Loch Lubnaig

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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Lubnaig, Loch, a lake of Balquhidder and Callander parishes, SW Perthshire, 1 mile S of Strathyre station and 3¾ miles NW of the town of Callander. Lying 405 feet above sea-level, it extends 3 7/8 miles south-south-eastward, has a maximum width of 3 furlongs, and is traversed by the northern head-stream of the Teith. Its western shore, closely skirted by the Callander and Oban railway, is overhung by Ben Vane (2685 feet) and Ben Ledi (2875); whilst from its eastern shore, traversed by the highroad to Killin, rises Beinn Bhreac (2250). Its waters contain salmon, trout, and char; and boats may be hired. ` We next, ' writes Dorothy Wordsworth, under date 10 Sept. 1803, ` came to a lake called Loch Lubnaig, a name which signifies " winding." In shape it somewhat resembles Ulswater, but is much narrower and shorter. The character of this lake is simple and grand. On the side opposite to where we were is a range of steep craggy mountains, one of which-like Place Fell-encroaching upon the bed of the lake, forces it to make a considerable bending. I have forgotten the name of this precipice: it is a very remarkable one, being almost perpendicular, and very rugged. We, on the eastern side, travelled under steep and rocky hills which were often covered with low woods to a considerable height; there were one or two farm-houses, and a few cottages. A neat white dwelling-Ardchullarie-on the side of the hill over against the bold steep of which I have spoken, had been the residence of the famous traveller Bruce, who, all his travels ended, had arranged the history of them in that solitude-as deep as any Abyssinian one-among the mountains of his native country, where he passed several years. The house stands sweetly, surrounded by coppice-woods and green fields. On the other side, I believe, were no houses till we came near to the outlet, where a few low huts looked very beautiful, with their dark brown roofs near a stream which hurried down the mountain, and after its turbulent course travelled a short way over a level green, and was lost in the lake.' At Loch Lubuaig the tourist again is among the scenery of the Lady of the Lake. It was up the Pass of Leny that the cross of fire was carrved by young Angus of Dun-Craggan, who had just been obliged to leave his father's funeral in order to speed the signal on its way.

` Ben Ledi saw the cross of fire;
It glanced like lightning up Strathyre;
O'er dale and hill the summons flew,
Nor rest, nor peace, young angus knew;
The tear that gathered in his eye,
He left the mountain breeze to dry
Until where Teith's young waters roll,
Betwixt him and a wooded knoll,
That graced the sable strath with green,
The chapel of Saint Bride was seen.'

Here the messenger delivers up the signal to Norman of Armandave, who was about to pledge his troth at the altar to Mary of Tombea; and the bridegroom, leaving his unwedded bride, starts off with the cross along the shores of Loch Lubnaig, and away towards the distant district of Balquhidder. The chapel of Saint Bride stood on a small and romantic knoll between the opening of the Pass of Leny and Loch Lubnaig. Armandave is on the W side of the loch; and Tombea, the residence of Norman's bride, is also in the neighbourhood.—Ord. Sur., sh. 38, 1871.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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