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Melville Monument

Standing sentinel over Comrie at the mouth of the glen is the impressive Melville Monument. Built on the peak of Dunmore in 1811 it commemorates the first Lord Melville, Henry Dundas, who was the Chief Minister in Scotland under William Pitt the Younger and who was regarded as the uncrowned King of Scotland. The obelisk is 72 feet in height and when it was struck by lightning in 1894, the steeplejack who repaired it reported that from its top he could see Castle Rock in Edinburgh. Modern visitors have no need to risk life and limb for a good view - even from its base, a magnificent panorama of Strathearn unfolds with the whole range of the Ochil Hills to the south and Loch Earn and its surrounding hills and mountains to the west. Access to the monument can be gained from two points. The first is an energetic climb starting from the lay-by at the top of the hill. The second is a more gentle walk suitable for older legs commencing about a mile further on. Park the car wherever it is safe and convenient to do so and follow the track up the hill slope towards the monument. This route has the advantage of passing a small spring known as the Kinkhoast Well. Kinkhoast is the Scots for whooping cough and sufferers were said to obtain relief by drinking the cold, sparkling water bubbling out of the hillside.

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