The Celtic community at the mouth of the Lour (where it flowed into the larger River Spey, an important link to the outside world) was well established by the time that the Christian missionary St Drostan visited the place towards the end of the 6th century.

With its secluded wooded slopes and fresh spring water the Lour glen was an ideal location for the early settlers, meeting their practical requirements as well as their spiritual needs. Their ancient beliefs and rituals persisted long after Christianity had taken root, and signs of the Celtic connection can still be seen all around.