On the main road between Comrie and Crieff, about a third of the way to Crieff, up on a knoll to the right just where the road bends and twists back on itself, can be seen a needle of monument, not unlike Comrie's Dundas monument. We've always wondered who it is a monument to and how to get to it. Yesterday was just the sort of afternoon to explore. It was in the high 60s, low humidity, with a light breeze and full sun. So we set off with a sketchy idea of how to get there.
On the way, we met a few people who gave us help with directions. One of these was the woman who owns the land on which the monument was built. She's now 86 and almost blind but she's feisty. When we asked her how to get to the monument, she told us and then said "I do hope you're going up there to blow the damned thing up!" Apparently the ruins of an old castle were torn down in order to build "the damned thing" as she put it. She said that after the ruins had been taken down, they were digging down for foundations when they found a burial spot and the skeleton of a young woman. All around her were laid her jewelry and treasured belongings. Nothing is left now except acres of rhododendrons and the monument. It was all uphill to get there but that may the way down easy.
We also met a man who had what he called a Scottish wild cat. I'm pretty sure he didn't mean "wildcat" because this lovely creature surely isn't that. She was a beauty to behold but one small chuck under the chin is all she would allow.Today I'm off with Helen Rae to Edinburgh for the Book Festival. Details tomorrow.
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