The history and beauty of Loch Katrine – just look out of Lochside House and Apartment lounge windows!
Looking out from the lounge windows of Lochside House and Apartment is both beautiful and fascinating. You will immediately see Factor’s Island, just opposite The Pier Cafe. The island is associated with the infamous Rob Roy: A bitter feud between Rob Roy and the Duke of Montrose lasted for many years and, allegedly, Rob Roy captured Graham of Kilearn, the Duke’s Factor, and imprisoned him on the island, also known as Eilean Dharag for almost a week. However, the Duke would not pay the ransom and so Rob Roy had to let him go. The stone surrounding the island was added to protect it when the water level in Loch Katrine was raised in 1859 to supply water for Glasgow and the Central Belt. ‘Katrine’ derives from the Gaelic word ‘cateran’, meaning a Highland robber.
Twice a day during the summer season, you will see the Loch Katrine Steamship, ‘Sir Walter Scott’, sail around Factor’s Island as it docks at Stronachlachar Pier. The house is so near to the pier that you’ll hear the captain's instructions to the passengers and the long ‘toot’ as it leaves for its return journey. You can even give them a wave from outside the house!
The steamship also has a fascinating history, which was built in 1899 in Dunbarton at a cost of £4,269. Following sea trials on the Firth of Clyde, the boat was dismantled and the numbered pieces were transported by barge up Loch Lomond and overland by horse and cart to Stronachlachar pier, where the steamer was reassembled with permanent rivets and, relaunched in 1900 (the same year that Lochside House was built). The delivery charge for transporting the steamer was £2,208!
Most steamers at this time were changing to oil-fired boilers but Sir Walter Scott kept using solid fuel to avoid polluting the loch. The boilers were converted to the more efficient biofuel in 2007.
Take a trip on the steamer and you will enjoy the beauty of Loch Katrine and hear the history of Rob Roy MacGregor, who was born in the area, along with Queen Victoria’s visit in 1859 and 1869.
