A Brief History of Drymen, Loch Lomond, Scotland

Drymen village lies on the southwest edge of the Highland boundary and the surrounding landscape of rolling ridges gives it its Gaelic name meaning little ridges or humps.

The consolidation of the Roman occupation stopped here, at its Northern edge in 84 AD. The settlement of the Drymen area was created by early North/South trade and communications,being attracted by the first fordable crossing of the River Endrick upstream from Loch Lomond.

The territory was controlled for many years by the Earl of Lennox, with powerful families under his control: Drummonds, Napiers, Buchanans and Grahams.

As a borderland, Drymen and its Lowland land owners required protection from the less law abiding neighbours to the North, living in the inaccessible mountain districts.

Military roads were built from 1745 linking the Castles of Stirling and Dumbarton and passing through Drymen. With the building of an army barracks to maintain order and ward off attacks from the North, Drymen grew and became a market town with cattle fairs and as a cattle drovers' halt.

During the "Agricultural Improvements" ( The Clearances) of the 18th century, Drymen lost 40% of its population, who either went South to the growing industrial developments in the cities of Central Scotland, or emigrated to Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries around the world.

Moving into the 19th century Drymen settled down as a small, quiet village, dependant upon the vast affluence and influence of the Duke of Montrose, for housing and employment, on a prosperous and well managed estate. The lack of mobility created a self sufficient and close knit village society supported by local crafts such as smiths, wheelwrights, weavers, millers, tailors, saddlers and shoe makers, all playing an important part in the life and economy.

TODAY, the chief occupations are still in agriculture and forestry, but the local shopkeepers, hotels and guesthouses are increasingly supporting a growing tourist industry.