Rob Roy Way

[zenhas]

Just returned from my recent holiday in Highlands. We hiked Rob Roy Way. It was wonderful journey. A lot of great places, a lot of great people.
It's nice to see, locals are well surprised by stranger walking the hills kilted with a backpack on his back.
It was wonderful 14 days of kilted stay in this beautiful country. And that's why I'm so glad to come back there.

[grizzbass]

sounds like a great experience

[008kilts]

Zenhas,
Could you provide more details of you Rob Roy trip? Sounds very enjoyable. We you camp or pub to pub?
008kilts

[tokareva]

Is that a graveyard? What does the engraving on the headstone mean? What is the thing that looks like a bed frame?

[zenhas]

tokareva> Yes. It is. Thing "looking like a bed" is metal frame. There are metal plates on the front with name of Rob, his wife and sons buried here.
Here I give ya better photo.



Helen, Rob's wife


Rob Roy MacGregor


Col and Robert, sons

[tripleblessed]

Is that a graveyard? What does the engraving on the headstone mean? What is the thing that looks like a bed frame?

Rob Roy's marker is in the graveyard of the Old Kirk in Balquhidder. For reasons related to politics (longer, ugly story; not to be discussed here),
it became illegal to bear the name MacGregor. Some were executed, many took other names, some left. He was buried with his own name,
thereby MacGregor despite them. The frame is to encourage folk to keep their distance and to be respectful. He was a colorful personage,
and like Robin Hood and the James brothers, the story depends on your political perspective. It's history, and the reality is immutable. The "facts", however, are malleable.

[zenhas]

Zenhas,
Could you provide more details of you Rob Roy trip? Sounds very enjoyable. We you camp or pub to pub?
008kilts

Sure, I can. Give me some time.

[zenhas]

Zenhas,
Could you provide more details of you Rob Roy trip? Sounds very enjoyable. We you camp or pub to pub?
008kilts

Here I give you a few words about our hike as promissed.

I took my inspiration on Walkhighlands website. I use it as very first source when plan my trips to Scotland.

WH describe Rob Roy Way from Drymen to Pitlochry. Due to better times to fly from/to Scotland, we went that opposite way from Pitlochry to Drymen.
We arrived in Edinburgh airport and then catched evening train from Waverley station to Pitlochry where the real journey started.
Planning was very relaxed, we didn't directly follow daily stages as described on WH. Our daily hike was from about 12 to 18 km approximately.
If there was any good place to stay, we finished the day and camp there. No previously arranged accomodation. Just tent.
To be correct, there were a few days, when good site for camping was difficult to find. Most forests in the area don't allow to build a tent.
There is no appropriate flat place for that. There is also not easy to camp in the hills. Surface is so juicy.
Sit down and rest is nearly impossible. Especially when the rain is comming down or stopped few hours ago.

When we arrived to any town or village, where food store was open,
we bought some food (mostly potatoes and canned Haggis , bread, milk ...etc. ) and beer also.
Every guy in group carried about 2-3 l of water in the camelbag for emergency reasons. Normally we used water from lochs and streams.
Water was filtered with Sawyer filter and/or boiled before use. Noone had any health problems according to water usage.

We hiked ten days. Last night on Rob Roy Way we spent in the only campsite near to Drymen.
It's very small and simple. Just grass place for the tents, toilets and shower in the metal hut near to farm. A lot of people walking West Highland Way camp here also. WHW is crossing RRW near to Drymen.

We finished earlier than we expected, so we extended our trip to Balloch, where we catched
the train to Glasgow. We followed the John Muir Way from Drymen to Balloch. It was terrible path. Our feet suffered on asphalt surface.

I flew home from Glasgow airport 14 days after the arrival.

We visited a few pubs also. The best was Falls of Dochart Inn in Killin from my perspective. It has great ancient feel.
Another good pubs was the Forth Inn in Aberfoyle. Guy from cycle repair shop recommended it as it has the best beer in town.
At Drymen, we didn't miss opportunity to visit the oldest licensed pub in Scotland. Clachan Inn. To be honest, there are other pubs,
which have a better atmosphere.

During the trip I hiked about 180 km in 12 days whith 22 kg backpack on my back.
Rob Roy Way mostly follow National cycle path no. 7. but it's not well marked on several places. One can easily loose his way. It is better
to have maps and compass.
Rob Roy grave is not directly on the path. If you wanna see it, you must turn near Kinghouse and go about 3 km to Balquihidder where Old Kirk with a grave is located.
I think, it worth to see it. Go down to the village also. There is very nice view to Loch Voil and the glen itself.

If you are interested in any details or other aspects, let me know.

[008kilts]

Thanks! I missed this on my visit to Scotland. Guess I need to make another trip.

Having a single malt in Edinburgh.

[tokareva]

Ok,thank you Zenhas,it makes a little more sense now. I guess it's like a border or fence, but it looks a little strange to me.
I still don't understand what the headstone inscription could mean though.