In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Tilt like this:
Glentilt, a glen in Blair Athole parish, N Perthshire, traversed by the Tilt, which, formed by Tarf Water and two other head-streams at an altitude of 1480 feet, runs 13½ miles south-westward, till, after a descent of nearly 1100 feet, it falls into the Garry at Blair Athole village. Flanked along most of its south-eastern side by the huge mass of Bengloe (3671 feet), this glen is distinguished from every other in the Highlands by its straightness, depth, and narrowness, and by the striking contrast of savage wildness at the upper end and the beautiful birch and alder woods at the lower. ...
Marble, grey, white, and green, was discovered here about the year 1818; and to the geologist Glentilt is classic ground, as having towards the close of vast century furnished evidence for the Huttonian or denudation theory. It is interesting, too, as a favourite huntingground of Scottish sovereigns-notably of James V. (1529) and of Queen Mary (1564). And Queen Victoria writes in her Journal (12 Sept. 1844):-' At a little before four o'clock Albert drove me out in the pony phaeton till nearly six-such a drive! Really, to be able to sit in one's pony carriage, and to see such wild, beautiful scenery as we did, the farthest point being only 5 miles from the house, is an immense delight. We drove along Glentilt, through a wood overhanging the river; and as we left the wood, we came upon such a lovely view-Bengloe straight before us, and under these high hills the river Tilt gushing and winding over stones and slates, and the hills and mountains skirted at the bottom with beautiful trees; the whole lit up by the sun; and the air so pure and fine. But no description can at all do it justice, or give an idea of what this drive was. Oh! what can equal the beauties of nature ? What enjoyment there is in them! Albert enjoys it so much; he is in ecstasies here. He has inherited this love for nature from his dear father. We went as far as the Marble Lodge, a keeper's cottage, and came back the same way. ' Once more, in the ' Third Great Expedition, ' on 9 Oct. 1861, the Queen and the Prince Consort, with Prince Louis of Hesse, drove up Glentilt as far as Forest Lodge (8 miles), thence rode on ponies to Bynack Lodge (10 more), and thence again by carriage to Balmoral-in all having travelled 69 miles since starting that same morning from Dalwhinnie.—Ord. Sur., sh. 64, 55, 1874-69.
Tilt through time
Tilt is now part of Perth and Kinross district. Click here for graphs and data of how Perth and Kinross has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Tilt itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Tilt, in Perth and Kinross and Perthshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/26890
Date accessed: 23rd April 2024
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