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The Fairy Hill of the Caledonians
Or in Gaelic: Sìdh Chailleann
Aye, there is just that: a fairy hill. It's lying smack in the middle of Scotland (really, truly). And what's more: it's a proper Munro (a mountain over 3000 ft, for more information see separate page).
Let me introduce: Schiehallion. The side of the mountain is really the geographical centre of Scotland and because of its regular shape it was part of a scientific experiment in 1774, during which the mass of the earth (as in the entire planet) was calculated through Schiehallion. Impressive, isn't it?
A fairy well on the mountain flank is believed to have drawn young lassies at Beltane (Gaelic May Day festival), and they danced around it until the sun rose. The first to drink from it was ensured good health and luck all year long.
Grace to the fairies, an illegal whisky distillery that reputedly produced
an exquisite whisky was not detected by the Excise men.
Nowadays, the well is hard to find and the distillery is gone, but don't let that hold you back to visit - or even climb - Schiehallion.
It's an inspirational mountain, for some at least. See this neighbouring loch? That's Loch Tummel, where Lena and Gregory had some fantastic adventures in The Quarterer and the Lengor.
Just one last note. Before Victorian times, Shiehallion was often referred to as the "Maiden's Pap" from the Gaelic Sine (breast) and Chailinn (maiden). Given the shape of the mountain... Aye, it looks like a 1083m-sized...
And I climbed it.
Naughty me.
