Dalmally
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Dalmally (
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
: ''Clachan an Dìseirt'' or ''Dail Mhàilidh'') is a village in
Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute (; , ) is one of 32 unitary authority, unitary council areas of Scotland, council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod ...
, Scotland. It is near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station. Former Labour Party leader John Smith was born in Dalmally in 1938. The village is the location of the Craig Lodge Community Family House of Prayer, a
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
retreat house. The charity Scottish International Relief, also known as Mary's Meals, is based in Dalmally. Glenorchy Camanachd, a
shinty Shinty () is a team sport played with sticks and a ball. It is played mainly in the Scottish Highlands and among Highland migrants to the major cities of Scotland. The sport was formerly more widespread in Scotland and even played in Northern ...
team, play their home games in the village at Mart Park.


Historic buildings

Glenorchy Parish Church stands on an island site between the rivers Orchy and Orchy Bheag near the village. The
category A listed building Category, plural categories, may refer to: General uses *Classification, the general act of allocating things to classes/categories Philosophy * Category of being * ''Categories'' (Aristotle) * Category (Kant) * Categories (Peirce) *Category (V ...
, constructed 1810–1811 on the site of at least two earlier churches, is a rare example of an
octagon In geometry, an octagon () is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon. A '' regular octagon'' has Schläfli symbol and can also be constructed as a quasiregular truncated square, t, which alternates two types of edges. A truncated octagon, t is a ...
al plan with adjoining tower. The little-altered, white- harled (roughcast) church has been restored to its original appearance in recent years. The site is probably early Christian in origin, and is associated with
Saint Conan Saint Conan (; 7th century – January 684) was a bishop of the Isle of Man and an Irish missionary. Life Conan is not to be confused with St Conindrius (died 17 November 560), who is said to have been a disciple of St Patrick, Saint Patrick, a ...
. The large churchyard contains examples of medieval grave-slabs in the 'West Highland' style, which may have originally covered the graves of early chiefs of the Clan MacGregor and their relatives. They show warriors in contemporary armour, interlace and other motifs. While there are a few more modern houses, most of the residents' homes are stone cottages. One of the oldest buildings in Dalmally is the house above the station square. It was once rundown and old but has now been restored. Kilchurn Castle, dating from the 15th century and now maintained by Historic Scotland, stands on a peninsula (formerly an island) in Loch Awe, west of the village, and is open to the public in summer. There is a monument to honour
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
poet Duncan Ban MacIntyre in the hills near Dalmally, overlooking Loch Awe. The monument was built following a public subscription in 1859 and was designed by John Thomas Rochead.


History

Dalmally Bridge over the River Orchy was built by Ludovic Picard, an architect who worked for Lord Breadalbane. In 1780–81 he built various edifices at the western end of the Breadalbane Estates: Dalmally Bridge, the Bridge of Awe, which was swept away in 1992, Dalmally Inn, a renovated church, and several other houses in the area. Dalmally Bridge was built to make movements of cattle and troops easier: it was on the military road between Tyndrum and Oban. Since 1780, Dalmally Bridge has been strengthened and repaired. It withstands the force of the river in spate, and is a favourite spot from which to look for trout and salmon. There are four castles on Loch Awe: from north to south, Kilchurn (the best-known), Fraoch Eilean, Innisconnel, and Fincharn. There may also have been a castle near where Castle Farm now stands. There was also a castle at Achallader, at the head of Glen Orchy. The castles on Loch Awe were once served by boats, probably galleys - the island near Innisconnel is Innis-Sea-Rhamach, the island of the six-oared galleys. Kilchurn was built, probably in 1437, by Sir Colin Campbell, the First Laird of Glenurquhay. Fraoch Eilean is a 13th-century hall house with a defensive wall, granted to Gillechrist MacNachdan by Alexander III in 1267. Innisconnel was built by the Campbells of Argyll, then taken by the MacDougalls, and finally granted again to the Campbells by
Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert led Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against Kingdom of Eng ...
, whom they had helped in his battles. Fincharn Castle is probably 13th century. According to legend, soon after it was built it was burned down in a quarrel between rival families, and has never been inhabited since. Only Kilchurn is easily accessible. Fincharn requires permission from the farm, while Fraoch Eilean and Innisconnel need boats.


References


External links


Video footage of St Conan's Holy WellVideo footage of Robert the Bruce's seatVideo footage of Glenorchy Parish Church.Video footage of Dalmally Station.
{{authority control Villages in Argyll and Bute