1954 - Special Collections

YEAR BOOK AlIlERICAN CLAN GREGOR SOCIETY 47
"Pointless Kni fe", in answer to their Clansmen's call- "burning pine cros s", and
why in spite of them all the MacGregors continue as a Clan.
Kilchurn Castle-Sir Malco lm of the Castle, Lord of Glen Orchy, 8th Chief,
owned among others on Loch Awe, Fen larig at the Western Front ier of his
Domain, Ballach Castle near Taym outh at the east end of Loch Tay, and the old
Castle at Loch Dochart in P erthshire .
Adams writes-Although Glen Orchy was the principal seat of the MacGregors ,
they in their halcyon days possessed much territory on the borders of Pe rth shire
and Argyleshire , Glen Strae, Glen Lyon and Glen Argyle. Olcott's-"Country of
Sir Walter Scott ", page 375, describ ed P erthshire, and adds-c-Tn the North are
the rugged summits of the Grampian Hill s. In the center is Loch Tay, one of
the loveliest of Hi ghland lakes, fed by the pure mountain streams tha t come
down through the Ea stern border through a valley of gr een meadows, waving
groves, fertil e and princely palaces."
"In a drive from Perth to Taymouth and back agai n by another route we
saw not so much as a half of mile of scenery that might be called commonplace
or unint eresting."
Perth was Capital of Scotland until 1437.
W e find a mention of Kilc hurn Castle on Loch Awe in Argyleshire having
belonged to the MacGregor s in "Over The Border" by Winters, page 159.
Before coming to Oban, I gave several nights and days to Loch Awe, a place
so beautiful and so frau ght with the means of happin ess that time stands still in it,
and even the ceaseless vultures of care and regre t cease for a while to vex spirit
with remembrance of anythin g that is sad.
Looking down fr om the summit of one of the great mountai ns which are the
rich and rugged sett ing of that jewel , I saw the cru mbling ruin of Kilchurn upon
its litt le island , gray relic, first of the MacG rego rs and then of th e Campbe lls who
dispossessed them and occupied th eir realm. It must have been an Imperial residence
once; its situation, cut off from the mainland and command ing a clear
view up the Lake and down the valleys southward and northward is superb.
No enemy could approach it unawa re, and doubtless the followers of th e Mac­
Gregor s occupied every adjacent pass, and lay ambushed in every thicket on th e
height s.
Seen from the neighboring mountain side the waters of Loch Awe are of
such crystal clearness that near some parts of the shore sands are visible in perfect
outline beneath them , while all the glorious engirdling hills are reflected in th eir
still shining depth.
Sometimes the sun flashed out and changed the water to liquid silver, light ing
up the gray ruin and flooding the mountain slopes with gold, but more ofte n the
skies kept their sombre hue, darkening all beneath them with lovely gloom, and
its surf ace is dotted with small islands.
On one of these called Innis-hail (hall) are the remains of a small Cistercian
nunnery and a churchyard containing many curious old tombstones. On another,
Innis Fraoch, are some traces of an ancient castle formerly the residence of the
Chief of the MacNaughtons.
Winter mentions Glen Orchy : All ar ound were the beautiful hills of Glen
Orchy, and so far as the Eastward great waves of white and leaden mist, slowly
drifting in the upper either, now hid, now disclosed the Olympian head of Ben Lui,