Maps and Coordinates of Clan Colquhoun Sites
Here is a link to my Google Earth* project that will show you all the clan sites on a map. It allows you to understand better where the sites are in relationship to the other sites including photos/videos and connection to the clan:
*If you are new to Google Earth, the link will request you load the app if you are on mobile device or if on a computer/browser it will come up in a web page. To get started on the tour you click the play button titled “Present” and it will bring up the first site. You can tap through the photos/video on that site and/or scroll down and read why it might be of interest. To go to the next site, you click the “>” next to the 1/26.
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Clan Colquhoun Tour Part 1
Site 1: Old Kilpatrick Church
159 Dumbarton Road
Old Kilpatrick, Glasgow G60 5JQ, UK
55.925866, -4.460919
Site 2: Dunglass Castle
130 Dumbarton Road
Bowling, Glasgow G60 5BD, UK
55.929555, -4.502598
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Site 3: Ancient Colquhoun Chapel site
On Kilpatrick Hills where the first Colquhoun Castle was built and where the remains of the Colquhoun Chapel were. No remains left at site.
Located near Middleton Farm about two thirds of a mile north of Milton off the A82.
Go north on Milton Brae and look to the right for a turn with Green Sign that says "Public Access to Loch Humphrey" take this road (see photo below) and continue around the corner and the site of the chapel was off to the left. The old chapel and earliest Colquhoun castle were believed to have been wooden constructions and there are no visible remains, but they were here on the hills above Milton.
55.942735, -4.518693
Site 4: Dumbarton Castle
Castle Rd,
Dumbarton G82 1JJ, UK
55.936486, -4.563017
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Clan Colquhoun Tour Part 2
Site 6: GallowsHill and Clan Colquhoun gathering place
To reach GallowsHill head north on the A82 towards Crianlarich. From the Stoneymollen round-about at Balloch continue north and follow signs for Crianlarich. From the Arden round about continue north for approx. 1.5 miles passing (on your left) the turnoff to Helensburgh on the B832. Half a mile past this turnoff you find Gallowshill that is set back from the road on your left (West). The Gamekeepers House (Gallowhill Cottage) is next to the hill. This site is four miles south of Luss on A82.
GPS Coordinates: 56°03'16.4"N 4°38'46.7"W
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Cnoe Klachan or the Clan Gathering Spot
To reach Cnoc Elachan or The Gathering Place, from GallowsHill head north on the A82 continue about 40 yards to a pasture gate on the west side of the road - it is the first left past the "Crianlarich A82" green sign. Since Scotland’s Access Law allows you to cross fences and property, I found the easiest access without bothering anyone is through the gate and across the field, which can be a muddy mess if it has rained. (but the mud came off easy enough) You don’t want to miss gathering where our Clan of old did. The Cairn is found on top of the mound and more to the South (towards GallowsHill) of where you entered. See map and site photos for a better understanding where the sites sit in relation to one another.
GPS Coordinates for gate: 56.056994, -4.646152
Site 7: Rossdhu
South or Main Entrance (don't enter here)
A82, Alexandria G83 8RH, UK
56.057495, -4.645464
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From Dumbarton Castle travel 9.7 miles on A82 and you will see the Historic Entrance on the right. Stop and take a photo but there is no entrance here.
GPS Coordinates: 56.045460, -4.646346
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If you continue to travel north almost a mile you on A82 you will pass by Gallowshill and Cnoc Elachan (Clan Gathering Place) on the left before you come to the “Ross Lodge” or Entrance for Members and Employees on the right. Unless you are a Loch Lomond Club member or an employee, you will not enter here either.
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• Go north along A82 past the next entrance [Main or Ross Gate] and on to the next road on the right.
• There is a brown sign on the left pointing to where you turn right that says “Luss National Park Centre.”
• As you turn right you there will be a “Y” this is the old military road where you will turn right and head South.
• Drive a short distance to the back or North gate. There is no authorized entrance to drive into Rossdhu unless you are a member of the club or have been invited to an event. You will need to park outside the gate.
• North Gate GPS Coordinates: 56.073394, -4.638699
• Follow the walking path to the right of the gate heading south outside of the wall along the path about 30 yards and look for a gate in the wall on the left. [See photo]
• Enter the gate and you will find a rock with sign attached "Public Access to Rossdhu" and then walk along the road heading south and then south-east and then where the road turns north until you reach Rossdhu House.
• As you get closer you can see the Castle wall and Elan Rossdhu [island in the cove - more info here: https://tinyurl.com/5adenzzc] to the west of Rossdhu House and the chapel and ice house are behind the wall. It is a beautiful 15 minute casual walk – no hills and mostly paved.
Site 8: Camstradden House
3/4 mile South of Luss village
You can continue north along the Old Military Road (the road you took to get to the north gate of Rossdhu). You will see through the trees the white house on the right which is the Camstradden House.
Alexandria, UK
56.093408, -4.638729
Site 9: Luss Highland Games Field
Just North of Camstraddan House and about 1/4 mile South of Luss
Luss, UK
56.097337, -4.641234
Site 10: Town of Luss
Luss, UK
56.097337, -4.641234
Clan Colquhoun Tour Part 3
Site 11: Ram's Head Bridge & St. Michael's Chapel
Up Glen Luss which is road off A82 West of the town of Luss
Luss, UK. You will come to the site of St. Michaels Chapel first on your right located at 56°06'39.1"N 4°40'36.2"W and a little while later you will get to the Ram's Head Bridge located at 56.112160, -4.685743
Site 12: Bannacra Castle Ruins
Private Drive off A818
56.097337, -4.641234
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Head either north or south on A82 when you get to the Arden round about head west on A818 about half a mile and you will see on your left (south) a gate with small Bannachra sign on the side. Enter here and you will eventually get to another gate (usually closed). It is not fare from here – a few hundred yards. A couple of our visits we did drive in and took a photo and returned to the A818 road without incident. However, in June of 2018, the owners added a closed gate right before you get to the site. We entered the gate and went to the home to ask permission to visit the site and they said no. Since I had seen it before, I did not press. The Scottish access act does not apply to vehicles and so you will either have to get permission or will need to hike a short ways to see the castle remains. There is a personal garden to the east of the castle ruins and since gardens are not apart of walking access you will need to go around them.
Again, since this is private property and a family residence just east of the Castle remains, please be courteous and don’t disrupt their home life.
Site 13: Battle of Glen Fruin Marker
Take Glen Fruin Road not the Glen Fruin Haul Road known as A817.
From A82 you take A818 west till you come to a roundabout just past Dumfin – B832 goes north (right) and A818 goes south (left) to Helensburgh you will continue “straight” through the roundabout still heading west on Glen Fruin Road (not Glen Fruin Haul Road [A817]) and it eventually will turn more north. Beware: this is a one-lane road with pullouts and so you make have to backup if you meet another larger vehicle. As you get near the marker at the top of the glen, you will pass the Strone House on your left and the Admiralty Research Laboratory Military Installation on your right. It is ~6 miles from the roundabout to the battle maker which will be on your right.
56.072582, -4.790216
Site 14: Colquhoun Square
20 Colquhoun St, Helensburgh G84 8AJ, UK
56.004244, -4.735440
Helensburgh can be reached from the west (Gareloch Road) or east (Cardross Road) along A814 which becomes Clyde Street once in Helensburgh. It can also be reached from the north along A818.
Map of Clans of Scotland 1899
Clan Colquhoun can be found just south of the middle of the map. Click on map to magnify