13th December 2020 : Glen Prosen

Map no.44

Glenprosen, a glen and a quoad sacra parish in Kirriemuir parish, NW Forfarshire. The glen is that of Prosen Water, rising at an altitude of 2750 feet on the western slope of Mayar, and running 18 miles south-eastward through the northern division of Kirriemuir and along the borders of Cortachy, Kingoldrum, and Kirriemuir proper, till, after a total descent of nearly 2400 feet, it falls into the South Esk at a point 1¼ mile SE of Cortachy Castle.

It is a glen steeped in history. Scott planned his ill-fated polar expedition at the Prosen home of Edward Wilson – a world authority on grouse parasites. At the turn of the century the Prosen estate earned more from shooting grouse than from agriculture. That kept Balnaboth, the Laird’s house, well stocked with supplies of game … and famous guests.

Barrie rented the house for three summers in the 1930s from the grandmother of the current owner, Hector MacLean, when the success of Peter Pan ruled out an “ordinary” house in his birthplace of Kirriemuir for summer holidays. Balnaboth was indeed grand enough – Hector’s dad remembered meeting the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret there as a boy, and dinner was halted as the young ladies picked strawberries.

Driesh and Mayar can be climbed from here also a walk over to Glen Clova using the Ministers heritage way.