Lady Mary's Walk : Who was Lady Mary ?

        


Lady Mary's Walk : Who Was Lady Mary ?

It is  one of Strathearn's  most popular  walks . Lady  Mary's Walk runs  from near  MacRosty Park along the Turret Burn and then eastwards  along the banks  of the Earn . Choices  abound and  you can cross over  what  was  the old Crieff - Comrie railway line and  back towards Crieff. Beautiful and spectacular changing  by the season and renowned for its  variety of wild life . 

The following is extracted from Porteous “ The History of Crieff “ published in 1912.

"In September of this year (1859) the tenants of the ground beside the Turret below the Bridge of Turret made an endeavour to close the road leading by the banks of the river to Lady Mary’s Walk. Happily this selfish attempt was frustrated. Lady Mary’s Walk runs for about a mile westwards from “ Ling a wing ” along the banks of the Earn. It was formed about the year 1815 by Sir Peter or Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre and being a favourite walk of his daughter Lady Mary Murray became known by her name. Miss Margaret Wright in her journal mentions that, on the 12th May 1815, she went “ a little way on the new walk by the waterside. Made by Sir Peter. It must be delightful ” Miss Wright in these last words expresses feelings confirmed by every native of Crieff, and every visitor to Crieff during well – nigh the last hundred years. It is however to be regretted that the peaceful amenity of the walk has been somewhat spoilt by the close proximity of the Comrie Railway which runs parallel to it, and the jarring rattle of the occasional train detracts from the true enjoyment of the peaceful surroundings, erstwhile broken only by the gentle murmur of the river. In 1859 Sir William Keith Murray erected a number seats along the walk, and the present baronet has also endeavoured to render it still more attractive. "



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