Schiehallion Mountain

Schiehallion, whose name means either 'the Maiden's Pap' or the 'Seat of the Caledonian Fairies' or the 'Fairy Hill of the Caledonians', is one of the most romantic and interesting mountains in all of Scotland. On the east side of the mountain lies the Maiden's Well, where on the first of May, the girls from local villages would dance and drink to bring health and good fortune for the year to come. Schiehallion also has place in scientific history, as it was on its slopes that an attempt was made to measure the mass of the earth using the displacement of a pendulum, by the then Astronomer-Royal, Nevil Maskelyne. Schiehallion Mountain was chosen for this purpose due to its isolation and conical shape. Coincidentally, many calculations to work out the absolute geographical centre of Scotland arrive at spots very close to this hill. Among those helping Maskelyne was William Mason who invented the contour line. Mason gave his name to the 'Mason-Dixon Line' which marked the boundary of the northern and southern states of America.

'There is a famous cave at the foot of Schiehallion where, tradition has it, fairies loved to dwell. There, it is said mortals from time to time dwelt among them, and interesting stories are told of the strange ways in which they were rescued from their power. Behind Schiehallion, again, on Creag Chionneachan, is one of the spots where the old Fingalian warriors were supposed to lie on their elbows awaiting the third blast of the horn that is to raise them to life again. From ' A Higland Parish or the History of Fortingall' by Alexander Stewart 1928.'

.Schiehallion (3,547 feet)- i.e. the hill of the Daoine Shi or the Fairies' Hill. If all the tales one hears related by old natives of Rannoch could be fully relied on, Schiehallion in days of yore used to be a favourite resort of the fairy folks, and more especially once a year, when all the various tribes throughout Glenlyon, Rannoch, Strathtummel, etc. congregated. Here they used to assemble in large numbers and hold their annual convocation, presided over by the beautiful and accomplished Queen Mab, gorgeously arrayed in her favourite green silk robes, with her abundant crop of beautiful golden-yellow hair waving in long ringlets over her shoulder down to her waist. It is said that there are a long series of mysterious caves, extending from one side of the mountain to the other.' From 'Rambles in Breadalbane' by Malcolm Ferguson 1891.

Schiehallion is often called the Fairy Hill of the Caledonians and has long been associated with enchantment and the supernatural: A phantom dog has been seen wandering the lower slopes Water spirits are rumoured to inhabit the rivers, waterfalls and lochans of the area Schiehallion is also home to a (ruined) holy well that is said to have healing powers - visitors on Beltane would leave offerings to the fairies Allegedly, Occult groups still use Schiehallion for their ceremonies.

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