Historical Articles and Stories

Written for the Clan Gregor Society, Western USA Chapter newsletter,
the GRIOGARACH, in 2002 by Carolynn Black.

The Glengyle branch of the MacGregor family is believed to have descended from Donald Ciar, the fifth son of the Laird of MacGregor, in the year of 1450. The motto of this branch of the family, "Ein do bait spair nocht” is noted to be chiseled onto the western inner wall of the family burial yard of the Chieftain Iain (John) MacGregor of Glengyle.

A brief bit of MacGregor family history might assist the reader to understand the significance of this branch of the MacGregor family and the heritage lands known as Glen Gyle. Donald Ciar married and had two sons. His younger son, Gregor Dow, worked under tenants named MaCruiter, on the lands belonging to the Laird of Buchanan. Gregor’s grandson, another Gregor Dow, in the 16th century, married Janet Buchanan, and as part of the traditional marriage dowry, a grant of lease of Glen Gyle was given.

Later, when the lands were taken away from the Buchanans by the Duke of Montrose, the lease was fortunately renewed to Gregor Dow’s great grandson, Gregor Ghlune Dhu (Gregor Black Knee). Then in 1703, the lands of Glen Gyle were purchased for Gregor, and for the very first time, the Chieftain of Glen Gyle actually owned the lands upon which he lived. Gregor Ghlune Dhu’s son was named Donald. Donald married Margaret Campbell, and they had two sons, Iain (John) and Robert Roy (Rob Roy) of Inversnaid.

Although Rob Roy’s father, Donald had been the Chieftain of the Dugall Ciar branch of the MacGregors, His son, Rob Roy would never be named Chieftain. That designation was bestowed upon his older brother Iain MacGregor. In 1700, Iain MacGregor died and his son, Gregor, became the new Chieftain of the House of Glen Gyle. Rob Roy MacGregor became Tutor to his nephew, and was solely responsible for his teaching and warfare training.

One of the first things that Rob Roy accomplished after his brother Iain’s death, was to successfully negotiate with the Duke of Montrose the purchase of the Glen Gyle lands for his nephew, Gregor. On the first of July, 1703, the legal charter was granted Rob Roy as attorney for and in the name of James Graham (Gregor took the name of his benefactor after the proscription), pupil.”

In 1705, Rob Roy’s uncle (the very last Chieftain of the House of Glenstrae, Archibald) sold his estate of Craigrostan at Inversnaid to Rob Roy MacGregor, thereby creating quite an impressive estate for the Chieftain of Glen Gyle. The Laird of Luss confirmed the ownership, and Rob Roy moved his wife Helen Mary and their baby son, Coll, from the farm at Monachyle Turach (located in the Glen of Balquhidder) to the roomier house at Inversnaid.

The "White House” or tigh geal of Glen Gyle, where the young Chieftain Gregor continued to lay claim, stood alongside Loch Katrine. The white coloring of the house was created from the outer ancient stonework mortar, providing it with a very lightened appearance. Glengyle house stands about three hundred yards above the River Gyle’s north bank [ed. - also known as Glengyle Water]. Ben Venue stands looming over the loch as a gentle guardian of the land and loch.

As many of you know, in 1855, by an Act of Parliament, the Glasgow Corporation became the owners of Loch Katrine water and surrounding lands, and by 1954, had become the Laird of the entire catchment area. The control of these heritage lands had been, until September 2001, with the Strathclyde Regional Water Council of the Glasgow Water and Power Authority. In late summer of 2001, a gentleman from Edinburgh made a bid for the property referred to by the West of Scotland Water as "Lot 1a.” The "Loch Katrine portfolio” as it was referred to, was comprised of several residences on the side of the loch which supplies water to Glasgow and inspired the foundational literary work called "The Lady of the Lake” by Sir Walter Scott.

Malcolm White of Lochearnhead, Perthshire, a Clan Gregor member, advised me that the collection of six houses were former residences of the various water authority workers. All the sheep and the cattle living around the Loch area have been sold off, and all the Shepherds and other farm workers let go. Also for sale is the Glengyle House Steading (barn), a range of lovely stone buildings; Brenachoil Lodge (a former Victorian era hunting lodge), which has been separated into four residences; Stronachlachar House (an Edwardian era building which had been a hotel, where Queen Victoria had once visited, and more recently, staff residences and meeting rooms for the Water Authority. The range of bids for the individual properties were £50,000 to £210,000.

The sale of the Glengyle House property fell through, as did the plans the new owner had of tearing down the house, renovated in the 1930’s, and developing a holiday rental at the site. Currently the Water Board has put up only the Glengyle Steadings and stone buildings for sale, and hasn’t included the Glengyle (main) House.

Last summer (June 2001) I reported to our Western USA Chapter membership that the Clan Gregor Society of Scotland and the American Clan Gregor Society were both very much interested in procuring this historical site. The CGS of Scotland Council and several members arranged for an inspection of the property to determine its value and estimates of needed repairs.

After the inspection of the property it was determined that the CGS of Scotland would not be able to offer any bid for the Glengyle House and surrounding property as there were major repairs needed, and extremely formidable restrictions upon the property's access and use, levied by the Water Board.

Malcolm White advises us that the MacGregor burial sites at Glengyle House and at Portnellan will continue to be cared for by local caretakers and volunteers (NOT Water Authority employees). Clan Gregor members have limited access to the family grave sites through walking or bicycle riding alongside the Water Authority's service roads next to the waters of Loch Katrine. Portnellan is where Iain (John) MacGregor, Chieftain of Glengyle, actually resided, and was later laid to rest with his family.

As you think about your own family roots, and the history of the lost or destroyed (Lanrick) MacGregor lands, it is just one more loss of a family’s culture and heritage rights. Ancestral lands unable to be owned or settled upon due to devastating economic challenges and unsavory political maneuverings. Many of us are planning our "Journey Home” to attend the 2003 Clan Gregor Annual General Meeting and Gathering. This might be the very last time to actually be able to visit Glengyle House and Portnellan, and to experience the haunting beauty of these ancestral lands. There are nearly 250 Clan Gregor Members who have confirmed their attendance at the historical gathering in 2003.

"As long as there are leaves in the forests ...
MacGregors forever!”

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Updated 29 January, 2008