No
climbing is required in this, the easiest of the Barr routes. The trail
follows the delightful Water of Gregg up the valley to the Howe of Laggan,
passing through mature woodland as far as Kirstie's Cairn.
Christopher
McTaggart (Kirstie to his friends and family) a nineteen year old shepherd
lad set out on January 11th 1913 in a raging blizzard to care for his
sheep. Later
that day he was found dying by his twin brother David and two friends.
Their efforts to restore heat to his frozen body were in vain. He died
fifteen minutes later. With such weather they were unable to carry his
body back. Kirstie's faithful dog "Wag" refused to leave his master.
The following day between twenty and thirty men set out for the Howe of
Laggan to bring back the body of their friend. At Kirstie's funeral the
Reverend John Angus charged the young men of the village to raise a memorial
to the young shepherd and this they did by building a cairn a few yards
from the spot where he died.
Returning walkers should look out for roe deer and amongst our feathered
friends long-tailed tits, jays, siskins and bullfinches.
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