2005 Rob Roy Commemoration

[Mike]

I had timed my second trip to Scotland to coincide with the annual Na Fir Dileas Robert 'Rob Roy' MacGregor commemoration. As it turned out, Colin was looking for a pastor to do a short devotion and prayer at Rob Roy's graveside, so I was honored to do this for him.

Early this morning, I had raced off the plane in Glasgow, where Maitland picked me up and dropped me at a friend's house in Sauchie. I said my hellos as I was charging up the stairs and into the shower. I rapidly donned my kilt and we were off to Sauchie Hall to board a hired bus and head to Kingshouse.

It was a very gray and cold day, but the scenery as we drove up through Doune, Callander and Strathyre was really amazing.


Mustering outside the Kingshouse Hotel for the 2 mile march to Balquhidder Parish Church








Assembling at the Rob Roy graveside, at Balquhidder Parish Church

What appears to be snow is actually a very heavy frost. It was C-O-L-D!


Colin leading off the commemorative service




I then read a bit of Scripture and lead prayer


Flowers being laid at the grave


The piper's lament






Some of the hardy souls that braved the cold weather the day






The ruins of the original church


Even on such a steel-gray day, the scenery was still breathtaking












Making the march back to Kingshouse for a spell by the fire in the Rob Roy Bar, an excellent meal and a great night's entertainment by Cal and Albannach







The evening was cut short, as a snowfall moved into the area. Just the day before, I had left my home where there was some 16 inches of snow on the ground, but our bus driver was concerned about getting back to Stirling. And believe it or not, a mere two inch snowfall ended up closing the road at Doune, so we ended up detouring to get back to Sauchie.

These images were taken at kingshouse the next morning by a friend that was visiting from North Carolina -

[MiLadyCeilidh]

I remember these beautiful photos. BUT 2005 ..... where in the world has time gone?

[Annidiane]

Beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you for posting it all.

Anni

[MacPatrick]

These pictures always stir my MacGregor blood, thanks for posting them.

[Mike]

Jim, words cannot describe the walk from Kingshouse to Balquhidder Parish Church. Mairead, help me out here. How can you describe the feeling of going back in time to someone that hasn't made that walk?

I remember stopping at one point, when there were no houses in view. Had it not been the tarmac under our feet, it could have been the 18th Century, because there was nothing else to defy that thought.

And then to be invited to take part in the commemoration service itself? I was humbled beyond belief.

Some fine summer day, I'm going to convince Maitland we need to visit Balquhidder. As beautiful as it was on such a cold and bleak day, I still want to see it in all its green splendor. Maitland, have you ever walked to the waterfall?

[mairead]

yes Mike, it is a strange feeling going down that road. It is like going back in time but I must admit, having done it in the pouring rain, it lost a wee bit of it's charm for me.
Saorsa walked that day with only his plaid, no shirt or anything and he said to me
"If it was good enough for my ancestors, it's goo enough for me"
The hotel that afteroon was a scene of wet clothes hanging wherever they could find a space to hang them

[Maitland]

Mike Wrote:

I'm going to convince Maitland we need to visit Balquhidder. As beautiful as it was on such a cold and bleak day, I still want to see it in all its green splendor. Maitland, have you ever walked to the waterfall?

Well that is going to take a lot of convincing !! I have walked a fair distance down this road but have never had the pleasure of the waterfall.

M...

[Mike]

Luath mistakenly thought that was the year I was across. We had no rain, but it was certainly cold. And the snow was coming down pretty hard that evening, which ended up in us returning to Clacks earlier than anticipated.

[mairead]

Yesterday (28th Dec.) we went to the Rob Roy commemoration at Balquhidder.
It was a nice day for the march, cold, but crisp and dry. We were joined tis year by some of the Strathleven Artisans (Bruce men) for this years service.
Luath gave an interesting talk about Rob's life and death and Duncan of the Artisans also gave a talk. Flowers were laid, then everyone marched back to the Kingshouse Hotel for refreshments.