Tour Glen Lyon
Map Of This Location

Simply called "The Glen " by locals, Glen Lyon ( Glen of Polished Water ) is often proudly proclaimed as the most beautiful glen in the whole of Scotland. It was known in ancient times as Gleann Fasach - The Deserted Glen, and by the first Scots as Glelann Cam Clachan - The Crooked Glen of Stones. Later it became known as Gleann Abhainn Dubh - Glen of the Black River. Up the glen, at Bridge of Balgie stands the mighty Ben Lawers, Perthshire's highest and most fascinating mountain, home to a world-beating selection of alpine flowers. The magnificent mountain overlooks Scotland's largest loch, Loch Tay, on whose eastern shores lies the picturesque village of Kenmore.

Glen Lyon is one of the most famous, yet rarely visited glens in all of the Highlands, Glen Lyon is also one of the longest, at least for a mountain cul-de-sac as opposed to a long rift valley. It opens from the Appin of Dull, at Fortingall, and extends 25 miles westwards, roughly parallel with Loch Tay to the south. Just past Loch Lyon, it merges into a high pass which leads to the head of Glen Orchy.

Throughout that long distance it winds in wild beauty amongst ever more solitary peaks, and varies as much in character, as in width and height. Indeed, its constant variety, between gentle beauty and fierce grandeur, is part of the great attraction of Glen Lyon.

West from the village of Fortingall, only a mile up the glen, is MacGregor's Leap, where in 1565, the Chief of the landless Greglach made an incredible leap across the river chasm when pursued by Campbell Bloodhounds. Two miles further up, there are a series of spectacular waterfalls, as the Allt Da-gohb rushes down to the floor of the glen.

At the next hamlet, Innerwick, there is the 18th century Glen Lyon Parish Church. But the hub of the glen is a little farther on, at Bridge of Balgie. Here the road forks, one branch turning south-westwards to climb steeply over the shoulder of Ben Lawers to Loch Tay. The other road continues up the glen, climbing to avoid the lands of Meggernie Castle, a fine late 16th century structure, whitewashed and set amidst ancient trees. It was built by Cailean Gorach, or Mad Colin Campbell in 1580, who amongst other exploits abducted the Countess of Erroll and held her there. Another lady is said to haunt Meggernie. She was the wife of a Menzies laird, who murdered her in a fit of jealously, and then cut up her body into halves for better disposal. Perhaps for the best, it her upper half which haunts the castle.

Three miles on, the Glen Lyon road passes Loch Cashlie where, at the side of the road are a group of cairns and what appears to be an ancient earth-house. As the head of the glen is neared, or at least the road-end, the scenery becomes more bleak and treeless. Beyond rear the mountains of, Ben Achallader and Heasgarnich, and ranging to the south the fierce contours of the Tarmachan mountains.

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