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The rock that I
referred to was I believe on the North side of A82 at a site where there
was a stream that cut through a vast area of rock. On either side of the
highway were huge mountains of rock and there was a paved parking area
adjacent to the stream and a footbridge over the stream leading to a
walking path through the woods. If you follow the path you came to a fence
with a gate. On the left side of the gate was a sign telling the history
of the massacre and how the rock was used by the Campbells in the massacre
of the MacDonalds. The sign also told how over the years the ownership of
the land on which the rock is located had passed to another family who now
operate a large inn on the property. But they had given the rock and a
small area around the rock to Scotland because of the history and that as
long as you stay on the path leading to the rock and did not tamper with
any of the flora or fauna you were welcome to take the scenic path to the
rock. I did, and it was a wonderful walk. And I climbed the rock, which
was much larger than I had expected. And I could envision that back in the
1600's the rock may have stood above the trees and would have made a great
place to light a signal fire.
Thanks to
Lynda
for sending us in this information
I read with interest the
extremely accurate article by Raymond Campbell Paterson on the Massacre of
Glencoe. I was however very disappointed in what was written about the
Signal Rock and should like to take this opportunity to correct a few
things.
My father-in-law Dr Alister
Sutherland whoes mother was a Macdonald bought the small estate of Torren
(not the Clachaig Inn as stated in your article)in 1936 when the Glencoe
Estate was sold on the death of the first Lord Strathcona to whom it had
belonged. You were correct in saying that he then gifted the Signal Rock
at the same time granting a right of way to the rock through his forest to
the National Trust for Scotland.The NTS had been interested in buying
Torren at the sale because they wished to aquire the Signal Rock which
because of its position in the apex of the glen could be seen from all
sides and was used by the people of the Glen to warn of danger.
The original name for the
Rock is "Torr na Grian" which means the Knoll of the Sun. It is thought
that it was used by the Druads as from it you can see both the rising and
the setting sun. Nowhere in the contempory account written after the
Massacre of Glencoe does it say that the signal for the Massacre was given
from the Rock. We are told that the soldiers were given instructions to
rise at 5am as surprise would then be on their side. The story that a
signal was given by lighting a fire on the Signal Rock was only started in
about the 1970's but seems to have got to peoples imagination inspite of
all the efforts of local people here in Glencoe to quash that incorrect
story.
We still live here at
Torren and I would like to through your excellent website ensure that the
correct tale be attached the Signal Rock which I can see here from my
window. Victoria Sutherland
See Victoria's web site at
www.torrenglencoe.com |
