About Buchlyvie!
The settlement of Buchlyvie, founded in the early years of the 17th century, became a burgh or barony to the owner, Graham of Montrose, in a charter granted by King Charles II in 1680. This gave it certain trading rights and the right to hold fairs and markets. The oldest part of the village mainly dates from about the late 18th century though parts of the Buchlyvie Inn are thought to be older.
The meaning of it's name is uncertain, some authorities suggesting 'bal cladbeheth', the field of the burying ground, while others favour 'buaidh chlaidheamh', the victory of the sword.
Buchlyvie grew up as a farming community on the Stirling to Dumbarton military road. After large portions of Flanders Moss had been reclaimed, the village found itself close to some of the most fertile farming land in Scotland, an area sometimes described as "Scotland's haybasket". Buchlyvie also had a hand weaving industry with around 30 looms in and around the village at it's peak.
Smuggling - The area around Buchlyvie, before 1793, was for excise purposes, designated to be in the Highlands and enjoyed certain priviledges concerning whisky distilling. After the act of 1793 re-drew the Highland border to the north, Buchlyvie was disadvantaged but instead created an extensive trade in illicit distilling.
The whisky was often smuggled to Glasgow concealed in a cartload of peat. The last illicit still was sited in a secluded firwood by loch Loggan on the high ground to the south of Buchlyvie, on Kippen Mair. It was closed down in 1860.
Flanders Moss - Lying to the north, Flanders Moss, is the largest surviving raised bog in the U.K., in spite of reclamation. Much of the Forth Valley was under the sea 8,500 years ago. After it retreated there was a gradual change from salt marsh to reed bed to peat bog. The bog supports a wide range of animals and plant species.