Loch Freuchie
Loch Freuchie lies in a sheltered location in Glen Quaich behind the tiny settlement of Amulree. There is a pleasant circular walk around the loch, partly on minor road, partly on good tracks (9 miles/14km approx) A shingle beach at the northern end is a good place to picnic and watch the bird life on the loch.
The crannog (man made island) on Loch Freuchie (Fraochie) has an interesting dragon legend.. the story goes that a young man named Fraoch, at the request of the lady Maidh, went to the dragon inhabited island to gather rowan berries. He completed the task and evaded the dragon but the lady insisted that nothing would please her except that he return to her with the uprooted tree. On his second visit he got the tree but awoke the dragon. who, in mortal combat, gnawed off Fraoch's arms and legs.
If you have a head for heights and hairpin bends the nearby hill road through Glen Quaich to Kenmore is a must! Follow the metalled road along the side of the loch and continue over the hills for 10 miles/16km - there are plenty wide and impressive vistas to be enjoyed but careful driving is also called for!
In the early 1800s around 300 crofters left the glen to resettle in Canada. After a three month voyage they colonised the Easthope area of Ontario and named their settlements Amulree and Glenquaich.
Contact
Crieff Tourist Information Centre
Loch Freuchie
by Amulree
Perthshire
PH7
Scotland
Tel: +44 (1764) 652578
Fax: +44 (1764) 655422
E-Mail: criefftic@perthshire.co.uk
