Auldearn - Conventicles (1670)
Standing at the door of the Free Church Manse of Auldearn and looking south, you have before you the steep gorse-covered side of the Hill of the Aar. The rugged slope is furrowed by several torrent courses. One of these, somewhat deeper and wider than the others, with a mass of grey boulder shutting it in at the lower end, you observe above the farm-house of Dalmore. This ravine is still known as Hogg's Strype. To this sheltered hollow Hogg retired with the congregation, which had grown too large for the dwelling and barns of Knockoudie. There, for many a Sabbath, with the granite boulder as his pulpit, and the blue sky as his canopy, he preached the Word with power.
This observation was made about 200 years ago.
Additional Information
Heading south from Auldearn on Lethern Road the third turning on the right is Dalmore Farm. Before that you will see the Manse on the right which is now a private house and business. I stood at the door of the Manse as mentioned by the grey below, but there were trees in the way, so I had to move to the right. You can see in the photo the farm on the right and a new house on the left, You can see a 'V' shape in the gorse below, the meetings were a little north of that.
I went to the house and went to the bottom of the garden which was a thicket. In there (see photo below) was a stream and some rocks. The large rock mentioned does not seem to be there, but it was very overgrown. This is where the conventicles took place.