Balquhidder - Home & Grave of Rob Roy

Balquhidder is a small village at Loch Voil in a valley flanked by a number of mountains. The area is popular for hiking, walking, biking, fishing, and visiting the grave of the famous outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

Balquhidder is in the council of Stirling, 15 miles north of Callander, 7 miles south of Lochearnhead village.

The scenic 7 mile long single lane road down between the mountains, alongside Loch Voil and Loch Doine, ends at a hiking car park for the highest mountains, up to 3,800ft, on the west end of Loch Doine.

The road to Balquhidder off the main A84 road at the Mhor 84 Motel can be a bit confusing, take your time and follow the signs, or use the postcode in SatNav.

For images of the mountains in the area and other attractions, view the click on map link below.

The Monachyle Mhor Hotel with a top restaurant is 4 miles west of Balquhidder, down the single lane road between the two lochs.

The image second top is of the Old and New churches at Balquhidder. The Old Church is where the grave of Rob Roy MacGregor can be found.

The new church serves as the village Parish Church with a room giving information on the Clans that lived in the area such as the MacLarens, MacGregors, Stewarts, Fergussons, MacNabs, Buchanans, and Campbells.

Rob Roy was a Scottish outlaw in the early 1700s, first made famous by the William Wordsworth poem, Rob Roy's Grave, written after he visited the area in 1803.

Interest in the area escalated after Sir Walter Scott published the novel Rob Roy in 1817.

The 1995 Rob Roy film starring Liam Neeson, showed life at the times and how people could easily become outlaws.

Rob Roy Information

Rob Roy was born at Loch Katrine in 1671, 20 miles south of Balquhidder. His parents were Donald Glas MacGregor and Margaret Campbell.

The cottage he was born in is said to be where Glengyle House now stands, on the west end of the loch, 8 miles west of the Loch Katrine pier for the boat trips.

Rob Roy set up a business as a cattle drover and made his home at Inversnaid 5 miles west of Loch Katrine, on the east side of Loch Lomond.

1689 - Rob Roy and other MacGregor's join the First Jacobite Rising to have the Stuart kings restored to the throne.

1692 - the Jacobite's ended the war by announcing their allegiance to King William.

1693 - Rob Roy married his cousin Helen MacGregor. They had a family of four sons named James, Ranald, Coll, Robert, and adopted a cousin named Duncan.

1707 - the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments takes place.

1711 - Rob Roy borrowed money from the Duke of Montrose to invest in his cattle droving business. This money was lost the following year, said to have been stolen by his head drover.

The Duke of Montrose responded to the loss of the money by seizing Rob Roy's home and land.

Rob Roy set about his revenge on the Duke of Montrose by rustling cattle.

Rob Roy escalated his feud with the Duke after he kidnapped the Dukes factor when he was collecting rent from farmers. Rob Roy relieved the factor of his money then imprisoned him on a small island in Loch Katrine, now known as Factors Island.

Rob Roy was then accused of forcing landowners in the area to pay him to protect their cattle.

1713 - Rob Roy moves to Auchinsallen in Glen Dochart till it was destroyed during the 1715 - 1716 Jacobite uprising.

1715 - Rob Roy is credited with capturing 22 government guns in Callander.

1715 - Rob Roy is credited with taking part in the Battle of Sheriffmuir and a raid on Falkland Palace.

1717 - Rob Roy is captured by government forces and imprisoned but manages to escape.

1719 - Rob Roy is wounded at the Battle of Glen Shiel, leading to him setting up home in the area of Balquhidder.

1722 - Rob Roy reaches an agreement with the Duke of Montrose to end the feud.

1725 - Rob Roy submits his allegiance to George I via General Wade, distancing himself from further Jacobite Risings.

1734 - Rob Roy dies at Balquhidder Glen aged 63, and is buried in Balquhidder Kirkyard. There seems to be no remains of his home.

The grave also contains his wife and two sons.

2002 - a 92 mile footpath named the Rob Roy Way is set up passing many places connected to Rob Roy.

Descendants of Rob Roy continued living at Balquhidder, before moving around Scotland. Others moved to Canada. Decendants Information.