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The name Killiecrankie
derives from Coille Chneagaidh meaning Wood of The
Aspen or, because Aspen leaves shimmer, Wood of the
Shimmering. At one time the village of Killiecrankie
was served by a small store, a post office, a petrol
station, a primary school and a railway station. The
area is steeped in history and is popular with walkers,
fishers and anyone intent on spending time in one
of the most beautiful areas in the UK. Killiecrankie
is less than three miles north of the geographical
centre of Scotland at Tigh Na Geat on the road to
Pitlochry.
The Battle of Killiecrankie
was fought on July 28th 1689. The
battle pitched the army of Jacobite supporters of
James VII commanded by Bonnie Dundee, Graham of Claverhouse,
against government forces comprising English, Scottish
and Dutch troops. Surprised by the Jacobite’s
Highland charge from high ground, the government forces
were overwhelmed. Their confusion was exacerbated
by the fact they were unable to fix their new bayonets.
The fact that Bonnie Dundee lost his life in the battle
deprived the Jacobites of his leadership from which
they never really recovered.
The National Trust Centre
at Killiecrankie highlights local history, and flora,
fauna and wildlife. It is also the starting point
for local walks including through the Pass of Killiecrankie
and to Ben Vrackie. The Soldier’s
Leap in the Pass is the point at which one
of the government troops fleeing the Battle of Killiecrankie
is reputed to have leaped for his life. Donald MacBean,
opted to jump 18ft over the River Garry rather than
face the pursuing Jacobite soldiers.
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The four peaks of the Beinn
a’ Ghlo’s north east of Killiecrankie
are all in excess of 3,000 ft (950
m) and qualify as Munros. They are
especially popular with walkers, Munro-baggers in
particular! The mountains were the haunt of a witch
who was portrayed in a poem by MG Lewis …..
Now she flies high - now she flies low - And lights
on the summit of the huge Ben-y-Gloe. ‘In the
latter part of the 16th century and the first part
of the 17th, the Athole area was greatly infested
by witches‘, this according to Dr Marshall in
Historic Scenes from Perthshire. Queen Victoria
visited the foothills of the Beinn a’ Ghlo’s
in 1844 when accompanying her husband, a member of
a shooting party.
Glen Garry plays
a key role in north/south communications, with the
railway line and the old and new A9 roads following
the course of the River Garry through
the Pass of Killiecrankie.
The Garry joins the River Tummel downstream before
it flows into Loch Tummel and through the Pitlochry
Dam before joining the River Tay.
The original A9 road follows a route
pioneered by early engineers, Wade, Telford and Bruce.
Despite the opening of the new A9 trunk road in 1986
between Perth and Inverness, the old road remains
an essential line of communication between Pitlochry,
Killiecrankie and Blair Atholl.
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