Loch Katrine is located in the natural setting known as The Trossachs in Scotland. Some preliminary info follows (highlighting added):
The Trossachs (listen Scottish Gaelic, Na Trosaichean) itself is a small woodland glen in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It lies between Ben A'an to the north and Ben Venue to the south, with Loch Katrine to the west and Loch Achray to the east. However, the name is used generally to refer to the wider area of wooded glens and braes with quiet lochs, lying to the east of Ben Lomond. [Source: Wikipedia]
"Trossachs" was originally the name of a small area between lochs Achray and Katrine but the National Park Authority has given the name 'Trossachs' to the scenic triangle bounded by the head of Loch Katrine, Aberfoyle and Callander and north to Strathyre and Balquhidder.
The Trossachs was the haunt of the highland caterans who hid in its secret glens, and after whom Loch Katrine is reputed to be named - though some say it was named after a lady of that name! Rob Roy MacGregor brought his 'lifted' cattle through the 'Bealach nam Bo' (or ‘pass of the cattle’) on the south side of Loch Katrine and the Trossachs Pass through which the modern access road now leads. [Source: The Trossachs Scotland]
As I began reading information about this old postcard I realized how very little I know about Scotland. For instance, the reference about Rob Roy MacGregor and his 'lifted' cattle means nothing to me in any historical sense. When I read it I immediately thought about my stepfather who, when I was a child, worked as a bartender in a Reno casino, and who talked about the alcoholic drink named Rob Roy, e.g., "The couple from Sacramento were in again tonight, again asking for my special Rob Roys." In my child's mind, knowing, as I did, the non-alcoholic drink called Roy Rogers (usually made for boys because little girls drank Shirley Temples), I figured that Rob Roy must have been Roy Rogers' daddy, or boss, in the cocktail kingdom.
You may know that I do not drink alcohol any longer, having done so to excess in my post-Shirley-Temple days, but when I did consume alcohol in my past I never tried a Rob Roy. In honor of the stepfather who, though totally emotionally ill-equipped for the job, did his best as a daddy here is a recipe for Rob Roy cocktails:
The Trossachs in Scotland and Loch Katrine have been known for their scenic attractions ever since Sir Walter Scott wrote 'Rob Roy' and 'The Lady of the Lake' in the early nineteenth century. Sir Walter visited the Trossachs and stayed near Loch Katrine with his wife Charlotte and daughter Sofia in 1819. Knowing something of the history and legends, he was moved to write 'The Lady of the Lake'. The work was completed and published in May 1810. The Trossachs became better known through this publication and as transport improved, the area became a popular tourist destination.Again, I must plead - if not ignorance - then a lack of exposure to, or interest in, the works of Sir Walter Scott. Sigh.... I am currently reading Death of the Liberal Class, by Chris Hedges, after which I have two more books already lined up to read next. But I am curious about The Lady of the Lake, both the history and legends that moved Sir Walter to write the book, and the book itself. Maybe I will read it some day. The most perfect place in the world to read The Lady of the Lake would be here, aboard the Steam Ship Sir Walter Scott sailing the waters of Loch Katrine (full information click):
I surely have blogging friends who are knowledgeable in all things Scotland (one, Freda, lives there!) and all things Sir Walter Scott. Leave extra tidbits of information in comments, please! In the meantime, for those of you who are like me and have some studying to do here are some links to get us going:
- A wee bit of information about Gaelic
- A whole lot more information about Gaelic from an 1886 publication
- Useful Scottish Gaelic phrases
- Some accommodations at Loch Katrine: Stronvar House and Letter Steading
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