1954 - Special Collections

YEAR B OOK AMERICA N C LAN GREGOR SOCIETY 45
beauti ful Loch famed in song and story ; and down along its shore line to the left
majestic Ben Lomond rears its snow capped head.
Returning, we must retrace our way by Loch Kat rine to the connecting chain ,
Achray Water, Loch Ach ray and Loch Vennacha r which provide a natural outl et
for over flowing strea ms which feed these lochs. Soon we come agai n to Callender
where we join the main No rth road which we fellow along th e shore of Loch
Lu bnaig, which seemed rather dark and forbidding, due perhaps to the overcast
sky. 'liVe come to an ancient inn, King's H ouse, which it would be well to remember
as an attractive spot for those sojourni ng along this way. Soon we pass th e Balquid
der railroad station, where a line from Pe r th joins th e main Stirling to Oban
tracks. A littl e way beyond here a roa d to the left leads off to the small village
of Balquidder, which is at the mouth of peaceful Loch Voil. On e listens in vain
. for sounds of clamor or strife here, but all is serene. The new kirk, close to the
ruin of an older one, sets a tone of solemnity, yet recallin g a past lived so strenuously;
a past that has become the source of countless tales of men driven to desperation,
which tales are told down th rough genera tions to the present day.
If you cross the anci ent brid ge at Balquidder to the south shore of Loch Voil,
as was my fortunate privil ege some years ago, and repeated this year, you will gaze
in speechless wonder from th e lawn of St ronvar house at the heath er covered
hills that rear themselves up on the opposite side of the loch. These are the Braes
of Balquidder, and what thoughts they inspire I Recrossing the brid ge there is a road
that follows the north shore of Loch Voil fo r several miles, the scenery becoming
more rugged as one dri ves along. At the road's end we come to severa l comfortable
homes ; and there emptying into Loch Vo il is th e smaller Loch Doine into which
many mountainside burns pour their streams . One mu st retrace his way along
thi s lake shore road fo r there is no other high way outlet.
Back again to the No rth Road, and it is hardly more than a mile before one
comes to the gateway entrance to entran cing Edi nchip, home of the Clan' s Chief,
Sir Malco lm and Lady MacGr egor . The priva te dri veway soon crosses a rippling
burn by an ancient stone bridge, to pass the comfo rtab le home of the farm man ­
ager, which in times past could have served also as a ga te house. T he tree lined
roadway winds beside broad enclosed fields where black faced sheep nat ive to
th e Highlands are to be seen grazing; and beside the dams there are likely to be
timid little lambs learning by imitation lessons in using their legs and satisfy ing
hunger.
Soon we have reached th e upper gateway which encloses the house ga rdens ;
and we corne to the hospitable door of Edinchip where th e La ird himself has come
out to greet us and to make us welcome. The warmth of that welcome is characteristic
of Sir Malcolm, clad in his tartan and with rudd y face and twinkling eye,
so appr opri ate to the scene and cha racteristic of his fine presence. His charming
Lady has alrea dy made us twice welcome by her graciousness in dri ving down to
Edi nburgh to fetch us.
Edinchip house is a compact buildin g of gray stone, with gabled roof and
square lines , that one finds to be far more ext ensive than appears at first glance.
It sits proudly on its charming hillside facing Loch Earn, with snow covered Ben
Vorli ch to be seen to the right. The broad expanse of garden surrounding the
house was blanketed by innumerable daffodils waving their bright yellow blossoms;
seemingly adding their welcome to the warmth shown us by Sir Malcolm and