church, on
its southern side, it is joined by the Muick, a stream remarkable
for the beautiful cascade called the Linn of
Muick. It proceeds in an eastern course to Aberdeen,
where it falls into the sea. Among the lochs, that of
Dhuloch, at the south-western extremity of Glenmuick,
is celebrated for its impressive scenery; and its water,
which is deep and cold, derives a sable hue from the
stupendous overhanging cliffs of Craigdhuloch, which
rise on its southern shore above 1000 feet in height.
A mountain rivulet falls into it from a considerable
elevation, over a rock, on the north; and a small stream
called by its own name runs out of it in an eastern
course, forming several cascades, and at the distance of
a mile and a half losing itself in Loch Muick. This lake
is situated in the midst of romantic scenery, and is
closely girt by the mountain of Lochnagar on the north,
and a lofty range of the Grampians on the south and
west. The loch of Cannor, about three miles round,
and lying at the base of Culblean, in the district of
Tullich, is also a beautiful sheet of water, richly ornamented
with birch-wood, and interspersed with small
islands. On one of these islands once stood a fortress,
supposed to have been built as a hunting-seat by Malcolm
Canmore; and not far from the loch is a curious excavation,
called " the Vat" on account of its shape, it
being nearly circular, measuring at the bottom about
twelve feet in diameter, and gradually increasing in size
to the top. A stream falls into "the Vat" from the
height of thirty feet; and the hollow is supposed to have
been gradually wrought by the pebbles driven round it,
for ages, by the rapid and incessant action of the water.
Salmon are found in the rivers; and the lochs are well
stocked with eels, pike, par, and trout.
The SOIL is in general shallow and dry, in some parts
sandy, in others gravelly: the grain chiefly cultivated
is oats and bear, and most kinds of green crops are
raised. The sheep are the black-faced, occasionally
crossed with other sorts; the cattle are the small native
breed, mixed with the Galloway and others. The larger
agriculturists are gradually introducing the rotation
of crops, and other approved usages; the farm-buildings
are tolerably good, and some tracts of waste land
have been trenched, drained, and brought under tillage,
within the last few years. Embanking has also been
carried on to some extent; but the inclosures are still
deficient, and much is yet required to raise the parish to
a level with many of the neighbouring districts. The
annual value of real property in Glenmuich, Tullich,
and Glengairn is £5745. The prevailing rocks are,
primitive limestone, gneiss, and trap, of the first of
which' three quarries are in operation; and these rocks
are frequently intersected with veins of quartz and porphyry.
Granite occurs in numerous boulders; and
ironstone and bog-iron are abundant. The natural
wood consists chiefly of Scotch fir': and the plantations
are of the same wood, mixed with larch, pine, mountain-
ash, and others: plane, elm, and ash are not found
to thrive, except in a few places. The mansion of Birkhall,
built in 1*15, and thoroughly repaired and enlarged
in 1839, is a beautiful residence, romantically situated.
Monaltrie House is a modern structure, in the vicinity
of the village, and has very superior flower and fruit
gardens attached to it.
The inhabitants are engaged chiefly in agriculture;
but many females are employed in flax-spinning and the
knitting of stockings. A post-office in Ballater communicates
daily with Aberdeen; and there is a good
commutation road, on the north side of the Dee, to
Charlestown of Aboyne, where it meets the Aberdeen
turnpike-road. A substantial wooden bridge of four
arches was erected over the Dee in 1834, two excellent
stone bridges having been previously carried away by the
floods, the first in 1799, and the other in 1829: the
present structure was raised at a cost of more than
£2000, defrayed partly by subscription, and partly by
a grant from the Parliamentary Commissioners for
Highland roads and bridges. The farmers usually send
their corn and dairy produce to Aberdeen, and the live
stock to the Scotch or English cattle-markets. Fairs
are held on the first Tuesday in May, O. S., the last
Tuesday in June, the second Monday and Tuesday in
September, O. S., and the Saturday before the 22nd of
November: those in May and September are for the
sale of cattle, horses, sheep, and general wares; that in
June for the sale of wool, and that in November for
hiring servants. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the
presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, synod of Aberdeen, and
in the patronage of the Marquess of Iluntly. The minister's
stipend is £237, with a manse, and a glebe valued
at £7. 10. per annum. The church, built in 179S, is a
neat substantial edifice, with a spire and an excellent
clock; it is situated in the middle of a square in the
village of Ballater, and has accommodation for about
800 persons. A missionary in connexion with the
Established Church officiates in a chapel at Rinloan in
Glengairn, seven miles from Ballater, and, besides the
usual accommodations, receives £60 per annum from
the Royal Bounty Committee. The members of the
Free Church have a place of worship; and there is a
Roman Catholic chapel on Gairnside, five miles distant
from the church, and a second, a very small one, in
another part. The parochial school, situated in Ballater,
affords instruction in the usual branches; the master
has the maximum salary, with a house, and £15 fees,
and participates in the Dick bequest. There is also a
school near the chapel in Glengairn, the master of which,
in addition to accommodations, has £15 per annum from
a bequest by Miss Farquharson. A subscription library
and a savings' bank are kept up in the parish. On the
moor near Culblean are several cairns, said to cover the
graves of those viho fell in flight after the battle of Culblean,
foughjt between the followers of King David Bruce,
and those of Cummin, Earl of Atholl, in 1335. See
Ballater.