And reach’d that torrent’s sounding shore
Which, daughter of three mighty lakes,
From Vennachar in silver breaks.
The road passes all along the shores of Loch Vennachar, and where at the end there lies a meadow, embraced on the far side by the Finlas Water, we are at another classic spot, for this is Lanrick Mead, the meeting-place of the Macgregor clansmen. We can see very well why it should have been chosen, for it guards at its narrowest part the pass, and anyone approaching from the Callander—i.e., the Doune or Stirling direction—would be easily stopped, though it would be possible for men to come along the south side of Lochs Vennachar and Achray. The mead also commands the approach from the south via Aberfoyle, and any body of men coming down the hill on this side would be full in view. After this we arrive at the Brig o’ Turk, a small bridge over the Finlas Water. It was close by here, at a few huts marking Duncraggan, that Malise delivered up the cross to Angus. But he had done his work well.
The fisherman forsook the strand,
The swarthy smith took dirk and brand;
With changèd cheer the mower blithe
Left in the half-cut swathe the scythe;
The herds without a keeper stray’d,
The plough was in mid-furrow staid,