The town's square was once the site of the most northerly tryst, or fair, in Scotland

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/05/beauly-highlands-northerly-tryst-scotland-cattle

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There were distractions such as the raucous rookery – miraculously, none of the nests seemed to have suffered from the storms with high winds – but, as is always the case for me in Beauly, my thoughts were on the huge square that dominated the scene.

As far as I know this is the largest square in any town in the Highlands and more than 200 years ago it fulfilled a very important function. It was the most northerly tryst, or fair, in Scotland and must have come as a welcome relief for the drovers bringing their small black Highland cattle from the north. They would have come from Caithness and Sutherland, over long routes with "drovers' stances" (overnight resting places for man and beast). There were few, if any bridges, over rivers and rarely ferries, so the cattle would just have to be made to swim, which is an art in itself.

Drovers had to be tough and resourceful as they were subject to robbery, cattle thieves and livestock that would wander off trying to get back to their origin. At a time when people in the Highlands were subject to the Disarming Acts of 1716 and 1748, drovers were exempt. In 1725, for example, General George Wade issued 230 licences for carrying arms to drovers and  dealers. I have a copy of one such licence (they were specifically for a gun, sword and pistol) and it is an impressive piece of paper.

The Beauly cattle market was a stopping point on the way south to the great trysts of Crieff and Falkirk and beyond. These days Highland cattle still graze around Beauly; the black Highlanders are much prized but more expensive. The Highland Cattle Society is very active, and new folds, as herds of Highlanders are called, are founded every year both here and abroad.