Drymen
CountryScotland
Gaelic nameDruiminn
Os grid referenceNS475885
Edinburgh distance49 mi
London distance361 mi
Coordinates56.06496°N 4.45107°W
Civil parishDrymen
Unitary scotlandStirling
Lieutenancy scotlandStirling and Falkirk
Constituency westminsterStirling and Strathallan
Constituency scottish parliamentStirling
Post townGLASGOW
Postcode districtG63
Postcode areaG
Dial code01360
Static image nameThe Square, Drymen.jpg

Drymen (/ˈdrɪmᵻn/; from Scottish Gaelic: Druiminn ˈt̪ɾɯmɪɲ) is a village in the Stirling district of central Scotland. Once a popular stopping place for cattle drovers, it is now favored by visiting tourists given its location near Loch Lomond.[1] The village is centred around a village green, which is an unusual feature in Scottish villages but more common in other parts of the United Kingdom.[2]

Location

Drymen is located west of the Campsie Fells and enjoys views to Dumgoyne on the east and to Loch Lomond on the west. The Queen Elizabeth Forest reaches down to the village edge, and the whole area is part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (the first national park in Scotland).[3]

History

There is remains of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle in the village.[2]

In the 18th and 19th centuries Drymen was used as a stopover point for Highland cattle drovers as they made their way to and from markets in central Scotland.[1]

One mile from Drymen is the ruins of the country house Buchanan Castle, owned by the Duke of Montrose, which was also used as a hospital in World War II, and which housed Nazi senior officer Rudolf Hess. At one time the estate was also home to the seat of Clan Graham.[4]

The Clachan Inn, which was first licensed in 1734 claims to be one of the oldest pubs in Scotland.[5] The first licensee of the inn is said to be Rob Roy MacGregor's sister Mistress Gow.[6]

Village today

Despite the growth in the numbers of villagers commuting to Glasgow to work, there remains an agricultural tradition in the area. Every year, in early summer, an agricultural show is held in the fields around the Endrick Water.[7]

It is often used as an overnight stop for hikers on the West Highland Way, and forms the western end of the Rob Roy Way.[8] There are a couple of pubs and a walkers' shop.

In 2019 planning permission was given for a residential development for over eighty new homes. As part of the development a financial contribution was made for improvements for the local primary school to increase its capacity.[9][10]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Drymen Visitor Guide - Accommodation, Things To Do & More". www.visitscotland.com. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  2. ^ Lomond, Loch & G83 8EG, The Trossachs National Park Authority Carrochan Carrochan Road Balloch. "Drymen & Gartocharn | Towns & villages". Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  3. ^ Ordnance survey (GB)., OS Explorer. 348, Campsie Fells : Kilsyth, Strathblane & Fintry, ISBN 978-0-319-24599-6. OCLC 1109932971
  4. ^
  5. ^ Erskine, Rosalind (2023-03-15). "8 of the oldest pubs in Scotland - including The White Hart and Clachan Inn | Scotsman Food and Drink". foodanddrink.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  6. ^ "History". The Clachan Inn Drymen. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  7. ^ "A great line up of stock on a grey day at Drymen". The Scottish Farmer. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  8. ^ "Rob Roy Way - Long distance walking route.". www.robroyway.com. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  9. ^ Carmichael, Tracy (2019-07-24). "Developers to fund additional Drymen Primary classroom as part of development". dailyrecord. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  10. ^ Now, Scottish Construction. "Green light for 88 new homes in Drymen". Scottish Construction Now. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  11. ^ "Duncan Macfarlan — Friends of Glasgow Necropolis". www.glasgownecropolis.org. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  12. ^ "Miss C. M. Roy". The Times. 2 September 1976. p. 14.
  13. ^ Shrink Rap: "Billy Connolly", 2009