Local History
Rosneath Peninsula and its surrounds are filled with rich history, from early Celtic saints and Viking invasions to rival clans and rebel knights. When you come to stay at 2 Barremman Cottage, you will be immersed in stories, told by the dramatic landscape, the ruins of castles, and the local legends.
As part of the ancient territory of Strathclyde, Rosneath would have seen conflicts between Britons, Romans, picts and Scots. The early tribes who settled here would have practiced Druidism, and indeed the name of the local village "Kilcreggan" is derived from a pre-Christian term for a "sacred place on the rock".
Rosneath remained a sacred place for Christian saints, who walked an ancient pilgrims' path along the peninsula as part of their route from Iona to Lindisfarne. The remnants of this path can be found not far from the cottage, and the cottage's name, "Barremman", has its roots inthe Gaelic “barr-Adamnan”. This means “the height of Adamnan”, referencing an Irish abbot and hagiographer who wrote one of the earliest accounts of Christian pilgrimage.
The Vikings found their way to Rosneath in the 11th Century via the Irish coast, travelling up Loch Long to pillage Loch Lomond. This daring raid involved dragging their longboats across the neck of the Rosneath peninsula, and launching them again in Loch Lomond. Their attacks came to an end when a great storm scattered the fleet, as if the ancient guardians of the land had come to drive off the invaders. A ruined Norwegian fort at Knockderry is all that remains of their legacy here.
No account of Scottish history would be complete without a reference to William Wallace, and he too visited Rosneath Peninsula. There is a rocky outcrop on the shore of the Gare Loch where he is said to have taken a daring leap on horseback to shake off his enemies. Though the horse drowned, Wallace himself swam across the loch to the mainland and made his escape.
Come and explore Rosneath Peninsula's sanctuaries, pilgrim paths, and forts - and step back into the ancient stories of Scotland.
