Tidy-up at cemetery
Happy Valley revamp
A little- known Strath cemetery and its surrounding area has been tidied-up so that visitors and locals can once again enjoy the walk up to it and the views it commands.
Known as the Happy Valley, the small graveyard in Comrie was established by the Maclagan family in 1915 following the death of Mary Dalrymple Maclagan, the daughter of David Douglas Maclagan and Mary Louisa Maclagan.
In the late 19th Century, the Maclagan family spent the summer months at Comrie House before building their own house – House of Ross – on the west side of Comrie in 1909.
The Maclagans enjoyed walks and picnics in the area above the Milton on the east side of the village and referred to it as their ‘Happy Valley’.
The site for the graveyard was bought from the family’s close friend, Rev Charles David Robertson Williamson (1853 – 1943).
Father Williamson was well-known in the village for his ministry at St Margaret’s RC Church.
The purchase included a servitude right of roadway six feet wide around the outside of and immediately adjoining the four sides of the ground, and a right of access across the rough road from the Balmuick road.
The Maclagan family graveyard is enclosed by a high stone wall and was originally surrounded by yew trees and planted with rose bushes.
In recent years, the site has become overgrown but the path up to the Happy Valley has been widened and a clearing made so that visitors can again enjoy the panoramic view of the village and its surrounding hills.
A 10-foot wooden cross towers above the Happy Valley and that is once again visible from the main road thanks to the combined effort from locals.
Comrie Community Council was prompted to take action to save the historic site after a member of the public contacted them.
Secretary Tim Lucas explained: “Somebody contacted me to say that they had been walking at the Happy Valley and they used to remember it being in much better condition and what were the community council doing about it? So I went up and had a look.
“A lot of people don’t know about the Happy Valley.”
Martin Robb of nearby Carroglen liaised with St Serf ’s Church, which owns the ground.
He engaged local man Angus Crabbie’s firm, Trees4Scotland, to do the work.
Angus is from Balmuik, which is just up the road from the Happy Valley.
Local stonemason Nigel Bialy has also been engaged to repair the coping stones on the cemetery wall and members of Comrie Men’s Shed are going to make a new sign
The way to the Happy Valley will also be signposted off the main road and further up the track.
Community council chair David Robertson said: “It’s going to once again be a nice place to come and walk, and eventually we hope to put a bench there so people can sit and take advantage of the view.
“The trees have been cleared and you couldn’t ask for a better view overlooking the village.”
Mr Lucas added: “It’s Comrie history and it would have just got lost if we hadn’t done something about it.”