Editing Callander

{{Short description|Town in Stirling, Scotland}}
{{for|the municipality (township) in Ontario|Callander, Ontario}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                          = Scotland
| coordinates                      = {{coord|56.24403|-4.21446|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference                = NN628079
| official_name                    = Callander
| gaelic_name                      = Calasraid
| population                       = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Callander}}
| population_ref                   = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
| unitary_scotland                 = [[Stirling (district)|Stirling]]
| lieutenancy_scotland             =
| constituency_westminster         = [[Stirling (UK Parliament constituency)|Stirling]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Stirling (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Stirling]]
| post_town                        = CALLANDER
| postcode_district                = FK17
| postcode_area                    = FK
| dial_code                        = 01877
| static_image_name                = Looking_down_Main_Street_in_Callander,_Scotland.jpg
| edinburgh_distance_mi            = 44
| london_distance_mi               = 367 
}}

'''Callander''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|l|ən|d|ər}}; {{langx|gd|Calasraid}}) is a small town in the council area of [[Stirling (district)|Stirling]] in [[Scotland]], situated on the [[River Teith]]. The town is located in the historic [[county]] of [[Perthshire]] and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands.
==Description==
The town serves as the eastern gateway to the [[Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park]], the first National Park in Scotland, and is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Highlands".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst515.html|title=Callander from The Gazetteer for Scotland|website=www.scottish-places.info}}</ref>

Dominating the town to the north are the Callander Crags, a visible part of the [[Highland Boundary Fault]], rising to {{convert|343|m|ft}} at the cairn.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/jsp/map_print.jsp?mapX=263210&mapY=708380&zoomLevel=7&isNI=&mapAction=zoomabs&isGeo=y |title=Ordnance Survey - Callander Crags |access-date=24 March 2008 |archive-date=5 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005005937/http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/jsp/map_print.jsp?mapX=263210&mapY=708380&zoomLevel=7&isNI=&mapAction=zoomabs&isGeo=y |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Ben Ledi]] ({{convert|879|m|ft|disp=comma}}) lies north-west of Callander. Popular local walks include [[Bracklinn Falls]], The Meadows, Callander Crags and the Wood Walks.<ref name="Callander and Local Area walks">{{Cite web|url=http://www.incallander.co.uk/scotland_walking.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627014848/http://www.incallander.co.uk/scotland_walking.htm|url-status=dead|title=Callander and Local Area walks|archivedate=27 June 2007}}</ref> The [[Rob Roy Way]] passes through Callander. The town sits on the [[Trossachs]] [[Bird of Prey]] Trail.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.birdofpreytrail.com/ |title=Trossachs Bird of Prey Trail |access-date=2013-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214051/http://www.birdofpreytrail.com/ |archive-date=2013-10-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The River Teith is formed from the [[confluence]] of two smaller rivers, the [[Garbh Uisge]] (River Leny) and [[Eas Gobhain]] about {{convert|1/3|mi|m|-2}} west of the bridge at Callander.
[[File:Former St. Kessog's Church, Callander, Scotland.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.6|St. Kessog's Church]]
A 19th-century Gothic church stands in the town square, named after Saint [[Kessog]], an Irish missionary who is said to have preached in the area in the sixth century. The church closed in 1985 and between 1990 and 2006 the building, after undergoing substantial interior alterations, was home to a visitor centre and audio-visual attraction telling the story of local outlaw, [[Rob Roy MacGregor]]. The church building was occupied by [[The Clanranald Trust for Scotland]] between 2015 and 2018, but it now lies empty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canmore.org.uk/site/24359|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland |work=CANMORE |title=Callander, Ancaster Square, St Kessog's Church |access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>

Founded in 1892, [[McLaren High School]] educates pupils aged 11 to 18 from a wide catchment area extending as far as [[Killin]], [[Tyndrum]] and [[Inversnaid]].

In 2018 Callander was named Scotland's First Social Enterprise Place,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/callander-named-scotlands-first-social-enterprise-place|title=Callander named Scotland's first Social Enterprise Place - TFN}}</ref> due to the amount of social enterprise activity within the town. This includes Callander Community Hydro Ltd.,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://incallander.co.uk/ccdt_hydro_ltd|title=CCDT Callander Community Hydro Ltd|website=incallander.co.uk}}</ref> a community owned renewable energy project which distributes funds to a variety of local projects.

== Toponym ==
The name ''Callander'' was first recorded, perhaps erroneously, as ''Callander'' in 1238,<ref name="McNiven">{{cite thesis | type=PhD | last=McNiven | first=Peter E. | date=2011 | title=Gaelic place-names and the social history of Gaelic speakers in Medieval Menteith | publisher=University of Glasgow | url=http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2685/1/2011mcnivenphd.pdf}}</ref> and ''Kallandrech'' in 1438,<ref name="McNiven" /> and the etymology is uncertain. [[William J. Watson|William J Watson]] had the derivation as [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] ''Calasraid'', meaning "harbour-street" or "ferry-street" in 1913.<ref name="McNiven" /> By 1926, Watson stated "Callander on Teith…is a transferred name from [[Callendar House|Callander]] near [[Falkirk]]",<ref name="McNiven" /> and indeed, it is probable that from at least the 16th century, ''Callander'' was influenced by that spelling.<ref name="McNiven" /> Early forms with ''Calen-'' may relate to the original name of the estate, which may have straddled the Teith.<ref name="McNiven" /> ''Calendrate'' may have been a subdivision of this estate, and the ''sraid'' element may relate to a [[Roman road]].<ref name="McNiven" />  Some of the early forms contain ''–drate'', which might be Gaelic ''drochaid'' "bridge".<ref name="McNiven" />

''Calender'' may also be of [[Common Brittonic|Brittonic]] origin,<ref name="D. Mills, 2011">A. D. Mills, ''A Dictionary of British Place Names'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v.</ref><ref name="BLITON">{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Alan G. |title=A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence - Guide to the Elements |url=https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary_2019_Edition.pdf |website=Scottish Place Name Society - The Brittonic Language in the Old North |access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> and derived from ''*caleto-dubro-'' ([[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''caled-dŵr''), meaning "hard-water".<ref name="D. Mills, 2011" />  The ''-n-'' in the name ''Callander'' is intrusive.<ref name="BLITON" /> It may originally have been a [[Hydronym|river-name]], perhaps that of the present River Teith.<ref name="D. Mills, 2011" /> A name of the ''Calder'' type,<ref name="BLITON" /> Callander may share an etymology with the [[Clunie Water|Callater Burn]] in [[Aberdeenshire]],<ref name="D. Mills, 2011" /> as well as the English names [[Calder, West Yorkshire|Calder]] in [[West Yorkshire]],<ref name="BLITON" /> and [[Kielder]] in [[Northumberland]].<ref name="BLITON" />

== History ==
A [[Neolithic]] settlement situated south of the river was excavated in 2001 finding evidence of a timber building {{convert|25|m|ft|-1}} in length along with Neolithic pottery.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Barclay |first1=Gordon |last2=Brophy |first2=Kenneth |last3=MacGregor |first3=Gavin |year=2002 |title=A Neolithic building at Claish Farm, near Callander, Stirling Council, Scotland, UK |journal=Antiquity |volume=76 |issue=291 |pages=23–24 |publisher=Antiquity Publications |doi= 10.1017/S0003598X00089675}}</ref> The Auchenlaich Cairn, a Neolithic chambered cairn which at {{convert|322|m|ft}} in length is the longest in Britain, is situated near Keltie Bridge just east of Callander.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Colleen |editor-last=Batey |title=Discovery and Excavation in Scotland: an annual survey of Scottish archaeological discoveries, excavation and fieldwork |publisher=Council for Scottish Archaeology |year=1991 |pages=9 |url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/archiveDownload?t=arch-753-1/dissemination/pdf/1990/1991.pdf |isbn=090135211X |issn=0419-411X }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The remains of an ancient [[Hillforts in Scotland|hillfort]] can be seen at Dunmore overlooking [[Loch Venachar]], near [[Kilmahog]]. This fort was likely a large defended structure visible from some distance and excavations have revealed a well and signs of [[Vitrified fort|vitrified]] stonework.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canmore.org.uk/site/24375|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland |work=CANMORE |title=Dunmore |access-date=26 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="castlesfortsbattles:dunmore_bochastle">{{cite web| url=http://www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk/central_west_scotland/dunmore_hillfort_bochastle_roman_fort.html |title=Dunmore Hillfort and Bochastle Roman Fort |access-date=26 April 2018}}</ref> Nearby, the remains of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] ramparts constructed during the campaigns of [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola]] in the first century AD are visible at Bochastle Farm.<ref name="castlesfortsbattles:dunmore_bochastle" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incallander.co.uk/trossachshistory.htm |title=A History of Callander The Trossachs, Scotland |access-date=1 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926190316/http://www.incallander.co.uk/trossachshistory.htm | archive-date=26 September 2013}}</ref>

Saint [[Kessog]], a disciple of [[Columba]] of Iona, preached and taught in this area in the early sixth century. A small mound by the River Teith is named in pseudo-Gaelic as "Tom na Chessaig", meaning "the Hill of Kessog". This man-made mound is circular with a level top approximately {{convert|10|m|ft|-1}} in diameter. It is reputed to have been constructed as a memorial to the Saint or even to be the remains of Callander's original church (situated close to the old graveyard). The structure has actually been identified as a medieval [[motte]], although no excavation has confirmed this. Historians record that an annual market called "Feill ma Chessaig" (festival of Kessog) was held here until the early 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canmore.org.uk/site/24331 |title=Tom Na Chisaig - Canmore |access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="incallander_hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.incallander.co.uk/trossachshistory.htm |title=A History of Callander The Trossachs, Scotland |access-date=11 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926190316/http://www.incallander.co.uk/trossachshistory.htm |archive-date=26 September 2013}}</ref>

A medieval tower house, Callander Castle, once stood south of the river, which is said to have been "a square tower of considerable height". This belonged to the Livingstons of [[Callendar House]] near [[Falkirk]]. The only remains of the castle are some masonry and a possible [[datestone]] inscribed 1596, which is now incorporated within the old St Kessog's Manse on the same site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canmore.org.uk/site/24376|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland |work=CANMORE |title=Callander Castle |access-date=26 April 2018}}</ref>

In 1645, during the campaigns of [[James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose|Montrose]], a battle was fought at Callander between the [[Clan Campbell|Campbells]] of [[Argyll]] and the Atholl men. The Campbells were harassing the [[Clan Gregor|McGregors]] and the [[Clan Macnab|McNabs]] for their allegiance to Montrose. While besieging Castle Ample, the news came of the advance of 700 Atholl men under Inchbrakie. A retreat was made southwards, but, as the Campbells were crossing a ford to the east of the village of Callander, they were overtaken and compelled to give battle. Inchbrakie, advancing part of his force to attack the defenders, quietly marched another detachment towards a ford higher up near the present bridge. A crossing was soon effected, and the Campbells, being unexpectedly attacked on the rear, broke and fled, leaving eighty of their men dead on the field.

Although it is not known when the area was first settled, Callander is mentioned in parish records since at least the 15th century. The Medieval Parish of Callander was a patchwork of estates, settlements and farms and some of these survive in the present street names, such as Murdiestoun, Balgibbon and East Mains. The area around Callander was cleared for sheep before 1800 as part of the early phases of the [[Highland Clearances]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=Alexander |title=The Grampians desolate: a poem |date=1804 |publisher=Edinburgh, J. Moir |url=https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_rJMgAAAAMAAJ/bub_gb_rJMgAAAAMAAJ_djvu.txt|access-date=25 November 2017|pages=210–211}}</ref>

[[Scottish Gaelic]] was once widely spoken. In 1803, [[William Wordsworth]] and his sister, [[Dorothy Wordsworth|Dorothy]], visited Callander and the Trossachs and recorded everyday encounters with Gaelic language and culture.<ref name="Wordsworth1803">{{cite book |last=Wordsworth |first=Dorothy |date=1997 |title=Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0300071558}}</ref> In the 1840s sermons were delivered in both Gaelic and English, and Gaelic was taught in at least two schools in the area. By the 1880s most locals were speaking a mixture of Gaelic, [[Scots language|Scots]] and English. In the 1900s, Celtic scholar, [[William J. Watson]], documented, "four Gaelic-speaking men born near Callander, two of whom were over 80 and had excellent knowledge of the place-names." However, one 19th century writer (Alexander MacGibbon) took objection to the local dialect, stating, "The true Gaelic is a noble language, worthy of the fire of Ossian, and wonderfully adapted to the genius of a warlike nation; but the contemptible language of the people about Callander, and to the east, is quite incapable of communicating a noble idea."<ref name="McNiven"/><ref>Newton, Michael.(2010). ''Bho Chluaidh Gu Calasraid - from the Clyde to Callander: Gaelic Songs, Poetry, Tales and Traditions of the Lennox and Menteith in Gaelic with English Translations'', p. 285. The Grimsay Press  {{ISBN|1845300688}}.</ref>
[[File:Callander.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Post Office]]
Callander was served by rail from 1 July 1858 as the terminus of a [[branch line]] from [[Dunblane]].<ref name="thomas"/>  A second [[Callander railway station]] was opened about {{convert|1/2|mi|m|sigfig=1}} to the west, behind the Dreadnought Hotel, on 1 June 1870 when the railway was extended to [[Killin]] en route to [[Oban]], and closed on 5 November 1965. Sections of this former [[Callander and Oban Railway]] line, between Callander and [[Strathyre]] and between [[Balquhidder]] and Killin Junction, are now part of the [[National Cycle Network]] (route 7)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.com/default.asp?sID=1089651611859 |title=National Cycle Network |access-date=26 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928032011/http://www.sustrans.com/default.asp?sID=1089651611859 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Rob Roy Way]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.robroyway.com/|title=Rob Roy Way Home|website=Rob Roy Way Official Site}}</ref> Track from the dismantled Callander and Oban Railway was used in the construction of the transit system for the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in [[Mexico City]].<ref name="thomas">{{cite book |first=John |last=Thomas |title=The Callander & Oban railway | series=The history of the railways of the Scottish Highlands |edition=2 |volume=4 |publisher=David St John Thomas |year=1990 |isbn=9780946537464}}</ref>

The noted Scottish landscape artist [[Archibald Kay]] RSW RSA chose Callander as his home from 1904 and he became a noted resident of the town. A member of the [[Glasgow Art Club,]] [[The Paisley Art Institute]] and a close associate of fellow artist [[George Houston (painter)|George Houston]], Kay painted all around the River Leny and the hills of the Trossachs National Park and Kay is noted especially for his views of Ben Ledi overlooking Callander. Elected a member of the Scottish Royal Society of Arts, Kay was elected a member of the school board for [[McLaren High School]] in 1911 and was commissioned by Callander town council to design the war memorial to honour the fallen from the town and this was erected in Ancaster Square. Kay died in 1935 and is buried in Callander alongside his twelve-year-old son Archie, who drowned in a boating accident in 1907, and Archibald Kay's cousin George Whitelaw who also drowned trying to save him. Kay's second wife Mary also rests in the impressive Georgian style monument in the Stirling Road Cemetery.

==Notable residents==
*Reverend [[Andrew Nisbet Bogle]] (1868-1957) [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] in 1930.
*John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan, the current Chief of [[Clan Buchanan]] and the first Chief in over 330 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 2018 |title=Scottish clan gets first chief in more than 330 years |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/scottish-clan-gets-first-chief-more-330-years-580978 |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>
*[[Francis Buchanan-Hamilton]] (1762–1829), physician and biologist, was born in Callander
*[[Helen Duncan]], from Callander, was the second to last person to be tried and imprisoned for the crime of Witchcraft in the UK, during [[World War II|World War Two]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18456106 | title=Britain's 'last witch': Campaign to pardon Helen Duncan | work=BBC News | access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>
*[[Saul Davies]], James' guitarist, moved to Callander with his young family in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/79753-interview-saul-davies-scotlands-full-of-english-twats-who-think-theyre-scottish/|title=The List Interview: James' guitarist talks on Girl at the End of the World, living in Scotland and not being forgotten}}</ref>
*[[Archibald Kay]]  (1860-1935), landscape artist, lived in Callander

==Callander in popular culture==
Callander achieved prominence during the 1960s as the fictional setting "[[Tannochbrae]]" in the [[BBC]] television series ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV and radio)|Dr. Finlay's Casebook]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-19245612 |title=BBC Alba to re-run Dr Finlay's Casebook to mark 50th anniversary |work=BBC News |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

In the fictional world of the [[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]] franchise, the character [[Destro]] was born in Callander. {{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The fictional teenager, [[Adrian Mole]], while on holiday at [[Loch Lubnaig]] walks to Callander to buy a [[Mars bar]] and play ''[[Space Invaders]]'' (''[[The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾]]'' by [[Sue Townsend]]).

== Annual events ==
* [[Official Opening of Salmon fishing on the River Teith, Callander]] (February)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/people/Stirling-Council-Fisheries/100064471460884/|title=Stirling Council Fisheries|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
* [[Callander Summerfest]] (July)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CallanderSummerfest/|title=Callander Summerfest|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
* [[Callander Highland Games]] (July)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/callanderhighlandgames/|title=Callander Highland Games|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
* [[Trossachs Beer Festival]] (August/September)<ref>[http://www.theladeinn.com/index.php/ct-menu-item-19/ct-menu-item-25 Trossachs Beer festival Website]}</ref>
* [[Callander Jazz & Blues Festival]] (September/October)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.callanderjazzandblues.com/|title=Callander Jazz & Blues Festival|website=www.callanderjazzandblues.com}}</ref>
* [[Callander Winterfest]] (December)<ref name="auto"/>

==Postcard gallery==
<gallery>
File:General view, Callander, Scotland-LCCN2001703598.jpg|General view Callander
File:Bridge and Ben Ledi, Callander, Scotland-LCCN2001703599.jpg|Callander Bridge
File:Bracklinn Falls and bridge Callander Scotland.jpg|[[Bracklinn Falls]]
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[https://incallander.co.uk/ Local information website]

{{commons category|Callander}}
{{Stirling Towns & Villages}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Callander| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Stirling (council area)]]
[[Category:Trossachs]]
[[Category:Highland Boundary Fault]]