Rob Roy is one of the best known Scottish historical figures and he spent most of his life along the route followed by the Rob Roy Way.
Image Credit - National Galleries of Scotland www.nationalgalleries.org
There are many different and conflicting stories surrounding Rob Roy’s eventful life. In his early adult years he was involved with the Jacobite uprising and it is believed in 1689 he took part in the Battle of Killiecrankie, just four miles north of Pitlochry.
Killiecrankie Battle
Drawing reproduced by kind permission of Jenny Proudfoot - Artist and the NTS.
In later years, and like so many others of his time, Rob Roy and his clan made a successful living by extorting money from local farmers in return for securing protection of their livestock from professional cattle thieves. This practise of forcing payment in exchange for protection is the origin of the modern term “blackmail” (criminal rent).
After a trusted friend absconded with monies in 1713, Rob Roy defaulted on a substantial loan. He was declared bankrupt and subsequently branded an outlaw. The following twelve years were difficult for Rob Roy and the Clan MacGregor. The clan name was banned by the Government and Rob Roy spent much of his time evading capture by the Dukes of Atholl and Montrose and used his mother’s maiden name Campbell. He was captured several times, but each time effected an heroic escape.
In 1717 one such escape came from Logierait prison just 5 miles south west of Pitlochry.
Vol II page 267 of the Atholl Chronicles – His Grace wrote to Lieutenant-General Carpenter, June 1717. “yesterday Robert Campbell, commonly called Rob Roy, surrendered himself to me, who I sent prisoner to this place, where he is keep’t in custody.”
Blair Castle
Reproduced from the collection at Blair Castle, Perthshire.
An order was sent to convey Rob Roy to Edinburgh Castle and a strong detachment of Redcoat troops dispatched from Perth Barracks to conduct the prisoner to Edinburgh. The Lord Justice-Clerk had received information of the intent to “relieve” Rob Roy out of the Duke of Atholl’s custody, by some of Argyll’s folks. Too late, as Rob Roy made his escape between ten and eleven in the morning.
Gowrie Barracks
Produced by kind permission of Perth and Kinross Library, Local History Archive.
The troops had left the barracks at five o’clock in the morning and arrived at Dunkeld after midday. The Duke immediately dispatched 60 of his Highlanders to follow and hunt for him. The poor unfortunate jailor was made a prisoner himself!
Credit: Blair Castle, the original Yett from Logierait Jail.
By 1725 Rob Roy had reconciled his dispute with King George and the Dukes. He lived the rest of his days in relative peace and died at his house at Inverlochlarig Beag., Balquidder, on 28th December 1734. His grave can be visited at Balquidder Churchyard as you walk the Rob Roy Way.
Pitlochry Partnership wish to acknowledge the kind support of Blair Castle Archivist, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, National Trust for Scotland
