Your Detailed Itinerary Homelandsof the Clans
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Cover: Tartan scarves, Edinburgh © Paul Dodds/VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint Additional photography: Historic Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Viewpoint
Day 1Perth, the starting point of this itinerary, is also home of the Regimental Museum to the Black Watch, the oldest Highland regiment and a reminder that, as the old clan ways were swept aside, the Highland clans became a pool of men for the armies of imperial Britain. Go north for Killiecrankie, scene of a famous battle in 1689 when the clans on the Jacobite side (who wanted to restore the exiled Stuart King of Scotland) defeated the government opposition.
Continue on the A9 for Newtonmore and the Clan Macpherson Museum with its ancient clan relics. Nearby, and highly visible from the main road, are the Ruthven Barracks, destroyed by the Jacobite clans, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s supporters, during the final Jacobite rebellion in 1745-6.
Day 2The most important site connected with the ending of the old clan way of life can be found by continuing on the A9 and following signs for Culloden, near Inverness. After the defeat of the mostly Highland army of Bonnie Prince Charlie (though more Scots actually fought on the government side), severe measures were put in place to ensure that the clans could no longer act as ‘private armies’. A huge military fortification was built at Fort George, near Culloden. Both sites should be visited – but allow enough time to appreciate the sheer scale of Fort George.
Day 3Head west for Inverness and continue northwards, taking the A9, then the B9176 for the Struie Viewpoint over the Dornoch Firth and the old clanlands of the north. Drop down to the A836, turning west at Ardgay for Croick Church where, in 1845, 80 local people who had been cleared from their
lands in the glen took shelter in the churchyard and are said to have scratched messages on the glass of the church’s east window which can still be seen today.
Return to Ardgay and circle north to take in the scenic Falls of Shin with its visitor centre and then east to Dunrobin Castle at Golspie. The castle, the largest house in the north of Scotland, is associated with the Sutherland clearances in the area and there is a Clan Sutherland room within the castle, with genealogical material.
Day 4Return south via Strathpeffer to take the A832 at Garve for the west, reaching the coast at Loch Carron. Further south, Eilean Donan Castle stands on Loch Duich by the A87. Briefly retrace the route to cross to Skye by the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh. Head for the north-west of the island to see Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the Clan MacLeod.
Day 5Go south on the island, and, beyond Broadford, take the road for Sleat, the southernmost part of the island, sometimes known as the ‘Garden of Skye’. Visit the Armadale Castle Gardens and Museum of the Isles, with its comprehensive displays and story of the Lords of the Isles. From Armadale cross to the mainland at Mallaig by ferry.
Day 6Take the ‘Road to the Isles’ back to Fort William, its name recalling the fort built here to control clan activities in the Great Glen. On the way, take in Glenfinnan where Bonnie Prince Charlie rallied the local clans to his cause in 1745. Continue south to take the A82 to visit the National Trust for Scotland’s visitor centre in Glencoe. Return to the shores of Loch Linnhe to head south for Oban, departure point for Mull, where the seat of the Macleans is at Duart Castle. Alternatively, stay on the mainland, continuing south for Tarbert and
Kennacraig, ferryport for the island of Islay, where the story of the Clan Donald can be discovered at Finlaggan.
Homelands of the Clans
Homelandsof the Clans
1
BLACK WATCH MUSEUM – The story of the oldest Highland regiment from its original raising as six independent companies in 1725 to the present day.
7
EILEAN DONAN CASTLE Much photographed icon of Scotland, destroyed by naval guns during the 1719 Jacobite uprising, and rebuilt in the 1930s.
2
KILLIECRANKIE – This National Trust forScotland visitor centre tells the story of the1689 battle. Excellent local riverside walks,including the famous ‘Soldier’s Leap’.
4
CULLODEN – The National Trust for Scotland look after this atmospheric battlesite, the last battle fought on mainland Britain. Vivid and poignant audio-visual displays bring it alive.
5
FORT GEORGE – Described as the finest surviving complete military fortification in Europe, built to control the Highlands and has never fired a shot in anger.
L i tt l e
M
i n ch
Th e M
i nch
M o ra y Fi r t h
Fi r t h o f Fo r t h
LochShin
LochNess
LochEricht
Loch Tay
LochAwe
Loch Earn
Loch LomondLoch Lomond
LochShiel
A712
A96
A96
A701
A702
A167A746
A702
A713
A816
A816
A848
A68A844
A702
A697
A688
A868
A947A940
A84
A811
A7
A7
A72
A596
A857
A71
A595
A815
A98
A77
A90
A920
A714
A710
A926
A9
A97
A75
A77
A701
A701
A711
A69
A855
A755
A867
A716
A941
A7
A82
A822
A837
A696
A957
A592
A95
A839
A941
A77
A77
A858
A944
A78 A737
A78
A83
A83 A82
A6
A933
A1087
A875
A814
A90
A821
A689
A93
A939
A686
A6088
A198
A831
A1
A920
A75
A75 A75
A75
A850
A830
A846
A709
A841
A99
A66
A835
A965
A83
A6112
A866
A930
A847
A948
A698
A751
A76
A76
A76
A81
A917
A69
A97
A917
A708
A68
A68
A760
A1
A980
A916
A923
A70
A9
A9
A721
A1068
A92
A699
A975
A91
A859
A986
A919
A966
A981
A967
A960
A15
A1
A1
A6105
A937
A70
A85
A706
A886
A913
A836
A90
A90
A689
A827
A888
A86
A990
A865
A938
A880
A698
A94
A95
A95
A591
A838
A894
A823
A819
A939
A6089
A762
A712
A85
A863
A928
A964
A849
A941
A719
A747
A861
A85 A85
A9
A934
A882
A924
A961
A828A884
A832
A950
A698
A822
A944
A889
A826
A817
A952
A832
A833
A699
A949
A703
A923
A920
A82
A87
A87
A87
A890
A890
A839
A836
A851
A836
A887
A99
A835
A689
A897A894
A846
A896
M74
A194(M)
M9
M74
M8
A1(M)
M77
A74(M)
M80
M8
M6
M8
M90
M9
M6
M8
E N G L A N DN O R T H E R NI R E L A N D
SPEY VALLEY
StromnessKirkwall
John o’ GroatsGills Bay
Scrabster
ThursoMelvichBettyhill
Tongue
Durness
Scourie
Altnaharra
Lochinver
Wick
Dunbeath
Helmsdale
BroraGolspie
DornochTain
Lairg
Ullapool
Gairloch
Torridon
Stornoway
Arnol
Port of Ness
Callanish
Tarbert
Leverburgh
Otternish
Dingwall Nairn Elgin
CromartyBanff Fraserburgh
Peterhead
Turriff
Huntly
Grantown-on-Spey
Aviemore Boat ofGarten
KingussieRalia
Muir of Ord
CullenMacduff
GardenstownForres
Dufftown
Craigellachie
AchnasheenStrathpeffer
Portree
Elgol
Uig
Dunvegan
Sconser
Lochcarron
Kyle ofLochalsh
Broadford
Carbost
Armadale
Mallaig
Glenelg
Shiel Bridge
Kylerhea
Lochmaddy
Lochboisdale
Isle of Eriskay
Castlebay
DrumnadrochitUrquhartCastle
Fort AugustusInvergarry
Spean Bridge
Newtonmore
Braemar
Glenshee
BallaterCrathie
Aboyne
Edzell
AlfordInverurie
Ellon
Banchory
Stonehaven
Forfar
Kirriemuir
Glamis
Arbroath
Montrose
Crieff
Carnoustie
BrechinPitlochry
Blairgowrie
Aberfeldy
Killin
Dunkeld
Scone
KinlochRannoch
BlairAtholl
Bruar
Fort William
Oban
CorranStrontian Glencoe
Ballachulish
LochalineFishnish
Craignure
Acharacle
Kilchoan
Tobermory
Fionnphort
Feolin
PortAskaig
Bowmore
PortEllen
Crinan
Lochgilphead
Tarbert
TayinloanCarradale
Dunoon
Rothesay Largs
Irvine
DumbartonBalloch
Drymen
Dunblane
Helensburgh
Wemyss Bay
Crianlarich
Tyndrum
Tarbet
Inveraray
Lochearnhead
Callander
AberfoyleArdgartan
GourockGreenock
ColintraiveRhubodach
PortavadieKennacraig
Claonaig
Lochranza
Brodick
Campbeltown
Ardrossan
Troon
Prestwick
Kilmarnock
Millport
Ayr
Maybole
LanarkPeebles
Penicuik
Biggar
Abington
Newton Stewart
Girvan
Stranraer
Whithorn
WigtownPortpatrick
Port Logan
Cairnryan CastleDouglas
Gatehouseof Fleet
Kirkcudbright
Dalbeattie
NewAbbey
Langholm
Gretna
LockerbieDumfries
Thornhill
GretnaGreen
Carlisle
Moffat
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Haddington
Galashiels
St Andrews
North BerwickDunbar
Cupar
GlenrothesKinross
Dunfermline
LinlithgowFalkirk
Selkirk
JedburghHawick
Poolewe
Tomintoul
Daviot
Spittal ofGlenshee
Arisaig
Kirkcaldy
Eyemouth
CrailAnstruther
SanquharWanlockhead
New Galloway
Melrose KelsoColdstream
Burwick
St Margaret’s Hope
Aultbea
Mellon Udrigle
Buckie
KeithFochabers
Lossiemouth
Carrbridge
Kincraig
Hamilton
Coatbridge
Motherwell
Paisley
Larne
Alva
Bo'nessRosyth
Auchterarder
Burntisland
RoslinNewtongrangeDalkeithOld Craighall
Leven
Mauchline
NorthKessock
Drimnin
Laga
Ballycastle
Beauly
GLASGOW
ABERDEEN
INVERNESS
DUNDEEPERTH
NEWCASTLEUPON TYNE
EDINBURGH
BELFAST
STIRLING
Cairngorms
National Park
Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park
Cairngorms
National Park
Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park
LEWIS
HARRIS
BARRA
Canna
Rum
Eigg
Muck
Coll
Tiree
Colonsay
Iona
GighaBute
Seil
Lismore
Ardnamurchan
Luing
RAASAY
NORTHUIST
SOUTHUIST
MULL
JURA
ISLAY
ARRAN
Mull OfGalloway
SKYE
SCALPAY
BERNERAY
ORKNEY
SANDAY
STRONSAYEday
ROUSAY
HOYSOUTH RONALDSAY
BENBECULA
Culloden
ClanMacPherson
Museum
Black Watch Museum
Killiecrankie
Glencoe
Finlaggan
Duart Castle
Fort George
Eilean DonanCastle
Dunrobin Castle
1
2
4
8
5
7
6
9
10
3
0 10 20 30 405 Miles
0 25 5012.5 Kilometers
© MFAtech [email protected]+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011
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11-HOMELANDS_OF_CLANS_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/17/2015 10:37:56 AM
In times long ago, the Highlands were the strongholds of the Gaelic-speaking clans – a race apart from Lowland Scotland. The clan system, with its emphasis on loyalty and kinship to the clan chief, began to break down during the 18th century, as Scotland changed with the modern age. Eventually, leaving their homelands voluntarily or otherwise, clansfolk were scattered across the world, though many to this day still feel the call of Scotland.
Homelandsof the Clans
6
DUNROBIN CASTLE – Associated with the Sutherland clearances in the area, there is a Clan Sutherland room within the castle, with genealogical material.
9
DUART CASTLE – Home of the Clan Maclean, set in a prominent position overlooking the Sound of Mull. Originally built in the 14th century, with 20th century restoration.
10
FINLAGGAN, ISLAY – Headquarters for generations of Macdonald chiefs, on an island stronghold on a loch. Nearby interpretative centre tells their story.
8
GLENCOE – Visitor centre tells the story of the infamous ‘Massacre of Glencoe’. A party of Campbell soldiers took shelter with local Macdonalds, then betrayed their hospitality by attempting to murder them all.
CLAN MACPHERSON MUSEUM In Newtonmore, this museum developed by enthusiasts of the Clan Macpherson has a wealth of clan relics, including chanters and swords, as well as genealogical material.
3