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Gilbride's Cave

Loch Rannoch, Aulich, Perthshire.

King Robert the Bruce was in Rannoch on two occasions: on one of which, he gained a victory over the English at Dalchosnie. On another occasion, after sustaining a defeat on the confines of Argyle, he was obliged to conceal himself for a considerable time in Rannoch, at a place, still called after him Seomar an-righ, the King's Hall, a sequestered and beautiful romantic spot on the side of the Tummel, below Crossmount.

Gilbride, or Bredus of the Cave, as he is called in history, also took shelter in Rannoch. Being defeated by the King's troops in his attempts to recover possession of the Isles," he for some time concealed himself till the King's troops should retire, Hence he was called Gilbride of the cave. 'The cave or hiding-place was no other than the north side of Loch Rannoch, where he principally took shelter; and a farm there got its name from the circumstance, Aulich, i.e. Uamh-fhalaich, the hiding-place or cave. [NSA]

Alternative Names: Uamh-fhalaich

Notes: Gillie-Bride (or Ghille-Bhride) translates loosely as Manservant of St Bridget.

The location of the cave is not known. The coordinates given are arbitrary based on the description from the New Statistical Account close to Fuaran Ghille-Bride near Aulich. The cave is elsewhere. [OS background mapping]