Bairdstravel dayout June 2008
LOCH EARN
Loch Earn, in west Perthshire, is a beautiful ribbon of water hemmed in by trees and steep hillsides. The loch is just over 6 miles/10km long and said to be much deeper in places than the officially recorded depth of 287feet. The name Earn means `Irish` and it is known that early settlers in the area originated from Ireland. The loch lies within the scenic Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and is bordered by the high peaks of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin to the south and the dramatic pass of Glen Ogle to the north west.
The main A85 runs west from the resort village of St Fillans along the north shore of the loch while a quieter road (perfect for cycling) runs along the south shore. Both roads hug the shoreline and there are plenty of opportunities to get close to the water and a number of small shingle beaches.
In the fearsome winter of 1894/5 the loch froze over and a grand bonspiel (curling match) was held. Nowadays Loch Earn is popular with waterskiers, sailors and other watersports enthusiasts and, in April each year, the Great Loch Earn Race is held. This colourful charity event attracts many teams who race the length of the loch in rowing boats.
STOPPED FOR LUNCH AT THE FOUR SEASONS ST FILLANS
CRIEFF
Crieff is the main town of Strathearn, lying on the southern edge of the Scottish Highlands. It is a holiday resort and the second largest town in Perthshire with a population of almost 6000. James Square with its fountain marks the centre of the town.
Crieff is strategically situated with the towns of Comrie, St Fillans and Lochearnhead to the west, Glen Eagles, Auchterarder, Braco, Dunning and Muthill to the south and Perth to its east.
Halfway between Comrie and Crieff a tall hill-top monument was raised in memory of Sir David Baird and his eventful military career
Sir David Baird (1757-1829) was born in East Lothian. In 1779 while serving as a captain in India he took part in the 2nd Mysore War. At the Battle of Polilur in 1780, a Britsh force of 4000 was defeated and almost totally destroyed. Baird was wounded and captured. He was taken to Srirangapatnam where he spent almost 4 years chained in a dreadful cell in awful conditions.
Once free again, Baird got his revenge during the 4th Mysore War. Major-General Baird, as he had become, commanded the final assault on Srirangapatnam. In fact he was given this role because of his treatment there and to the annoyance and exclusion of Arthur Wellesley, future Duke of Wellington.
Baird went on to command an expedition of Indian troups against the French in Egypt in 1801. In 1804 his military contributions to the Empire earned him his knighthood. He went on to take the Cape in South Africa from the Dutch in 1806. At Corunna in 1809 he lost an arm.
LOCALS