Fascinating Gartmore

Gartmore is a pretty little village that has preserved much of its former state. It sits along the old Dryman Road, nestled against the edge of the beautiful woodlands of the Loch Ard Forest.

But there is a curious nature to Gartmore village, a community which has no more then 200 homes and 400 residents, it lies at a rather close proximity to the highland boundary fault. 2004 saw the last written account of an earthquake taking place recording 4.5 on the Richter scale. No-one was affected, but it is certainly a curious position for a village. The highland boundary fault is a geological fault which separates the two greatly diverse physiographic regions which are: the Highlands and the Midland Valley.

Today, with many of the properties still in existence as they were so many years ago, it is hard not to be affected by the immense history that still lies in many of the details so visibly delightful. In particular is the grand Gartmore House which dates back to the early eighteenth century and resides just over one and a half kilometers to the north. It was here that the renowned Graham of Gartmore and his family, descendants of the royal household of King Robert II, lived most of their lives in grace and solitude. This royal standing within Gartmore house, however, came to a sudden close through Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, a well known traveler, author, politician who in the 1900 gave up ownership to the estate allowing the historical family Graham of Gartmore house to be purchased by the esteemed shipping magnate, Sir Charles Cayzer. An erected Cairn once had its place on Castlehill of Dumbarton now lies in memory on the village green of Gartmore in remembrance of Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham.

1902, however, would see Sir Charles Cayzer do extensive renovations to Gartmore House, a forerun to an approved school and a training centre for a religious American group. Sir Charles Cayzer would also be a great force in ending the previously accepted practice of taking Glasgow’s shame of underprivileged and orphaned children and adults out into the local farms and cottages to live their lives out.

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