The Elusive Search for Rob Roy’s Cave

Given that I am currently on lockdown in Scotland (2020), it gives rise to a lot of Scottish adventures and Scottish foods. During one weekend in captivity, my housemate and I went on a proper Scottish adventure – the search for Rob Roy’s Cave on the banks of Loch Ard.

For clarification, we were allowed one outdoor exercise per day, and Loch Ard is within walking distance. Totally within the covid-guidelines set forth for Scotland at the time.

1. Who is Rob Roy MacGregor?

Rob Roy MacGregor (1671 – 1743) was a Scottish outlaw, turned folk hero, who fought in the Jacobite risings of 1689 and 1715. Although he is generally considered to be the Robin Hood of Scotland, his story was heavily romanticized by various Scottish writers, including Sir Walter Scott and Daniel Defoe.

Side story: when I told one of my friends about Rob Roy, the outlaw, her actual response was: “oooh, outlaw. That makes it sound so sexy.” So behold – historical images and depictions of sexy Rob.

Between 1711 – 1712, over a dispute about money and cattle, the Duke of Montrose seized MacGregor’s family land and evicted the family. Rob Roy in turn sought revenge through a combination of banditry, theft and “cattle rustling” (the theft of said cattle). Rob Roy’s participation in the 1715 Jacobite rising added the charge of treason on top of his banditry. It is during this time, where he was on the run and hid out in a variety of places in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area.

2. The Hunt for Rob Roy’s Cave

During the time of covid-19, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are exactly where I am hiding. So in a way, old Rob and I have that in common. But I am staying in a delightful cottage, whereas he went into hiding in a series of caves. The more famous Rob Roy Cave is in Inversnaid, on the banks of Loch Lomond. Nowadays (according to google research), there is both a sign post there and a marker on the cave itself. If I were an outlaw, I don’t know that I would appreciate such blatant markers. But, this is not the cave in which we hunted for.

Hidden along the banks of Loch Ard is another alleged Rob Roy’s Cave. Of course, if one were an outlaw, one would presume that there would be several hiding places. And since this cave has no signposts or markers, this was the one we chose for our weekend adventure. Well, also because this is the one within walking distance.

3. So, did we find the elusive cave?

Our hike mostly followed the red dots in the big map. Although, we did do a slight detour to the remains of Duke Murdoch’s Castle. Spoiler alert, the remains of the castle are basically just rocks. No need to detour like we did.

Closer look of Rob Roy’s Cave on a map. The little black dot right underneath the “v” in Cave is basically where we were (as compared to the coordinates on the Google Map below). North is up on this one.

So, did we find the cave?

I’ll let you decide for yourself from the photos.

Overall, it was very difficult to find… to the point where we honestly weren’t sure. I mean, if you were a rebel outlaw, you wouldn’t want to stay in a place so obvious. But then again, inside all of those nooks and crannies (i.e. potential caves), none of them looked big enough where you could do more than sit. Which begs the following questions:

• Did Rob Roy sleep sitting up?
• Did he not need to stretch his legs?
• Or when he was in hiding, was he literally in a crouching position the whole time (so that he was at the ready to sprint into action at a moment’s notice)?

If the above photos were indeed his cave, he would have had a lovely view looking out to the banks of Loch Ard.

4. Conclusion to this great caper

So in the end, whether we found the actual location of one of Rob Roy’s Cave will be up to the discretion of the reader. I am personally not convinced. My primary reasoning being: if I were hiding out in a cave, I would want to be able to lay down and sleep in said cave. My friend, on the other hand, seems to think that the rocks may have shifted over time. Perhaps at one point, a rebel outlaw may have been able to sleep there.

Also, as previously noted, his more famous cave is located on the banks of Loch Lomond and is well marked with sign posts. But keeping in line with my blog’s theme of writing about the more obscure places and things, let’s leave things on a positive note and say that maybe we found his obscure cave, and lived to tell the tale.

If you’re in the neighborhood, the Loch Ard trail is a wonderful path and great for a weekend hike. To be honest, it’s one of my favourite walks in Aberfoyle. It’s not a challenging hike, but has great views of the loch and is set in the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.

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Get ready for your Rob Roy Adventure

• If you’re planning to stay in Aberfoyle as a base for your Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park adventures, here are some local options, all within a short walk from Loch Ard:
  • Rob Roy Hotel – stay on theme of this Rob Roy Adventure at the Rob Roy Hotel – 1 mile outside of Aberfoyle – average rates 95 GBP per night;
  • The Forth Inn – a very dog friendly local pub, with rooms – average rates 90 GBP per night;
  • or the Creag Mhor Self Catering Apartment – 2 bedrooms, great for families – approximately 120 GBP per night.
• Are you traveling from London for your Rob Roy cave (or Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park) adventure? Take the Caledonian Sleeper, the luxury overnight train to Scotland departing from London Euston station and arrive at dawn in Stirling. Connect to Aberfoyle via the X10A bus, which takes only 40 minutes from Stirling.
• When I’m walking or hiking, my go-to is either the AllTrails app on my phone, or an Ordnance Survey map. As someone who missed a career as a cartographer, I do love a physical map!
• Proper walking / hiking shoes essential for Scotland’s outdoor adventures.
  • This walk is not strenuous and, if the ground is dry is fine for AllBirds Wool Runner Mizzles or similar casual trainers/shoes.
  • Otherwise, Merrell’s Waterproof Hiking Boots (UK) / (US) are my absolute go-to for Scotland’s plentiful trails and outdoor hikes. Being prepared for the weather and terrain is a must!

Want to hunt for Rob Roy’s Cave too? Pin it for later!

For my next post, a promised foodie and cocktail pairing, inspired by this rebel outlaw!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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