The River Runs Red is a collection of 19 short stories, detailing TRUE crimes that occurred within Highland Perthshire between 1799 – 1951. The collection includes accounts of infamous incidents from the region’s dark past, including murder, robbery, smuggling, terrorism and deception – with a dash of grim humour, and even some supernatural assistance.
Based on two years of extensive research the book brings together some shocking revelations from Highland Perthshire’s lawless past, featuring stories from Dunkeld, Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Grandtully and Kenmore.
“I always been fascinated with the short story detective fiction of the Victoria era”, said Mark Bridgeman the author of The River Runs Red, “ the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allen Poe’s Dupin, and so on, and I’ve tried to bring an element of that adventure style to my book. I’ve tried to write the stories in that style and, I hope, it will really give the reader a chance to immerse themselves in the period, as well as learn some surprising new things about the area.”
Read about Highland Perthshire’s most infamous murder, the conman who sparked an international manhunt, whisky smuggling, the psychic who solved a mystery, the killer who claimed he was thrown off a bridge, and many others!
The River Runs Red is published by Watermill Books, Aberfeldy and is available from The Watermill Bookshop, Aberfeldy, www.aberfeldywatermill.com/shop and other retailers, priced £9.99.
The River Runs Red
Featured Stories
A9 Dualling Updates
Go to downloads
The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 31st October at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm. All... Read more
Perthshire Amber : 1 -3 November 2019
Described as “A jewel of a festival” (edinburghguide.com) Dougie MacLean and his team have developed a unique festival, which has... Read more
Loch of the Lowes in October
Autumn is an amazing season to behold in Perthshire!
We are rightly known as Big Tree Country with our magnificent... Read more
Dunkeld And Birnam - Scotland’s First Water Efficient Village
Dunkeld and Birnam has been officially recognised as Scotland’s first water efficient village after collectively saving over 1 million litres... Read more
Dunkeld & Birnam Santa Day 14th December 2019
With the 30th Anniversary of Santa Day fast approaching we thought it would be good to let everyone know how... Read more
Connect … Linking Asheville, North Carolina, USA and Dunkeld & Birnam
Asheville Sister Cities Delegation Visit
25 visitors from our twinned community of Asheville spent four days in Dunkeld and Birnam... Read more
Regular Columns
Editorial
25-09-2019 Regular Columns
Samhuinn. Is that a new word for other people as well as me? I am intrigued to read Loch of... Read more
Thought for the Month
25-09-2019 Regular Columns
When a new minister starts off and looking for a first parish you soon become wise at reading the information... Read more
Notes from a Councillor
25-09-2019 Regular Columns
You can always tell when it is autumn because we tend to get the sunshine that has been missing for... Read more
Editorial
29-08-2019 Regular Columns
Whenever I tell someone that I live in Dunkeld the response is pretty much the same. “What a lovely place”... Read more
Thought for the Month
29-08-2019 Regular Columns
I was recently asked to give a brief outline of Scottish history to some Dutch young people staying in Highland... Read more
Notes from a Councillor
29-08-2019 Regular Columns
The Community Investment Fund (CIF) 2019 from the Strathtay Action Partnership closed on 21st August at 5.00pm. Hope all applicants... Read more
Editorial
26-06-2019 Regular Columns
Place yourself back in the village one hundred and fifty-five years ago. The Bridge was built, and the Perth Arms... Read more
Thought for the Month
26-06-2019 Regular Columns
One of the privileges of worshipping in a place like Dunkeld Cathedral is that you meet so many visitors from... Read more
Notes from a Councillor
26-06-2019 Regular Columns
The last full Council meeting of the session takes place on Wednesday the 19th of June. Shortly after this meeting... Read more
Editorial
30-05-2019 Regular Columns
OK, here’s a question for those of you with a better memory than me .. which came first – the... Read more
Thought for the Month
30-05-2019 Regular Columns
We Christians are still in the Easter celebration time. For us, Easter is so special that we celebrate it for... Read more
Notes from a Councillor
30-05-2019 Regular Columns
As I write, the sun is shining and spring has well and truly sprung. The hedgerows and gardens are bursting... Read more
Editorial
25-04-2019 Regular Columns
It is that time of year when everything is quite literally bursting into life. The leaves are back on the... Read more
Thought for the Month
25-04-2019 Regular Columns
In April Fraser Penny gave us a fine ‘Thought for the Month’. If you still have a copy, do read... Read more
Notes from a Councillor
25-04-2019 Regular Columns
Strathtay Action Partnership made recommendations from the funding meeting to the SP&R committee of the council who agreed the funding... Read more
Community News Items
West Stormont Woodland Group Update
Working with local people to bring Taymount Wood and Five Mile Wood into Community Ownership. Click link below to dow... Read more
Community Council News and Minutes
This page contains minutes and other items of interest from the Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council, from January ... Read more
Three Churches Charity Shop
High Street Dunkeld
Open six days a week, Mon to Sat 10am - 4pm
AGM
12 Noon, Tuesday 22nd Oct 2019 in ... Read more
Simon Community Scotland
GrowBiz provides support and advice to anyone starting or growing a small or micro enterprise.
Through our new ... Read more
GrowBiz - Making Rural Business Digital
GrowBiz provides support and advice to anyone starting or growing a small or micro enterprise. Through our new projec... Read more
Community Council Matters
Correspondence with the Community Council can be made through email: dbcc.chair@icloud.com or: dunkeldcommunitycounci... Read more
Dalguise Meditation Group
Everyone is welcome who would like to learn to meditate, to consolidate a meditation practice they already have, or s... Read more
Café Scientifique
This session of meetings continues as follows. The meetings start at 19:15 and everyone is welcome on a first-come, f... Read more
Butterstone WI
Butterstone WI hold Whist Drives in Butterstone Hall at 7pm on the first Wednesday most months.
October 2nd
Read more
New Crowdfunder
Hello rural Perth & Kinross! I’m the new Crowdfunder UK coach for the rural Perth & Kinross area and I’m base... Read more
Spanish Conversation Group Starting Soon…
Practise for holidays or just for fun!
Qualified language teacher.
All levels welcome.
Please call 077... Read more
Support Choices
Support Choices is a project that helps people living in rural Perthshire to get the social care and support they nee... Read more
Community Co-working Space at Lagmhor
All welcome at the Community Co-working Space.
Membership is free. Meeting rooms also available.
Contact: c... Read more
Messy Church
Next Messy Church Meeting:
27th October
Duchess Anne: 3pm – 5pm
Messy Church is for young families and... Read more
Flower Festival Raises For Duchess Anne …
Congratulations to Mrs Sheila Mannion and everyone else involved for organising another wonderful flower festival in ... Read more
Men's Breakfast
Every second Wednesday a group of men meets in the Chanonry to start the day with a cooked breakfast together, discus... Read more
Foodbank
Donations to Perth Foodbank can be made any time in a box in the Cathedral. The one in the Duchess Anne is not availa... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam in Bloom – 25 years c…
Twenty-Five years ago (sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale – perhaps it seemed like that in the beginning?) a s... Read more
Cancer Connections Charity Bike Ride - T…
I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who sponsored my brother Matthew and his team of cycling friend... Read more
October - by Jack McNeill, Birnam.
Noo' Simmer Dim has slipped awa,
And Nicht's are drawing in;
Tis Nature's time tae draw a braith,
Afor... Read more
Birnam Library To Temporarily Close
Birnam Library is set to close for approximately six weeks due to planned refurbishment within Birnam Arts and Confer... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam Water Saving Challeng…
Water saving tip:
You can also use water wisely by following this water saving tip.
Did you know that turn... Read more
Cameronians’ Visit
Every August, on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the Battle of Dunkeld, members of the Cameronian Regimental... Read more
Dunkeld & Birnam Horticultural Socie…
First meeting will take place Thursday 17th October at 7.30 in Birnam Arts.
What a year we have had for the enjo... Read more
The Dunkeld Deer Management Forum
The aims of the Dunkeld Deer Management Forum (DDMF) are:
To collaborate as responsible professionals in meeti... Read moreGirlguiding Dunkeld & Birnam in Need…
With Brown Owl soon to leave the nest, we are on the lookout for one or two women to fly in and take over the running... Read more
News From @The Field - Dunkeld and Birna…
Buying Wonderful Fresh Locally Grown Organic Produce In Dunkeld And Birnam … from vegetables to salad, from flowers t... Read more
Neil Gow
Back in April, I managed to acquire a ram'shorn snuff mull which had belonged to Niel Gow back in the 18th century... Read more
Climate Café
Drop in between to the #BigClimateConversation at the Birnam Arts between 10am and 9pm on Tuesday 20th August 2019.Read more
Sport & Active
Dunkeld and Birnam has a wide variety of sport clubs and activity groups which welcome participants of all abilities... Read more
West Stormont Woodland Group - Monthly C…
Working with local people to bring Taymount Wood and Five Mile Wood into Community Ownership. Click on the link to do... Read more
Not Another Tick Box Exercise! Ticks And…
As we move into summer, it is important to be aware of the risk of ticks and transmission of Lyme Disease.
Anec... Read more
What Has Been Going On At The Guide Hall…
Since November a small miracle has been happening at Dunkeld Guide Hall, turning the building into a resource fit for... Read more
Thank You Co-Op Local Community Fund
The 3 Churches Charity Shop has received over £1,474 from The Co-op Local Community Fund for 2018.
Jeraldine Pr... Read more
Christmas Craft Market
Christmas Craft Market on the Mezzanine at Birnam Arts from Friday 9th November to Monday 31st December (No opening) ... Read more
Birnam Oak Receives Support From Lancash…
Pupils from a Lancashire Secondary School rallied round to raise funds for the historic Birnam Oak. The tree is the l... Read more
New sculpture in the Cathedral
On August 19th. a new carving in the Cathedral was unveiled and dedicated. It has been placed on the north wall under... Read more
Poets Corner - October
Noo' Simmer Dim has slipped awa,
And Nicht's are drawing in;
Tis Nature's time tae draw a braith,
Afo... Read more
Balsam Pullers Making A Difference
Dunkeld and Birnam Balsam Pullers
The Monday morning group have been pulling this non-native invasive pla... Read more
Dunkeld & Birnam UnPlugged 2018
Get ready for Unplugged 2018, 2nd – 9th September 2018!
Click here to visit the Dunkeld & Birnam Unplugged w... Read more
Tools With A Mission
Thank you, all of our members and friends, who have given generously to this cause. This year we have collected bags ... Read more
Bible Society
Thank you so much for all your donations for the Bible Society. I have recently been able to send £56 collected in St... Read more
A9 Co-Creative News
Outcome of A9 Co-Creative Stage 5 vote
The results of the “Big Decide” voting (between 23rd June and 2nd July) ... Read more
Making it Happen in and around Dunkeld
Volunteers who have been “making it happen” in the Dunkeld area were celebrated at an volunteer appreciation evening ... Read more
Data Protection Legislation
Need help on how the new Data Protection Legislation applies to your organisation?
Thanks to Helen Taylor and A... Read more
Scotland’s Potentially Vulnerable Areas …
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA’s) national consultation on the designation of areas which are pot... Read more
2018 QUILT – The Winner
Ann Rees, The Quilt, Janet Haigh
The 2018 Quilt has been won by Ann Rees and £1500 raised, which will be divided... Read more
Parish Church Singing
The Parish Church Choir has stopped doing pieces in 4-part harmony every week and instead there is now a less formal ... Read more
Royal School of Dunkeld - 450 Years Old!
On the 27th of June, the Royal School of Dunkeld held a Royal Garden Party to commemorate 450 years of the school.
Arts News
The River Runs Red
The River Runs Red is a collection of 19 short stories, detailing TRUE crimes that occurred within Highland Perthshire between... Read more
Birnam Arts Quiz Night 30th August
Birnam Arts would like to thank everyone who contributed to our fundraising Quiz Night. The turnout was fabulous, and the... Read more
Birnam and Dunkeld Film Society
The Film Society started the new season on Sunday 8th September. Films are shown twice monthly through to May 2020.
Sunday... Read more
Creative Writing Course - Drawing on the Writer Within
For anyone who loves to write or has always wanted to write.
Two Sundays - October 27 & November 10... Read more
Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition
Around 35 stewards came together for the Stewards' Party at the end of another successful Art Exhibition.
Although sales... Read more
Linocutting Workshops with Linda Farquharson
Autumn Linocutting Workshops with Linda Farquharson
Dates for Autumn 2019
Saturday 28 September, Sunday 29 September
Saturday 19 October, Sunday... Read more
Join Just Singin’ in Fun Evenings of Song
Now that the days are starting to draw out and there’s a hint of springtime on the horizon, why not... Read more
Butterstone Art Group Open Studios
Butterstone Hall
1st - 9th September
10am. - 5 p.m.
Refreshments available.
All Welcome
Do You Have A Broonie Living Near You?
Is there an unsettled spirit roaming your neighbourhood or perhaps a witch performed their dark arts nearby? Have you ever... Read more
A History of Birnam Arts
We’re appealing to all our local community for any memorabilia – stories, photographs, or anything you think might be relevant... Read more
Birnam Arts Events
Birnam Arts has an amazing ongoing programme of one off performances, exhibitions and workshops. Just use the scroll bars to... Read more
Young Roving Reporter
Young Roving Reporter
01-12-2017 Young Roving Reporter
On Tuesday two of our Citizenship Groups, The Eco Explorers and The Outsiders, went to find out about tree felling... Read more
Royal School Of Dunkeld Marks 450 Years
23-02-2017 Young Roving Reporter
The dark February evenings have been brighter than usual for residents of Dunkeld and Birnam. Throughout the month, The Royal... Read more
This term the whole school is learning about tourism in Dunkeld & Birnam
23-09-2014 Young Roving Reporter
The classes are learning in different ways to promote tourism where we live. Nursery, P1, P1/2 and P2/3 are looking... Read more
DANGEROUS CORNER
01-11-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Congratulations to Aidan, this month's winner of a crisp £10 note.
On the road opposite... Read more
Well Done Callum Ross
01-07-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Hi everyone, Rivendell Care Services, Birnam, where my mum works decided to have a prize raffle for Alzheimer Scotland, as its such a great... Read more
Skate Park Update
01-07-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Thanks to everyone who has been supporting the idea of having a skate and bike park in Dunkeld & Birnam... Read more
Ski-ing Trip
08-04-2013 Young Roving Reporter
At the Royal School of Dunkeld all the P6s got to go on a ski-ing trip to Glenshee for two... Read more
Rumor Round Up
08-04-2013 Young Roving Reporter
Some of you will have read my article a while back talking about a possible skate park.
I mentioned about getting... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam Brownies PGL Trip
25-06-2012 Young Roving Reporter
Dunkeld and Birnam Brownies went on a exciting trip to pgl in Dalguise and stayed for two... Read more
Skate Park?
25-06-2012 Young Roving Reporter
It would be great if a skate park could be built in Dunkeld or Birnam – somewhere we could walk... Read more
Sport & Active
Annual Amulree & Trochry Clay Pigeon Shoot 2019
25-09-2019 Sport & Active
The mist filled the Glen but soon dispersed into a pleasant settled day for our annual Clay Pigeon Shoot.
The... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam Badminton Club
25-09-2019 Sport & Active
The new season of the club will start on Monday 7th October at the Atholl Centre
Pitlochry starting at 7.30... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam Leisure Group - the Sports Hall Project
25-09-2019 Sport & Active
At the AGM on 17th September Kevin Lancaster, Chair, reported on productive discussions with the Dunkeld and Birnam Sports and... Read more
Sports & Leisure HUB - Join Us And Be Part Of The Future!
26-06-2019 Sport & Active
Charitable Aims
• The provision of recreational facilities including the development of new facilities and spaces and improving existing facilities... Read more
Recreation Club Votes To Transfer Assets To Sports And Leisure Hub
29-01-2019 Sport & Active
On 13th January 2019 the members of the Dunkeld & Birnam Recreation Club voted by 36 votes to 6 to... Read more
Robbie Melvin Presentation by Leisure Group
29-01-2019 Sport & Active
Royal School of Dunkeld pupils Nicole Frame and Finlay Maclean alongside Nicola Williams, Head Teacher, and Margaret Scott Treasurer of... Read more
Muckin’ good 2019 Event Programme
29-01-2019 Sport & Active
Muckmedden, Perthshire’s self-styled purveyors of ‘muckin’ good mountain bike events, have announced an exciting line-up for 2019 that includes the... Read more
Ospreys Meet Their Match at the Blairgowrie Festival
25-08-2018 Sport & Active
Veteran rugby team, Dunkeld Ospreys, visited Blairgowrie for their biggest and most enjoyable fixture of the season. This oldies game... Read more
WalkIN’Perthshire
09-05-2018 Sport & Active
If you would like to try Nordic Walking and join our fun friendly Adventure Walks or Workout Walks please contact... Read more
New Basketball Hoop at the Rec Club
09-05-2018 Sport & Active
The new basketball hoop at the Rec Club is getting plenty of use.
The Rec Club are delighted to announce... Read more
The 6th Annual Dunkeld Enduro!
25-01-2018 Sport & Active
In 2018 Highland Perthshire Cycling brings you…
The 6th annual Dunkeld Enduro!
(yes entries are now open!)
We can't... Read more
New Path and Bike Pump Track at Royal School of Dunkeld
01-12-2017 Sport & Active
The school is pleased to announce a very exciting new development in the playground. We have just completed the construction... Read more
Remembering Robbie
27-10-2017 Sport & Active
On Friday 29th September the Royal School of Dunkeld again remembered former pupil Robbie Melvin who died in a tragic... Read more
Dunkeld & Birnam Veteran Football
31-08-2017 Sport & Active
On 18 August, a hearty squad of Dunkeld & Birnam veteran (mostly) footballers headed the short distance for an 11-a-side... Read more
Highland Perthshire Ladies Football Club
01-07-2017 Sport & Active
Highland Perthshire Ladies Football Club welcomes any new players in the area who would like to join us for training... Read more
Dunkeld and Birnam Golf Club Coffee Morning
01-06-2017 Sport & Active
Dunkeld & Birnam Golf Club Coffee Morning
Royal British Legion Halls on Saturday 17th June from 10.00 to 12.00.
Welcome to the Sports Hub!
26-05-2016 Sport & Active
Our aims are simple - but great...
1: To transform the lives of people in the villages and surrounding areas through... Read more
Community Council News
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