However in 1787 Robert Burns on his visit to the site, could see the potential and wrote his poem – The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole from the water’s perspective and begged the Duke of Atholl to improve the prospect of the falls by planting trees. The fourth Duke known as ‘Planter John’, responded to Burns petition and eventually planted 120,000 trees in the area, mostly larch and Scots pine.

While the older plantings were felled in World War II, the area was replanted with a mix of conifers. Native broadleaf species like willows, aspen, birch and rowan also flourish and grow, especially along the river banks making the Falls of Bruar a favourite place to visit for many.

Copyright Kenneth Mallard and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence