Do y9u believe in Fairies??

We had a wonderful Christmas Day; I think we all received the gifts we wanted and a good bit more. Our grandchildren are now teenagers and they enter into the spirit of giving in a big way, they really spoil us! Our children always have!!!!

After a very late night, the HG and I decided we needed a long walk. Today was said to be the best day for weather, so we headed over to Aberfoyle, and after a coffee in the wool centre, we walked to the Fairy Knowe on Doon Hill. The history is thus:

' ' Reverend Robert Kirk was born in 1644 and is known for his book "The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies" in 1691. In his book Kirk tells stories about folk who had contact to fairies including himself. Kirk also believed that the local Doon Hill was the gateway to the world of the fairies, also described as "The Secret Commonwealth“. The book has been published and can still be purchased in some bookstores or online (ISBN-10: 0486466116).

Reverend Kirk was a former resident of the Old Manse which is situated nearby the Fairy Knowe. The same house is known for the place where Sir Walter Scott wrote his famous poem “The Lady of the Lake“. The old church in Aberfoyle is situated in an area called Kirkton and therefore known as Kirkton Church. The church has 2 mort safes (cast iron coffin) which were used to prevent grave robbing. Body snatchers stole corpses and sold them to doctors and medical students for teaching.

Reverend Kirk died in 1691 of unknown circumstances when he went to Doon Hill during the night and collapsed. Some people found him there and brought him home where he died. It is most likely that he suffered a heart attack. It is said that Reverend Kirk actually didn’t die on the hill but was carried away by the fairies. Thereafter Reverend Kirk appeared as a vision in front of his cousin Graham. He told him that he was not dead and that he would appear at the christening of Graham’s child. For Reverend Kirk it would be the only way to come back to life. When he appeared at the christening, Graham was to throw an iron dagger over Kirk. This would release him from captivity. Graham was too scared though and couldn’t do it. Now it is believed that Reverend Kirk’s soul is still inside the lone Scots Pine tree on Doon Hill.

Besides writing the book about fairies, Kirk is also known as the first person to translate the bible into Gaelic. His walks to Doon hill started usually from the church or The Manse. Doon hill is also known as “Fairy Knowe” or “Dun Sithean”. Locally the fairies have the name “Sithe”. The fairy walk leads to the conical hill which is situated in a relatively flat landscape by Aberfoyle.' '


The trees in the Fairy Knowe are covered in ribbons and all kinds of mementos by the people who go there, some who believe in fairies and some who don't. There was a candle burning when we arrived, and gifts of strawberries, nuts and berries and vegetables could be seen.

But the fairies didn't reveal themselves to us!!