IT is said by some to be a magical place, where those gifted with second sight can find a door to an otherworld home to elves, sprites and nature spirits.
The Fairy Knowe of Doon Hill in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, has been revered as a place of pilgrimage by those looking for a little lucky pixie dust ever since it was mentioned in a book by the celebrated 17th-century folklorist Reverend Robert Kirk.
But now the tranquility of the (super)natural beauty spot has been shattered by an unearthly row after years’ worth of tokens and mementoes left by well-wishers were taken away – and not by the fairies.
Instead, mundane forestry workers have been revealed to be the culprits after clearing up the area and restricting the placing of keepsakes – locally known as “clouties” – to one particular tree.
Belief in faries was once widespread in Scotland
The clean-up was discovered by Scottish writer and investigator on the supernatural, Ron Halliday, on a recent visit to the hill.
Where in years past it was a gaily-decorated site festooned with small statues of fairies, ribbons and personal messages, it has now been largely made pristine, save for the Scots Pine said hold the mystical portal.
Mr Halliday criticised the Forestry Commission – now known as Forestry and Land Scotland – saying it was guilty of an act of “gross insensitivity”, which had disturbed the magical feel of the site.
READ MORE: Scotland's 25 best-loved trees
But the organisation stressed the importance of any mementoes left being “bio-degradable” and their need to protect wildlife and the environment.
The Fairy Tree as it looked a few months ago - Pic: James Allan/Geograph
Mr Halliday said: “On a recent visit to the fairy mound I was shocked and disappointed to discover that the myriad of ribbons and other hangings that have for years decorated the site had been completely removed with the result that the whole mystic ambience of the area had been destroyed.
“What we have now is a single tree with a rope round to enforce control over where people can place messages.
“The worst aspect of this arbitrary clear out is that many personal messages and prayers left by visitors have simply disappeared.”
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The fairy mound at Aberfoyle was brought to prominence by Reverend Kirk in his book The Secret Commonwealth, which set down folk beliefs he encountered on his travels across the Highlands.
Reverend Kirk, who was himself a believer in fairies and claimed to have seen them at the Knowe, was the first person to translate the Scottish metrical psalms into Gaelic and lived at the foot of Doon Hill.
His book set down stories of ghosts, spirits and witchcraft told by the people he encountered, and recorded folk beliefs which have all but died out today.
In The Secret Commonwealth, he wrote: “These Siths or Fairies they call Sleagh Maith or the Good People […] are said to be of middle nature between Man and Angel, as were Daemons thought to be of old; of intelligent fluidous Spirits, and light changeable bodies (lyke those called Astral) somewhat of the nature of a condensed cloud, and best seen in twilight.
“These bodies be so pliable through the subtlety of Spirits that agitate them, that they can make them appear or disappear at pleasure.”
Reverend Kirk was unable to publish the book before he died, passing away in mysterious fashion after a visit to Doon Hill in 1692 when he was only 47-years-old.
READ MORE: Book review - The Secret Commonwealth Of Elves, Fauns And Fairies, by Robert Kirk
The clergyman was known to take an evening walk to the mound to get some fresh air before bedtime, and was found in his nightgown one morning having presumably collapsed on the way back down.
This led to the legend that the fairyfolk had been angered by their secrets being revealed by his book and had spirited him away to serve as their chaplain, leaving a changeling corpse in his place.
The tree as it appeared last month
Mr Halliday, author of several books on the occult including, Famous Scots and the Supernatural, Scotland’s X-Files and The A-Z of Paranormal Scotland, added: “This historic site commemorates the world-famous legend of writer the Reverend Robert Kirk’s encounter with nature spirits, which the Forestry Commission had no right to reduce to a managed space
“It belongs to the people and that fact seems to have been ignored.”
A spokesman for Forestry and Land Scotland said: “We appreciate that the Fairy Knowe is a place of special significance to lots of people and we do what we can to keep the place special.
“Unfortunately, some of the mementoes left are inappropriate or non-biodegradable and may need to be removed from the site to protect the wildlife and environment for all
visitors.
"We have not recently had to carried out removal of material and if this becomes necessary we have agreed to work with local groups in the Aberfoyle community.”
He added: “The large Scots Pine on Doon Hill glade has a rope around its trunk to promote the leaving of biodegradable “clouties” at the site. We have found that without this damage has occurred to the trees and bushes.
“We are happy for people to continue to leave mementos, but must advise that offerings are bio-degradable such that nature can run its course.”
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