Uamh Mhor, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

“The one where Ailsa Gray didn’t read my text” or “the one where Ailsa got stuck in a snowdrift.”

[Ailsa: “and almost died, Shuna!”]

Ailsa was all ready for a little saunter to Annat followed by a bagel and coffee. The reality was a 6 hour walk up to Uamh Mhor (Uamvar). You did say you wanted to go there, Ailsa!

[Ryk: “This looks like it’s straight out of Tolkien!”]

Uamh Mhor is a rocky outcrop used as a hideout for bandits and robbers – including Rob Roy. None of the photos can do this place justice! Cannot say this enough. It is hidden high on a steep hillside – took us a while to find it – and has so many nooks and crannies that could easily hide up here while observing the entire landscape below . You can see the world from Uamh Mhor but the world cannot see you.

There were some interesting snowdrifts to overcome and we did have a few comedy(?) moments in what could be described as tricky terrain. The views take in the carse of Stirling with the Touch hills in the background, then further west is Aberfoyle/Menteith, Callander and a Loch Venachar in view and Brackland in the foreground, continuing round to Ben Ledi, Glen Artney and the mountains of Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich. A great place for cattle rustlers to hide out and Jacobites hiding from Red Coats. A great day…. — with Ailsa Gray.

Author

Shu Shee

Shuna Mayes lives in Dunblane, Scotland well within hiking, biking or kayaking distance of every locale where a Stewart of Balquhidder once lived. She enjoys getting outside with her camera and capturing sights that we would never have access to without her generosity and enthusiasm. Shuna has traced her ancestry to an 18th century soldier named James Stewart, who is genetically linked to our clan, but remains frustratingly elusive in his exact relationship.
View all posts

Authors List

Shu Shee

Contributing writer

Shuna Mayes lives in Dunblane, Scotland well within hiking, biking or kayaking distance of every locale where a Stewart of Balquhidder once lived. She enjoys getting outside with her camera and capturing sights that we would never have access to without her generosity and enthusiasm. Shuna has traced her ancestry to an 18th century soldier named James Stewart, who is genetically linked to our clan, but remains frustratingly elusive in his exact relationship.

Muckle Kate Ferguson

Stories of Muckle Kate Ferguson (nee Stewart) Below are four stories of Muckle Kate Ferguson (1798-1872), known as "the fattest woman in Britain." She was proprietor of Ferguson's Inn, known in the Gaelic as Tigh Mhaide, located at Brig o' Turk at the foot of Glen...

AI-generated image of of n 18th century schoolhouse

The Catholic Jacobite School at Torry

The Catholic Jacobite School at Torry Extracts from “Education in the Parish of Callander for Four Centuries. Published 1908 by D. Ferguson, Callander Stationers and Printers. The Catholic Jacobite School in Kilmadock In 1735 much perturbation was caused to the stern...

arial view of the village of Callander, Scotland

The Battle of Callander (1646)

The Battle of Callander This article was originally posted on Callander Heritage. Reposted with permission. 1646 was the fifth and final year of the First English Civil War. In February 1646, during the campaigns of Montrose, a battle was fought at Callander between...