Clan Tour

Situated near Luss, on Loch Lomond, the story of Rossdhu reaches far back through the centuries to the family of Maldouen first of Luss. He was granted the barony of Luss by Alwyn, Earl of Lennox in a charter dated 1150 AD.
Elan Rossdhu small island in the bay west of the Rossdhu House, Castle wall and boat house. The remains of a substantial square building with mortared masonry are present on the crannog and it is likely these are the remains of the castle reputed to have stood on the island prior to the construction of the now-ruined Rossdhu Castle on the mainland. It is likely the ruins on Elan Rossdhu are the remains of the first castle of the Lairds of Luss.
Rossdhu Castle is thought to have been built as a replacement for Elan-Rossdhu Castle, which stands on a crannog just off the shoreline.
The date the Rossdhu Castle was erected is not certain, but in a charter dated the 2nd of February, 1457, there is no mention of the tower house or fortalice, but Fraser asserts that the castle long pre-dates the charter. The charter granted by King James II to Sir John Colquhoun, Chamberlain of Scotland, erected the lands of Luss and others into the barony of Luss. Later charters of 1541 and 1602, however, made special mention of the tower, castle, and fortalice of Rossdhu. The castle is stated to be the main dwelling place of the united barony, first as a fortress and then as a family home. It was built in the typical square keep style of the time, with walls that were around 40 feet high and eight feet thick. Mary, Queen of Scots visited the castle on two occasions and the Marquis of Montrose also stayed there as a boy as his sister was married to Sir John Colquhoun. Sir Walter Scott was also a visitor of Rossdhu. Some of the stone used to build Rossdhu House came from the original castle and now all that is left is the south wall located at hole 18.
The new mansion, Rossdhu House, was constructed in the 18th century and Sir James Colquhoun and the Lady Helen Sutherland, his wife, moved into it in 1773. The house was constructed in brick in the square Georgian shape quite close to the old castle. The house was a two-story building with six windows on the front which faces east. There were additions made to the house in the early 19th century. A pedimented portico was added, which was supported by two giant Tuscan columns and the wings were added by Sir James Colquhoun 27th of Luss, about 1817." The house is said to be haunted by the bogle of Lady Helen. She was very house proud in life, and her ghost reputedly returns to watch over the house she loved. The spirit has been most often reported in the staff quarters.
The original castle was very much a fortress and stronghold against the clan feuds which raged over the next century or so. Later the Castle was occupied twice by the Cromwellian forces, and it was not until the early 18th century that life in these parts became sufficiently settled to warrant creating a less fortified home.
Rossdhu has long formed part of the Luss Estates and was the home of Sir Ivar and Lady Kay Colquhoun until the early 1990s. In need of work, the property was leased to the Loch Lomond Golf Club in 1993. The club was responsible for arresting subsidence, extending the house to the rear and a complete restoration, which involved considerable changes to the interior. The bedroom and basement floors have been substantially altered to meet the needs of the golf club, while the principal rooms are structurally the same. The personal functions of the former family home have been swept away, with the Boxing Room and 'Moor and Loch' Room gone. The Chinese Drawing Room, once decorated with hand-painted silk wall coverings, is now the Library; the former Library now forms a Cocktail Lounge and a Wine Room now forms an entrance to the Dining Room. The house still contains some of the Colquhoun's fine furniture and paintings.
To the west of the mansion house lie the remains of the former castle, the Chapel, the Ice House, the old laundry/gazebo and the boathouse.

The Chapel

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The private chapel of St. Mary of Rossdhu. The chapel was called “The Chapel of St Mary or Our Lady's Chapel of Rosdew.” The walls may be part of the original medieval church.

“A ruin of a quadrangular shape 30 feet long and 17 in breadth. The walls the whole of which remain are about 10 feet in height and two in thickness. The Origines Parochialis states it to have been built in 1107, and had the roof destroyed by fire in the 16th Century. It is now in the same state as when it was destroyed, and is used as the burying place of the family of Colquhoun.”

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The exact date of the building of the Chapel is not known, but has been suggested by some (see above) as early as 1107. The chapel is situated a few yards north east of the old Rossdhu Castle wall or “Tower” and a few yards north west of the Rossdhu House or now the Gold Club. It was probably used as a place of worship by the Barons of Luss for themselves and their dependents who lived at and around Rossdhu. Originally there apparently was a small room where the resident priest might have slept.

The chapel was in a state of ruin for many years. Sir William Fraser in 1869 remarked "The walls are in good condition but the roof has long since disappeared. Below the stone floor of the chapel is the burying place of the family of Colquhoun of Luss. The inscriptions on the coffins are the only monumental records of the persons interred in the chapel."

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It was this chapel that the 15th century Book of Hours once belonged. One of the many treasures of the Grey Collection at Auckland City Libraries is the Rossdhu book of hours, an illuminated prayer book made in Bruges, Belgium, around 1475. Its first owner was Elizabeth Dunbar, Countess of Moray, who lived at Rossdhu in Scotland. George Grey purchased the volume from London booksellers Thomas and William Boone in 1863 and donated it to the Auckland Library in 1887. The book of hours is a Christian devotional book popular in the Middle Ages. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. Like every manuscript, each manuscript book of hours is unique in one way or another, but most contain a similar collection of texts, prayers and psalms, often with appropriate decorations, for Christian devotion. Illumination or decoration is minimal in many examples, often restricted to decorated capital letters at the start of psalms and other prayers, but books made for wealthy patrons may be extremely lavish, with full-page miniatures. These illustrations would combine picturesque scenes of country life with sacred images. Books of hours were usually written in Latin (the Latin name for them is horae), although there are many entirely or partially written in vernacular European languages, especially Dutch. The English term primer is usually now reserved for those books written in English.

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Since the property fell under the lease of the Loch Lomond Golf Club, the chapel has undergone some preservation work, and the building has been roofed in slates. The memorials have been cleaned so it is possible to read some of the stones. The club has also spent millions of pounds on returning the Rossdhu House and surrounding area to its former glory.

Ice House
Late 18th century domed structure built into small mound to the north of the chapel. Finely dressed stone on the facing to entrance on the north side with the structure covered by earth. Ventilation opening on east side at ground level on dome. Now barred door at lower level on the north side with a outer steel door and a inner door deep-set.
Boat House
Deer Park
The Park of Rossdhu is mentioned in 1458. (In this context, a park was an enclosed game reserve surrounded by a ditch and bank, on top of which was a palisade) It is south of Rossdhu House.
The old laundry, coach-house, and dairy buildings were converted to house guests, and several new buildings were erected in a style in-keeping with the older buildings.

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How to get there...

The Loch Lomond Golf Club is a private club and they do have guards at both the main and north gates and have turned away many whom have requested access. I made a request for access in writing to take few photos and was denied, others have approached the front gate and have been turned away. And thanks to The Land Reform (Scotland) Act of 2003 that established the right of responsible access to most land and inland water – and includes private and public golf courses. (I was told by the Policy & Advise Officer, “Golf courses [whether they are public or private] are not on the list of excluded settings, so access rights apply.") However, someone forgot to tell the Loch Lomond Golf Club. If you call or just show up at the gate you will most likely be turned away. Do NOT believe either the Golf Club or the Clan if they say there is no access to the grounds.

The main gates of Rossdhu can be seen along A82. Stop and take a photo – but do not enter here. Instead go north along A82 past the main gate and to the next road on the right. This is the old military road and instead of going north head south (turn right) until you get to the “back gate.”

North Entrance and park outside the gate and follow the walking path to the right of the gate. Follow it 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 where you will find the rock with sign "Public Access to Rossdhu" and then walk along the road heading south and then east and eventually north until you reach Rossdhu House. As you get closer you can see the Castle wall to the west of Rossdhu House and the chapel is behind both. This access does not allow you to drive in – you must walk – about 15-20 minutes (depending on your pace) to the Castle Wall and House. While you are legally in your right to have access, please be considerate of the golfers (who pay a lot of money for the experience) and the grounds. Stay on the paths and if you have a large group, please spread it out or have one small group go and then another. Consider leaving pets at home – no unleashed dogs. This does not give you access to the private Golf Club house (Rossdhu House).

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