by ccromar10 » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:05 pm
Robert Smith talks about Baudy Meg in 'Grampian Ways', a book about all the old drovers roads across the 'Mounth' from Aberdeen to Braemar. I don't have the book handy so cant check the story, but Baudy Meg is named after a local woman, presumably named Meg. I'll have to find the book and post a better explanation! There is also a story about the ghost of a stag roaming the hillside around Baudy Meg, but again I can't quite remember the full story.
Another good book on the area is John Michie's 'Deeside Tales' - he talks extensively about the etymology of 'Tanar', among other things. This book I do have - Tanar comes from the ancient Celtic language spoken by the 'Marsi' tribe (I think this is where the name 'Mar' in Braemar and the surrounding area comes from) who inhabited the area, and means 'noisy, loud-sounding stream'. The same word stem is used in the name of the river Tanaro in Northern Italy.
Both books are available on Amazon and worth a read if you are interested in the area.
Callum