Glen Mark facts for kids
Glen Mark is a beautiful valley, also called a glen, located in northern Angus, eastern Scotland. A river called the Water of Mark flows through this glen. Near the start of the glen, at a place called Auchronie, the Water of Mark joins another river, the Water of Lee. Together, they form the River North Esk. This river then flows through Glen Esk, which is one of the famous Five Glens of Angus. The land in Glen Mark is looked after by the Dalhousie estate.
Mount Keen: A Mountain Adventure
Glen Mark is a popular starting point for hikers who want to climb Mount Keen. Mount Keen is a mountain that offers great views. Walkers usually begin their journey at a car park in Auchronie. They follow the path along the glen until they reach Glenmark Cottage. From there, the path goes up the northern side of the glen, past a peak called Couternach. The path then continues to climb higher until it reaches the top of Mount Keen.
Queen's Well: A Royal Visit
In 1861, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, who owned Balmoral Castle, loved exploring the mountain paths nearby. They rode about 15 miles (24 km) from Balmoral to Glen Mark. There, they met with Lord Dalhousie next to a special well. This well was an artesian well, which means water flows out of it naturally from underground.
The Queen and Prince Albert drank the refreshing water from the well. Afterward, they continued their journey to Invermark Lodge, where they stayed for the night. To remember this special visit, Lord Dalhousie built a monument over the well. It was shaped like a royal crown. An inscription on the monument tells about their visit:
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- Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, visited this well and drank of its refreshing waters, on the 20th September, 1861, the year of Her Majesty's great sorrow.
It's important to know that drinking from the well today is not recommended. Over the years, many people have thrown coins into it to make wishes. Also, local sheep often visit the area. Because of these reasons, the water is no longer safe to drink.
Balnamoon's Cave: A Rebel's Hideout
James Carnegy-Arbuthnott, who was the Laird of Balnamoon, supported the Jacobite cause. This means he was on the side of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, who wanted to become king. Because of his support, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott was known as the Rebel Laird. He was an officer in a regiment from Angus and helped Prince Charles Edward Stuart.
After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which the Jacobites lost, Balnamoon had to flee. He hid in Glen Esk, where local people helped him. However, he was eventually betrayed by a local minister. He was sent to London for trial but was found not guilty. This happened because of a mistake with his name. In 1745, he had added his wife's family name, Arbuthnott of Findowrie, to his own name, which caused confusion.
While he was being hunted by soldiers, Balnamoon often hid in a secret cave high up in Glen Mark. This cave was very remote and hard to find among the rocks on the mountainside. Because the local people were very loyal and the cave was so well hidden, Balnamoon was able to avoid being caught for a whole year.
