Easter Monday Drive Highland Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland Easter Monday travel video of a road trip drive, with Scottish music on visit to Highland, Perthshire. Scottish clan and family names of Highland Perthshire include, Campbell, Drummond, Graham, Hay, MacGregor, MacLaren, MacNeish, MacNab, Menzies, Moncrieffe, Murray, Rattray, Robertson, Rollo, Ruthven, Stuart and Stewart

The Clan Campbell rise to power in Scotland dates from the period when Sir Colin Campbell of Loch Awe supported Robert Bruce in his quest for the Scottish throne. As did a number of other Scottish families who did well out of supporting Bruce and the winning side! Lands from those on the losing side were granted and the Campbells continued to rise in power and wealth in Argyll by supporting the monarchy against local rebels.

During the Jacobite wars of 1715 and 1745 Clan Drummond fought for the Stuart Royal line against the Hanoverians. The 5th Earl of Perth led the Jacobite cavalry at Sheriffmuir in 1715 and the 6th Earl commanded the left wing of Bonnie Prince Charlie's doomed army at Culloden in 1746. By joining the losing side, their lands were forfeited in 1746. However these were eventually restored and Drummond Castle is now the seat of the Earls of Ancaster who are descendants from the female line of Drummonds.

The Clan Graham held various lands in Perthshire. Now ruined Auchterarder Castle was originally a Graham stronghold which later passed to the Drummonds through marriage. Braco Castle belonged to the Earls of Montrose. In 1625 a Graham was created Baronet of Braco. In 1790 Braco Castle passed to the Smythes.

The name Hay comes from La Haye in Normandy, France. The first of the Scottish Clan Hay family was William de Hay who was Royal butler (a more important role than in modern times) during the reign of William the Lion 1165 to 1214. As such he was given title of Baron of Erroll. He married into the old Pictish line in Eva of Pitmilly and his sone david Hay married Ethna, daughter of the Celtic Earl of Strathearn.

Traditional Clan MacGregor lands lay along west Perthshire and across to Loch Awe. By supporting Robert the Bruce, Campbells were given huge tracts of land in Argyll and Perthshire which had previously been MacGregor. MacGregors were forced to live in the poorest remoter areas of what became Campbell land. There was never really peace between the Campbells and MacGregors.

The Clan MacLaren of Perthshire were an ancient clan originally holding lands in Balquhidder and west Strathearn. The Clan fought with Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden in 1746. MacLaren of Invernenty was taken prisoner and escaped while en route to Carlisle, England.

Clan MacNeish is a sept of the Clan MacGregor who once occupied the lands to the west of Loch Earn. Clan MacNeish were based at Loch Earn Castle on Neish Island off St Fillans. In 1612 they raided the MacNabs whose lands lay to the north around Loch Tay.

Clan MacNab territory stretched from west Loch Tay and Killin across Glendochart to Tyndrum. The ancient seat of the MacNabs was a castle on Eilean Ran, an island on River Lochay. In 1646 the Loch Dochart Castle, which had been built by Black Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy between Killin and Crianlarich, was destroyed by the MacNabs.

Clan Menzies supported Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn and, like many others who chose the winning side, was rewarded with further lands in Glendochart in north west Perthshire. By Bruce's death the Menzies' lands stretched from Aberfeldy to Loch Lomond. One Perthshire branch of the Menzies, the Menzies of Culdares in Glen Lyon are credited with introducing the larch to Scotland from the Tyrol in 1738.

The Clan Moncrieffe name comes from Moncrieffe Hill south east of Perth made from hard ancient lava. The River Tay lies to the north and the River Earn to the south; they join just east of the hill. Malcolm Moncrieffe, died 1465, was a member of the council of James III. Sir John Moncrieffe died with King James IV in the disasterous Battle of Flodden in 1513.

The Clan Murray name comes from the region of Moray in the north east. Sir Andrew Murray fought in William Wallace's rebellion of 1297. The Murrays of Tullibardine descend from Malcolm de Moray whose son, Sir John, married the daughter of the Seneschal of Strathearn bringing them the lands of Abercairney, east of Crieff around 1320. Another marriage by the family into the old Celtic aristocracy of Perthshire by Sir William brought further lands around Tullibardine and their place in Perthshire history. King James VI granted lands around Scone to David Murray making him Lord Scone in 1605 and Viscount Stormont in 1621. Lord George Murray was Bonnie Prince Charlie's brilliant general during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. William Murray, son of the 5th Viscount Stormont became Lord Mansfield in 1756 and 1st Earl of Mansfield in 1776.

The Clan Rattray are said to have acquired their lands from King Malcolm Canmore in the 11th Century. This is another Perthshire case of the surname being taken from the place. The Rattrays fought for King Charles I and in 1650 Craighall Castle was beseiged. After the Restoration of the monarchy, the Rattray position was consolidated and the lands previously stole by Atholl were returned. In 1745 the Rattrays did not send forces to join Bonnie Prince Charlie, however the laird's brother John was doctor to the Jacobites.

Clan Robertson are of the Clan Donnachaidh, Sons of Duncan or Duncanson, which descend from the Celtic Earls of Atholl, the Royal line of the Kings of Dalriada whose lineage can be traced back to Niall of the Nine Hostages who ruled Ireland about 400AD. The Perthshire surname Robertson derives from the descendants of Robert Donnachaidh who helped capture the assasins of James I in 1437. He found some of the traitors hiding in a remote glen in Atholl, captured them and handed them over to the loyal forces. In reward King James II consolidated the family's lands into the Barony of Struan.

The original Clan Rollo family seat was Duncrub Castle of which little now remains. Lord Rollo of Duncrub castle was beheaded in 1645 after being captured at the Battle of Philiphaugh. He had joined Montrose in his ill fated rebellion in Scotland in support of Charles I while the Scottish army was in England fighting on the Parliamentary side. The 4th Lord Rollo fought with the Earl of Mar for the Jacobite cause in the rebellion of 1715 but was later pardoned.

The Clan Ruthven surname comes from the Gaelic Ruadhainn, the area of Perthshire north of Loch Rannoch. The family are sometimes said to have Norse origins. In 1487 Sir William of Ruthven married a Cameron heiress and was given a peerage as Lord Ruthven. Patrick, 3rd Lord Ruthven was leader of the Protestant Lords of the Congregation who deposed the Regent Mary of Lorraine in 1559, mother of Mary Queen of Scots. In 1566 he was leader of the lords who burst into Mary's private quarters and murdered her servant Rizzio before her eyes. Ruthven fled to England as the repercussions of the event unfolded and died within a few months.

The Clan Stewart descends from one of the Anglo Norman knights introduced by King David I. Walter Stewart accompanied David I on his return from England to Scotland and was created Steward of Scotland. Walter the Steward was one of the commanders who defeated Somerled of the Isles in 1164. James, the 5th High Steward, fought with the Robert the Bruce and secured the ongoing privileged position for the family. Sir Walter Stewart married the Bruce's daughter Marjorie. On the death of Bruce's only son David II, Sir Walter's son and Bruce's grandson, Robert Stewart became Robert II. The Stewart Royal line continued with male heirs until Mary Queen of Scots. The Stewarts held the Scottish throne with Robert II from 1371, later the English and British, until Queen Anne in 1714. But of course, after the Hanoverian line was placed on the throne, the Royal Stewart line continued through uncrowned James VIII and James Francis Edward Stewart, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Jacobite rebellions continued up until the final defeat at Culloden in 1746.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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