Culsalmond

A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875

Etymology
The name is written Culsalmond and Culsamond, which in Gaelic would signify the back, or end of the hill, which is descriptive enough of the situation of the parish, as it lies around and comprehends the hills of Culmeadden, and of Tillymorgan, being the eastern termination of the Foudland range of hills.

Boundaries
It is bounded on the north by the parishes of Forgue and Auchterless; on the east by the parish of Rayne; on the south by the parish of Oyne; and on the west by the parish of Insch.

Extent
The greatest length of the parish, from south to north, in a direct line, is 5 miles, and its greatest breadth from east to west, also in a direct line, is 3½ miles, and the whole area is computed to be 6,995 acres.

Topography
The water of Ury (or the Glen Water as it is here called), intersects and divides the parish, from the influx of the water of Shevach to a point near Bainshole, in the top of the glens of Foudland, being a distance of 6½ miles, following the windings of the stream. The Ury, at the influx of the Shevach (being the lowermost point in the parish), is 310 feet above sea level, the bridge of Auchintender, over the Ury, is about 553 feet, and the highest point on the Ury, in the parish, is 608 feet. The church of Culsalmond is 602 feet, the junction of the Old Meldrum with Garden's Mill turnpike road, at Sheelagreen, is 420 feet, the bridge of Lidikin, over the burn of Knockenbaird is 322 feet, and the top of Tillymorgan, which is the highest point of land in the parish, is 1,134 feet. On the east division of the parish, the land rises with gentle slopes from the house of Newton and Brankanentum, by Williamstone and Pulwhite, to the Cairn-hill, and the hill Tillymorgan; and on the west of the Ury, there are the rounded knolls or hills of the Ledikins, the Wranghams, and St. Sair's, with the rugged hill of Cnlmeadden on the north of Jericho. Excepting the top and western slopes of Tillymorgan, the higher parts of the Cairn-hill, and parts of Culmeadden and St. Sair's hills, the whole parish is either cultivated or covered with trees. South of the glens of Foudland, the arable land is continuous, laid out into regular fields, interspersed with thriving plantations. In the glen, and to the north and east of Tillymorgan, the scenery is different, the country is bare, and the cultivated land is much exposed to the utmost rigours of the northern blasts which sweep across the country, frequently lodging immense snow-drifts such as are only known to the natives and those who have encountered them on the great post road from Aberdeen to Inverness, previous to the construction of the Great North of Scotland Railway.

[A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875]