.gif)
Strachur (Scotland)
Encyclopedia
Strachur and Strathlachlan are united parishes in the west side of Cowal
, Argyll
, Scotland
. Strachur is the postal station, and the parish is traversed by the shortest line of communication between Inverary and Glasgow
, via the St.Catherine's ferry on Loch Fyne
. The name 'Strachur' comes from the Gaelic for 'Glen of the Heron'
. The parish is bounded along its north-west side by Loch Fyne
- Strachur forming its north-western district, and Strathlachlan its south-western one; and it is bounded on other sides by the parishes of Lochgoilhead
, Kilmun
, Dunoon
, and Kilmadan. Its length north-westward, or parallel to Loch Fyne, is 18 miles, and its breadth varies from three to eight miles. It is mostly uplands, and altitudes rise to 3000 feet.
Loch Eck
touches the parish for three miles on the south-east.
The parish church of Strachur dates from 1789 and can accommodate 400. That of Strathlachlan was built in 1792 and can hold 150. The parishes were united in 1650.
, and in 1870 the principal landowners of the parish were Campbell of Strachur and McLachlan of that Ilk. The principle country houses there at that time were Strachur Park, Castle Lachlan, Strachurmore, Glenshellis, Balliemore, and Glenbranter.
Probably the most famous “son of Strachur” was John Campbell of Strachur, although Sir Harry Lauder
was the laird of the Glenbranter estate, between Lock Eck and Strachur, in the first half of the twentieth century. Much of the Glenbranter estate was subsequently acquired by the Forestry Commission, who encourage public access to the land. During the 1930s, the Ministry of Labour opened a work camp on the estate for young unemployed men. Known as Instructional Centres, the camp regime sought to 'harden' the unemployed, many of whom came from industrial West of Scotland and had previously worked in mining or other industries hit by depression, and prepare them for work elsewhere. The Glenbranter camp hit the headlines in 1935 when the trainees organised public walk-outs, and again in 1936 when there was a mass meeting to protest against conditions.
is also the name of the local Shinty
team. They reached the Camanachd Cup
final in 1983, losing to local rivals Kyles Athletic
3-2. They have also won the shinty world cup 8 times.
The 2008 UK swamp football
championships were held in Strachur in June 2008.
Strachur (101 houses):
Strathlachlan (167 houses):
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
, Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Strachur is the postal station, and the parish is traversed by the shortest line of communication between Inverary and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, via the St.Catherine's ferry on Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs...
. The name 'Strachur' comes from the Gaelic for 'Glen of the Heron'
District & boundaries
It is an area bordering the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National ParkLoch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a national park in Scotland centred on Loch Lomond, and includes several ranges of hills, the Trossachs being the most famous...
. The parish is bounded along its north-west side by Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs...
- Strachur forming its north-western district, and Strathlachlan its south-western one; and it is bounded on other sides by the parishes of Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead ) is a small village of some 300-400 people and is in the Scottish Highlands in Argyll, Scotland.Situated at the head of Loch Goil, where the Goil river, which rises on nearby Ben Donich and Beinn an Lochain, flows into the loch , it is surrounded by mountains rising as high as 3 000...
, Kilmun
Kilmun
Kilmun is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs between the head of the loch and connects with the village of Strone at Strone Point, where the loch joins the Firth of Clyde....
, Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
, and Kilmadan. Its length north-westward, or parallel to Loch Fyne, is 18 miles, and its breadth varies from three to eight miles. It is mostly uplands, and altitudes rise to 3000 feet.
Loch Eck
Loch Eck
Loch Eck is a loch located on the Cowal peninsula, north of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is seven miles long. Apart from Loch Lomond, it is the only naturally occurring habitat of the powan.-External links:*...
touches the parish for three miles on the south-east.
The parish church of Strachur dates from 1789 and can accommodate 400. That of Strathlachlan was built in 1792 and can hold 150. The parishes were united in 1650.
Famous residents
By tradition, Strachur has been held as one of the original strongholds of Clan CampbellClan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
, and in 1870 the principal landowners of the parish were Campbell of Strachur and McLachlan of that Ilk. The principle country houses there at that time were Strachur Park, Castle Lachlan, Strachurmore, Glenshellis, Balliemore, and Glenbranter.
Harry Lauder
Sir Henry Lauder , known professionally as Harry Lauder, was an international Scottish entertainer, described by Sir Winston Churchill as "Scotland's greatest ever ambassador!"-Early life:...
was the laird of the Glenbranter estate, between Lock Eck and Strachur, in the first half of the twentieth century. Much of the Glenbranter estate was subsequently acquired by the Forestry Commission, who encourage public access to the land. During the 1930s, the Ministry of Labour opened a work camp on the estate for young unemployed men. Known as Instructional Centres, the camp regime sought to 'harden' the unemployed, many of whom came from industrial West of Scotland and had previously worked in mining or other industries hit by depression, and prepare them for work elsewhere. The Glenbranter camp hit the headlines in 1935 when the trainees organised public walk-outs, and again in 1936 when there was a mass meeting to protest against conditions.
Sport
StrachurStrachur and District Shinty Club
Strachur and District Shinty Club is a Shinty team from Strachur, Argyll, Scotland. The club has one team which won South Division Two in 2011.-History:...
is also the name of the local Shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
team. They reached the Camanachd Cup
Camanachd Cup
The Camanachd Association Challenge Cup AKA the Camanachd Cup or Scottish Cup is the premier prize in the sport of shinty...
final in 1983, losing to local rivals Kyles Athletic
Kyles Athletic
Kyles Athletic Shinty Club is a shinty team from Tighnabruaich, Argyll, Scotland. It is one of the sport's most illustrious names, presently playing in the Premier Division after recently being outwith the top flight of Scottish Shinty.-History:...
3-2. They have also won the shinty world cup 8 times.
The 2008 UK swamp football
Swamp football
Swamp football is a form of association football that is played in bogs or swamps. The sport is said to come from Bishop Auckland in the north east of England where it initially was used as an exercise activity for athletes and soldiers, since playing on soft bog is physically demanding...
championships were held in Strachur in June 2008.
Populations
For the mid-19th century:Strachur (101 houses):
- 1831 was 633
- 1851 was 518
Strathlachlan (167 houses):
- 1831 was 450
- 1861 was 872