At the northern end of Glen Bruar in Highland Perthshire

several burns come together to form the Bruar Water. Bruar Water then flows down through Glen Bruar until it reaches a series of waterfalls known as The Falls of Bruar, which are to be found approximately 8 miles north of Pitlochry along the A9. After this series of waterfalls Bruar Water then runs out into the River Garry.
The Falls of Bruar first became a tourist attraction in the late 18th century when Bruar Water flowed through a treeless and barren landscape. All the local timber having been felled for shipbuilding. In 1787 Robert Burns visited the falls and whilst taken by the falls themselves was so unimpressed by the lack of vegetation that he opted to write the poem, The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Atholl. The intention of which was to encourage the Duke of Atholl to plant some trees and bushes around the area of the falls.Amongst it's verses are the lines;

" Would then my noble master please
To grant my highest wishes,
He'll shade my banks wi' tow'ring trees,
And bonnie spreading bushes. "

The Duke of Atholl did indeed after Robert Burn's death in 1796 start a programme of planting trees around the falls. John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl eventually became known as Planter John as he planted some 15 million trees on his estates. Sadly, these were not predominantly native species, but species selected for fast growing timber. Even so, John Murray never saw the full financial benefit of his efforts, these rewards came to later generations of the family. File 7324.