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Killin
Killin maps
Historic maps of Killin and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Killin maps
Killin area books
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Memories of Killin
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My First Visit to Scotland
We had for many years spent our holidays in the Lake District, and one day in the office, my secretary said "I know you love the lakes, but have you never thought of venturing across the border to Scotland?". I had to admit we hadn't, but there and then decided to perhaps plan the next year's holiday in Scotland - and that was when we discovered Killin, in Perthshire. We rented a cottage in the village overlooking the Falls of Dochart, a cosy wee cottage for my husband and I together with my parents. It was heaven! A friendly village, a good hotel a stone's throw away, where we could have excellent food, good walks, and many interesting places to visit, Callender of 'Dr Finlay' fame, and not too far to the awesome vale of Glencoe. Our first visit was the beginning of our 'love affair' with Scotland, and many visits followed.
Perthshire memories
The name of the hotel was The Munro Hotel, after the owner who built it. It's now called The Munro Inn.
A Child's Paradise
I stayed here when I was nine. I have fond memories of it, together with the hotel dog who fell in love with me - we would go for walks across the luscious green fields together.
Across the road was the railway station where I met every train and there were loads of local places of interest - the Falls of Leny, Oban, Rob Roy's grave at Balquidder.
And it was 56 years ago!
McLaren High School,Callander
I was eight years old when I became a pupil at McLaren High School. The Rector was a fine gentleman who wore a tail coat and striped trousers. His name was Mr Leckie. We also had a janitor who wore a uniform and had an impressive row of WW1 medals. My time there was pleasant, I was not an outstanding pupil but I struggled along! Callander was a very pleasant town and the jumping off spot to The Trossachs which was well known for the Lochs and scenery. Today, it is hard to remember what it was like, so great have been the changes, and as far as McLaren High is concerned, there is now a new,very large building and a large pupil population. I have returned once to attend a Former Pupil Reunion, but it is not the same and there are fewer and fewer of us remaining from the 'forties'.
Invertrossachs.
My grandfather, Norman Cockburn, worked on the estate of Invertrossachs for Sir James and Lady Wilson. Grandpa had three children, Mary, Jessie & Norman. They all attended McClaren High School. My grandmother Jane is buried in the "new cemetery" on the outskirts of town. I have so many childhood memories of Callander. I was brought up in Glasgow, but we always took Sunday drives to Callander. After moving to the USA, I visited Scotland many times and introduced my family to Callander and Invertrossachs. My Aunt Mary had her 80th birthday and I brought her to Invertrossachs to stay overnight at the "big house" which had become a hotel. Oh, we have such fond memories of Callander.
Inversnaid Hotel
We stayed here last year and what a wonderful location it is once we got to the end of the Aberfoyle road! We had a room over the open porch with would have been used to unload the guests from horse drawn carriages in the past. One year later I discovered that my great grandfather died at the very same hotel in 1878 - spooky.
Memories of A 7 Year Old to A 16 Year Old - 1937 to 1946
We arrived from Sorbie on a cold and wet November afternoon in 1937. The house was empty as our furniture had not yet arrived. However within the hour the lorry (truck) that contained our belongings arrived from Sorbie with my brother as well, who had gone along as a helper. My mother was horrified at the condition of the house and was near to tears, but the truck was unloaded, furniture and belongings were placed and fires were lit. We slept rough that night. The following day my father went to see the Manager of the Mill with a list of repairs that were in need of immediate attention and action was promised. True to his word, the following day, workmen descended on the house and were in and out, leaving the outside doors open to the bitterly cold air - plumber, carpenter, painter and others. Finally all was completed and we could settle down. I must digress for a moment. Deanston was a company village owned by James... Read more
