CHIEFTAIN’S WELCOME 

A very warm welcome to the Web Site of the Luss Highland Gathering.

CLAN COLQUHOUN

The lands in the Loch Lomond area have been within the Colquhoun family since 1150AD, when the lands were granted to the Laird of Luss.  The Colquhouns originated at Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde, and through the marriage of Robert of Colquhoun to the daughter of the Laird of Luss in 1358, the Luss lands came into their hands.  The Colquhoun charters to the Barony of Colquhoun, which ran eastwards from Dumbarton for six miles towards Glasgow, were granted around 1240AD.  Since those times, there has been a constant Colquhoun presence in the area.

 Over the years, they were involved in bitter inter-clan feuds with Buchanans, Galbraiths, McFarlanes and McGregors, resulting in many fatal incidents and, in 1603 the Battle of Glenfruin.   Despite the feuds, there was still much inter-marrying with these same families.   They were with Bruce at Bannockburn, fought for King Charles during the Civil Wars, and most supported the Hanoverians during the Jacobite Rebellions.

 Through the turbulent centuries of Scottish history, the Colquhouns managed successfully to retain and even increase their territories.   Many local families gradually moved away from the homelands to seek work and better opportunities in England, Ireland, the dominions and the U.S.A.   Yet many are drawn to seek out and visit the former homes of their ancestors, wishing to learn the history of their family’s life in former times.

 The Clan Colquhoun Heritage Society was re-formed in 1998 to publish the history of the area and to uncover the “forgotten” sites associated with the Clan.  The first Clan Gathering of the new Society took place at the Luss Highland Gathering in 1998 for one day.    Since the year 2000, this has been extended to a series of events over five days.

 Luss Village itself was for long known as “the prettiest village in Scotland” and even today manages to retain its charm and beauty in spite of the demands of tourism and the motor car.  The setting for the Gathering is unmatched in the whole of Scotland, and I hope that you enjoy the Games, and go home with something to remember.

Malcolm Colquhoun, yr. Of Luss.