Heritage

Arnprior Glen is one of the least disturbed or modified of the old red sandstone gorge woodlands in the area. It has a mixture of deciduous trees largely dominated by ash, elm and oak with an understorey of hazel and gean. The ground flora is rich in places and thrives in a variety of habitats from dry ledges underneath sandstone cliffs to the damp slopes of the gorge. Some firs were planted over 50 years ago and this has reduced the quality of the ground flora; other planting has filled in what could have been better left as natural glades. The general approach is to leave the woodland unmanaged but there may be a need to control the number of roe deer which can prevent natural regeneration. The Glen is not easy to walk through but there were paths once upon a time. Even in 1866 it was noted that the walks had been allowed to disappear.

The farmland and woodland hide a lot of Arnprior’s history. Arnprior Castle was held by the Menzies family during the reign of James IV (1488-1513) and later by John Buchanan. It was located in the field south of the Mill and close to the edge of Arnprior Glen. The remains were still visible in 1796 but have long since disappeared. Hidden away in woodland is Keir Knowe of Arnmore, the remains of an earthwork that dates back to Norman times. Mounds of this type are also known as mottes and supported castles of wood and later of stone. They were characteristic of the feudal system that existed in the reign of King David I (1124-63). Something that is still visible is the prominent brick tower structure on the east boundary of Arnprior which is a late 18th century dovecot.

Arnprior in Ontario was named after our village by George and Andrew Buchanan who emigrated from here to Canada in 1831.

A click on this picture will take you to two pages about local geology. You can see geology close-up by following the Highland Boundary Fault trail at Aberfoyle.