Town Features

The Black Watch Monument, Aberfeldy

Close by Wade’s Bridge in Aberfeldy stands the Black Watch Monument. It takes the form of a massive cairn topped with a statue of Private Farquhar Shaw dressed in the original uniform of the Black Watch Regiment.

In the wake of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion, companies of trustworthy Highlanders were raised from loyal clans. They became known as the ’Black Watch’ for the watch they kept on the Highlands and from their dark government tartan. In 1739 King George II authorised the companies be formed into a regiment of foot, "the men to be natives of that country, and none other to be taken". That same year they held their first regimental parade on the banks of the River Tay at Aberfeldy, on what is now part of the Golf course.

The monument was unveiled in 1887 by the Marquis of Breadalbane to commemorate the first muster of the Regiment in May 1740. The muster took place on the Weem Cow Park on the north bank of the River Tay, in the Parish

THIS CAIRN IS ERECTED BY GRATEFUL AND ADMIRING COUNTRYMEN
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER AT TAYBRIDGE
IN OCTOBER 1739

OF THE SIX INDEPENDANT COMPANIES AFTERWARDS INCREASED TO TEN

OF THE "FREICEADAN DUBH" OR BLACK WATCH

WHO AFTER SERVING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE HIGHLANDS
WERE EMBODIED INTO A REGIMENT DESIGNATED THE 43rd AND AFTERWARDS
THE 42nd ROYAL HIGHLANDER WHOSE FIRST MUSTER TOOK PLACE IN MAY 1740 NEAR TAYBRIDGE AND ALSO IN RECOGNITION OF THE VALOUR AND PATRIOTISM WHICH HAVE EVER SINCE DISTINGUISHED THE SOLDIERS OF THIS CORPS DURING ITS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IN MANY LANDS
A.D. 1887

The Beach at Kenmore

Sitting in the heart of Breadalbane (Braghad Albainn in Gaelic), Loch Tay is Scotland's sixth largest loch, stretching from Killin in the west to Kenmore in the east. Although fed principally by the River Dochart, numerous burns spill into Loch Tay from the mountains dominating its northern and southern shores, lands which were historically known as Disher and Toyer.

At the very eastern end of Loch Tay at Kenmore is a beach that has both sand and shingle. It shelves very gently, so in the summer the water really warms up as it is trapped by the prevailing winds. It is a popular spot for bathing, so launching of boats is not permitted.

Limekiln in Pitlochry

An interesting garden feature in the garden of a private house in Tom-na-moan Road is an old Limekiln. Probably dating from the 19th century when it was discovered that using lime on the acid Highland agricultural land increased the yield by as much as three fold. As a result of this discovery, Limekilns sprang up all over the Highlands, as local outcrops of lime were quarried and heated with coal and then slaked with water to convert the lime into a powder for application to the land.

The rocks of lime and coal were poured in at the top in the ratio 5 parts lime to one of coal. The burnt lime was drawn from the flues at the bottom of the kiln with long handled shovels and put on carts for transport back to the fields.

Please note this is a private garden and no access is possible.

Pitlochry Wildlife Garden

Since the Wildlife Garden was created in 1999, it has matured into a colourful and interesting haven for plants and wildlife. From the first flowering of the snowdrops and wild daffodils in spring until well after the early frosts of October and November, there is always something to see.
Observe the butterflies and insects attracted to the Buddleia bushes and lupines’ in Butterfly border or some of the many birds who regularly feast on the seeds on the bird table. (Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Great Tits and Siskins to name a few). Visitors even include a pair of Mallards who are habitually seen devouring the pond weed in the pond.

Pitlochry Salmon Ladder

The fish ladder was specially constructed at the Pitlochry Dam and Power Station (built between 1947 and 1951) to allow the fish to by-pass the 86.5m high dam to get to their spawning beds upstream. The ladder is 310 metres long and consists of 34 chambers, linked together by tunnels that the salmon can swim through. It enables around 5,000 salmon to return to their spawning grounds each year - a journey of over 5,000 miles usually undertaken between April and late September. There is an observation chamber where you might see salmon swimming (autumn is usually the best time).

The Scottish Hydro Electric Visitor Centre and fish pass observation chamber are open between April and October, Monday to Friday, and at weekends during July, August and Bank Holidays, 10.00am to 5.30pm. It features some interactive exhibits and displays about the history of hydro-power generation in Scotland and also tells the ‘Salmon Story’ through computer and video technology.

Picture copyright Adrian Beaumont and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.