Glen Finglas facts for kids
Glen Finglas (which means Gleann Fhionnghlais in Scottish Gaelic) is a beautiful valley, or glen, located in the Trossachs area of Scotland. It's part of the Stirling council area. This area is known for its forests and is found in the Highlands, near the town of Callander. To the west of Glen Finglas, you'll find Loch Katrine, a famous lake.
Long ago, parts of Glen Finglas were a special royal hunting forest. Starting in the 1450s, rules were made to protect this forest. These rules helped make sure there were plenty of deer for the royal hunts.
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Glen Finglas: A Royal Hunting Ground
For hundreds of years, Glen Finglas was a favorite spot for Scottish kings and queens to hunt. It was a place where they could enjoy the outdoors and chase deer.
The Hunt Hall at Tom Buidhe
There's a flat hill called "Tom Buidhe" (which means "the yellow knoll") near the Glen Finglas Reservoir. People believe this is where the first Hunt Hall was built. This hall was a special building for the royal hunting parties. It was first built for King James II in the 1400s.
Royal Visits to Glen Finglas
Many important people in Scottish history visited Glen Finglas:
- King James IV came to the Hunt Hall in July 1492. He returned in August 1505, bringing extra tents and pavilions for his group. He even got fresh dairy products from local women and fish from the Lake of Menteith.
- Mary of Guise, the wife of King James V, hunted here soon after she arrived in Scotland in 1538. She rode from Stirling Castle with six ladies. They came back in September 1539. People had to bring their beds from Stirling and tents from Edinburgh for their comfort.
- Mary, Queen of Scots also visited Glen Finglas for three days in September 1563.
Glen Finglas in Literature
The famous Scottish writer and poet, Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), wrote a poem about this area. It's called "Glenfinlas; or Lord Ronald's Coronach" and was written in 1803.
Glen Finglas Today
The Glenfinglas estate is now owned by the Woodland Trust Scotland. They bought it in 1996. Today, the estate is open to everyone. You can visit and explore the beautiful forests and landscapes.
Artists in Glen Finglas
Glen Finglas has also inspired artists. In the summer of 1853, two famous Victorian artists spent time there.
John Ruskin and John Everett Millais
- John Ruskin (1819–1900) was a very important art critic from the Victorian era.
- John Everett Millais (1829–1896) was a painter from the Pre-Raphaelite group.
They stayed together at Glen Finglas. During this visit, Millais started a painting of John Ruskin. It shows Ruskin in front of a waterfall. Millais finished the painting the next year. This painting is now kept at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It has been shown in many art shows, including one called "The Pre-Raphaelites" in London in 2004.
John Ruskin himself was very interested in the rock formations in Glen Finglas. Even though he was mainly an art critic, he also studied these rocks and drew them.
