Around Crieff and Strathearn by Colin Mayall

According to the schoolmaster for Monzie in the Statistical Account of 1793 the good citizens of that Parish “went in fear of their lives from the Highland drovers who broke into their houses, forcibly billeting themselves and often carried off part of the house hold goods and removed the potatoes from their fields”.

It was under the control and patronage of the Earl of Perth who held a Court for the purpose of regulating disputes and keeping order. The Market was held in the second week of October. The highland drovers often continued southwards offering their services to the dealers for one shilling a day for the southern trip and returning at their own expense. There were then 30,000 beasts being sold for 30,000 guineas. ‘Mackey’s Journey though Scotland’ published in 1723 recalls his visit to the Tryst. This, coupled with easy access for the buyers from the south, promoted the town. The large numbers from Argyll and the islands made their way by Rannoch Moor, Glen Dochart and Lochs Tay and Earn to Crieff. The Sma’ Glen was the traditional route from the north, cattle from the north east (Aberdeenshire) came down Strath Tay, or from Blairgowrie and Alyth, converging at Dunkeld and heading west up Strath Bran to Amulree and then down to Crieff. Crieff was chosen as the venue for the yearly fair for mainly geographic reasons.

Around Crieff and Strathearn by Colin Mayall