Las Ramblas Ramblers: May 2013

Las Ramblas head into Perthshire for a Bimble to the De'ils Cauldron in Comrie.

Carole King had hoped to join us but took fright at the amount of Seismic activity in the area, she sent this little ditty so we could whistle while we walk.

Gillian, Alison, June, Marion, Bruce, Neil, Linda, Sam, Alfie, Avril, Garry, Ryan & Wilf are joined in the Shaky Toun by Geraldine.

Before we set of let's check in with Sean for a quick Weather Report.

"Well Las Ramblas Light Showers in the morning giving way to a very pleasant day for a saunter "

Comrie sits at the confluence of three rivers. The River Ruchill and The River Lednock are both tributaries of the Earn , which itself eventually feeds into the Tay . The name Comrie is of Gaelic origin and is derived from the Gaelic word conruith meaning 'a place where rivers meet' or 'confluence'. Due to its position astride the Highland Boundary Fault it has historically experienced frequent earthquakes and Comrie is now nicknamed the 'Shaky Toun. In the 1830s, around 7,300 tremors were recorded and today Comrie remains one of the most geologically active areas in the United Kingdom and records earthquakes more often, and to a higher intensity, than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Comrie became the site of one of the world's first seismometers in 1840.

The village's position on the Highland Boundary Fault is unique. To the north of the village, Ben Chonzie and the Grampian Mountains rise majestically, while to the south of the village wide and open moorland is joined by lesser mountains and glens which provide a unique range of terrain and ecology.

There is significant evidence of prehistoric habitation of the area, characterised by numerous standing stones and archeological remains, which give some insight into the original Pictish and later Celtic societies.

In 79AD the Roman General Agricola chose what are now the outskirts of Comrie as the site to build a fort and temporary marching camp, because of the area's strategic position on the southern fringe of the Highlands. The fort is one of the lines of so-called "Glen blocking" forts which runs from Drumquhassle to Stracathro and includes the legionary fortress of Inchtuthil.

A granite obelisk atop Dùn Mòr to the north commemorates Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. This monument is reached via a woodland trail through wooded Glen Lednock in which is to be found the Slocha'n Donish or De'ils Caldron. The trail begins in the village, at Laggan Park and ascends through a native forest of pines, oak, elm, ash rowan, alder and beech to Glen Lednock. Via The Shaky Bridge (although the original shaky bridge was replaced with a decidedly less shaky successor) the hiker is greeted with a splendid view of Glen Lednock, a truly highland landscape where a single lane road leads higher to Glen Lednock Reservoir and the Munro, Ben Chonzie. From here Dùn Mòr and the Monument are easily reached, offering unparalleled views across Strathearn and further west to the central highlands. A swift descent (or ascent depending on route chosen) leads through a long, steep, wooded gorge which contains the impressive Deil's Cauldron. Here the river has cut a high, cascading waterfall in the surrounding rock, with pools below resembling a boiling cauldron. It is said that a water-elf, Uris-chidh resides here and attempts to lure victims into the treacherous waters. Following the path down a lesser companion to the great falls, The Wee Cauldron which offers a calmer view of the river. Following the path through the forest eventually returns the walker to the village.