Trossachs
The Trossachs is an area of outstanding natural beauty at the border of Highland and Lowland Scotland. The combination of easy access, unspoilt scenery and historical interest, have all been factors in its choice as Scotland's first National Park. Established in April of 2001 the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park will bring a higher profile to the area while improving the facilities and management of the area for generations to come.
Tourism in the area is not a recent development. Ever since the publication of the 'Lady of the Lake' by Sir Walter Scott in 1810 and 'Rob Roy' in 1817 it has been an area which has captured the public imagination. Scott himself described the area thus -
"So wondrous wild, the whole might seem
The scenery of a fairy dream."
For generations its misty glens, glassy lochs and rugged hills have impressed and inspired many painters, artists and poets - amongst them James Hogg, Samuel Coleridge and William Wordsworth. Queen Victoria herself was also a great fan of the area and her patronage made it arguably Scotland's earliest and most enduring holiday destination.
This area has long been the home to the formidable Highland clans and perhaps their proximity to the supposedly 'civilised' lowlands gave those from the Trossachs a more terrible reputation than some. It is Rob Roy MacGregor though who has become the Trossach's most famous son.
Born in 1671 by the East bank of Loch Lomond, he was the youngest son of the Clan's 15th Chief. Alongside a legitimate career as a cattle drover he also had a reputation as an occasional cattle reiver (rustler).
When this and the politics of the day conspired against him Rob eventually had his lands taken from him, and thus began his career as the all out rebel, outlaw and folk hero so well known to this day.
Over the next several years he was known to fight with great success for the Jacobites side, but was also reputed to give intelligence to the Government Army, being captured on a few occasions but always managing to escape. In 1726 he was captured once more and sent to Newgate Prison in London. There he received a full pardon and returned to the Trossachs making his home at Balquhidder where he remained until at the age of 63 in 1734 he died.
His grave is at Balquhidder, where people still pay their respects to him to this day. On his grave stone is "Macgregors Despite Them", referring to the times when the surname MacGregor was made illegal. Hero or villain, rogue or rebel, tales of his irrepressible exploits still reverberate among the Trossachs glens and passes to this day.
What we do in the Trossachs:
- Walks
- History and Legend
- Visit Rob Roy's grave
Tours that may visit the Trossachs include:
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