Local Folklore By Dirk- Bankhead Farmhouse
Working as the gardener at Bankhead of Alyth gives me a great deal of pleasure. I greatly enjoy the peace and serenity and the views are simply stunning.
When one looks south one sees a range of hills - the Sidlaws. The term sid or sidh is an old word possibly from Pictish times, (the Picts were the aboriginal inhabitants of Scotland) meaning fairies, or referring to a dwelling place of the fairies. These ancient people were believers in another or supernatural world. The word sidh, pronounced shee, can be found in a number of local place names: Glenshee, Shiehallian, etc.
To the southwest, in the Sidlaws you can see Dunsinane Hill, a pre Roman, iron-age hillfort made famous in shakespear's Macbeth.
| The Legend Of King Arthur
Of course, Bankhead itself is situated on the slopes of Barry Hill, which is mentioned in Thomas Mallory's "Morte D'Arthur" (The Death of Arthur), Mordred was reputed to have kidnapped (or she went willingly) Guinevere from King Arthur.
He held her in his fort dating from Pictish iron - age in the Barry Hill (right above Bankhead Farm).
When Arthur took her back he had her torn apart by wild beasts!
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The Barry Hill Iron-Age Fort right above
Bankhead Farm where legend has it that
Guinevere was held. |
There is a mound in the churchyard of the nearby village of Meigle. Here, they say is where Guinevere is buried.
In Meigle museum one can see a Pictish carved stone which depicts someone being ripped apart by animals. This is called the Guinevere stone.
There is such a fascinating history and archaeology to be be discovered in this area. Also, there are so many things to do and see. If you are going out into the countryside you will be spoiled for choice and be taken with the beauty of the land, mountains, lochs, rivers and wildlife to see.
I wouldn't live anywhere else!
Dirk.
(Part Time Gardener Bankhead Farm)
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