Killin Loch Tay and Finlarig Castle

Killin                

About 22 miles / 30 minutes from Callander (unless you stop for the view at GlenOgle on the way)

Shops at Killin

Antique shop, Art shop, cafes etc. Grocer and Co-op minimarket. Occasional chip shop

Things to do around Killin

• Call in at the Folklore centre by the Dochart Falls in the restored watermill which houses the 'Healing Stones of St Fillan'.
• Go boating or fishing on the river Lochay.
• Bask in the sun??? by the famous Falls of Dochart.
• Investigate the centuries old burial ground of the Clan McNab on the island by the waterfall.
• Drive up GlenLochay and over the mountain pass to GlenLyon.
• Exhaust yourself with a glut of mountain walks to suit all levels of fitness.

The Falls of Dochart

Approaching Killin from the west the main road crosses a narrow stone built bridge which is in itself quite beautiful. But park the car and walk back to the bridge and the setting is absolutely stunning, The bridge is built over a narrow defile through whish the river Dochart passes in a torrent via a deep pool beloved of fisherman, (hence the pub - the salmon lie). Above the bridge is a spectacular series of waterfalls where when the water is not too high, visitors and locals alike sit on the rocks among the falls to soak in the scene and the sound.

Strangely enough, when the river is in full spate, the falls lose some of their impact as the sheer volume of water passing down the river simply drowns the falls but emerges from the downstream side of the bridge in a solid jet of yellow mud stained water.

Finlarig Castle 

Drive east through Killin, and 400 yds past the Killin hotel you will see a bridge on the right over the river. Cross the bridge and in 250 yds, on the left, you'll see a wooded knoll. The Castle is on the knoll. The picture shows the castle near the end of the 19th c before the present neglect allowed it to fall into ruin..

Finlarig was built in the early 1600s  by Black Duncan of GlenOrchy, probably the most feared of the acquisitious Campbell clan. He also built a chapel where the ruins of the mausoleum stand to the east of the castle on the mound. The mausoleum was built by the Campbells ( of Breadalbane) in the early 1800s. If you walk up to the castle, then face towards the mausoleum ruins, you'll see two gravestones side by side to the left. These stones mark the resting place of the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane - the last of the Campbell line and descendants of Black Duncan - who built this castle and the first mausoleum (also in ruins) behind the graves. (Don't miss the beheading pit to the north side of the castle - grizzly!)

Facts:

• Take care these ruins are dangerous
• Built 1620's by Black Duncan of the cowl
• Two towers, passage past cellars to kitchen
• Beheading pit with beheading block lies behind castle (to north)
• Ruined Mausoleum  built by Black Duncan of Clan Campbell circa 1620
• The Castle in the photo on the right is Barcaldine castle near Oban which was also built by Black Duncan. Finlarig was built to the same plan was probably of similar appearance.

Loch Tay

Loch tay is about 15 miles in length and is the main source of the river Tay which flows to the north sea via Kenmore, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld and Perth where it meets salt water. The Tay is a well known fishery for both trout and salmon.

Loch Tay is fed by two main rivers, the Dochart and the Lochay, both of which enter the loch at Killin. At one time the short branch line from the Callander to Oban line came down to Loch Tay where the old track bed may still be seen. There was a pier at the station where a steamer once took the traveller down the loch to Kenmore where a short carriage ride allowed the journey to continue from Aberfeldy by train.

The area to the immediate north of the loch reveals many rocks carrying 'cup and ring' marks, evidence of the existence of early occupants of this area.
The hills to the north of Loch Tay include the Tarmachan range, among which is Ben Lawers with its Nature reserve with rare Alpine plants and information centre. The road to Ben Lawers continues over the hill to Glen Lyon. A walk among these hills will reveal many traces of the sheilings where the farm wives and children once spent the summers months caring for the cattle on the sweet mountain pastures. There are now very few farms here since the highland clearances made way for the 'four legged highlanders - sheep.

Watersports on Loch Tay

At Killin, Fishing is available on the rivers Lochay and Dochart, permits in the newsagen and hotels shop. Boats can be hired on the loch.  Canadian canoes may also be hired from the sports shop near the Maclaren centre.

Kenmore at the east end of the loch is the place to have a cruise on the loch, and half a mile from Kenmore on the south side is the Croft na Caber watersports centre where a large range of water based activities may be experienced.

Walking and Hill walking.

Killin is a marvelous centre for all forms of walking, everything from gentle riverside or abandoned railway track bed to the very best of hill walking on Ben Lawers and the Tarmachan range and ben More and Stob-binnian a little way to the west.

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