Weem
Weem is a small village which lies about 1 mile north of Aberfeldy, just over General Wade's Bridge. Weem existed as long ago as 1235, pre-dating Aberfeldy by about 500 years. The ancient village was previously known as Bail-a-Chlalchain nan Uamh Kirktoun or Churchtown of Weem. The village was a centre of religious and economic importance.
From the fourteenth century the lands around Weem were part of the extensive possessions of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies
The Weem Hotel is an historic Coaching Inn situated at the foot of Weem Rock and is famous for being the barracks for General Wade’s troops while building the nearby bridge to cross the River Tay in the 18th century.
Weem Wood lies on a steep craggy slope above the village of Weem just to the north-west of Aberfeldy. This ancient woodland is home to many legends of dragons and demons that haunted the cliffs and caves. The walk rises steeply culminating with a fine view at St. David's Well, a hermit's retreat used by St. Cuthbert in the early days of Christianity. St. David, the laird's son from nearby Castle Menzies occupied it later when he took on austere religious life in the fifteenth century.
The wood contains many fine specimen trees planted by the Menzies family in the nineteenth century to provide a spectacular backdrop to the castle and gardens. At this time Perthshire was at the forefront of the renaissance of Scottish forestry with many newly discovered species being introduced from abroad.
In and Around Aberfeldy
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